NeoConIV
02-03-2005, 11:59 AM
FACT CHECK: DEMOCRAT STATE
OF THE UNION RESPONSE
The Democrat Duo Of Obstruction Responds To
State Of The Union Address With Misstatements And Inaccuracies
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___________________________
Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-NV) And Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) 10 Most Inaccurate Or Misleading Statements:
1. Reid Falsely Charges That Personal Accounts Would Guarantee A Benefit Cut Of 40% Or More. “And that’s why we so strongly disagree with the President’s plan to privatize Social Security. Let me share with you why I believe the President’s plan is so dangerous. There’s a lot we can do to improve American’s retirement security, but it’s wrong to replace the guaranteed benefit that Americans have earned with a guaranteed benefit cut of forty percent or more. Make no mistake, that’s exactly what President Bush is proposing.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
FactCheck.Org Confirms President Bush’s Plan Will Not Cut Benefits For Those At Or Near Retirement. “In fact, Bush has said over and over he won’t cut benefits for anybody currently getting them, or near retirement.” (FactCheck.Org Website, “Liberal Group’s Ad Falsely Claims Bush Plan Would Cut Benefits 46 Percent,” www.factcheck.org , 2/1/05)
For Those 55 And Older, Nothing Will Change. President Bush: “I have a message for every American who is 55 or older: Do not let anyone mislead you. For you, the Social Security system will not change in any way.” (President George W. Bush, State Of The Union Address, As Prepared For Delivery, Washington, DC, 2/2/05)
Personal Accounts Will Be Voluntary. “[I]ndividuals [will] have the option of not taking a personal account and paying the benefits that the traditional system would be able to pay.” (Senior Administration Official, Press Briefing, 2/2/05)
2. Pelosi: “In Our New Partnership For America’s Future, House Democrats Have Made A Commitment … To Honor Our Veterans And Their Families By Making Sure They Have The Health Care And Benefits They Have Earned.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
FactCheck.org: President Has Increased Veterans Funding. “In Bush’s first three years funding for the Veterans Administration increased 27%. And if Bush’s 2005 budget is approved, funding for his full four-year term will amount to an increase of 37.6%. In the eight years of the Clinton administration the increase was 31.7% Those figures include mandatory spending for such things as payments to veterans for service-connected disabilities, over which Congress and presidents have little control. But Bush has increased the discretionary portion of veterans funding even more than the mandatory portion has increased. Discretionary funding under Bush is up 30.2%. By any measure, veterans funding is going up faster under Bush than under Clinton.” (“Funding For Veterans Up 27%, But Democrats Call It A Cut,” FactCheck.org Website, www.factcheck.org , 2/18/04, Accessed 8/6/04)
Funding For Veterans Health Care Has Increased Over 40 Percent Since President Bush Took Office. “The president’s budget requests $29.5 billion for VA’s medical care, an increase of $1.17 billion, or 4.1 percent, over the 2004 level and more than 40 percent above the level in 2001.” (Department Of Veterans Affairs, “Administration Seeks $67.7 Billion For VA In 2005,” Press Release, 2/2/04)
3. Reid States Plan Would “Gamble” With “Social Security’s Guarantee.” “It’s more like Social Security roulette. Democrats are all for giving Americans more of a say and more choices when it comes to their retirement savings. But that doesn’t mean taking Social Security’s guarantee and gambling with it. And that’s coming from a Senator who represents Las Vegas.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
Personal Accounts Are Not A Gamble. “We will make sure the money can only go into a conservative mix of bonds and stock funds. We will make sure that your earnings are not eaten up by hidden Wall Street fees. We will make sure there are good options to protect your investments from sudden market swings on the eve of your retirement. We will make sure a personal account can’t be emptied out all at once, but rather paid out over time, as an addition to traditional Social Security benefits.” (President George W. Bush, State Of The Union Address, As Prepared For Delivery, Washington, DC, 2/2/05)
4. Reid Implied President Bush Is Not Concerned With National Debt. “[A]fter we worked so hard to eliminate the deficit, his policies have added trillions to the debt – in effect, a ‘birth tax’ of $36,000 on every child that is born.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
But In State Of The Union, President Bush Promised To Cut Deficit In Half By 2009, Cut Wasteful Programs, And Keep Spending Increases Under Rate Of Inflation. “[N]ext week I will send you a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. My budget substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs that are not getting results, or duplicate current efforts, or do not fulfill essential priorities. The principle here is clear: a taxpayer dollar must be spent wisely, or not at all.” (President George W. Bush, State Of The Union Address, As Prepared For Delivery, Washington, DC, 2/2/05)
5. Reid: “Do We Believe That Big Corporations With Powerful Lobbyists Should Get Special Favors And That The Wealthiest Should Get Special Tax Breaks?” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
But Reid’s Own Family Gets Plenty Of Special Favors – Reid Introduced Legislation That Benefited Sons’ Firm. “What Reid did not explain was that [The Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002] promised a cavalcade of benefits to real estate developers, corporations and local institutions that were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbying fees to his sons’ and son-in-law’s firms, federal lobbyist reports show. … Other provisions were intended to benefit a real estate development headed by a senior partner in the Nevada law firm that employs all four of Reid’s sons…” (Chuck Neubauer and Richard T. Cooper, “In Nevada, The Name To Know Is Reid,” Los Angeles Times, 6/23/03)
6. Pelosi: “I Have Seen That Sacrifice Up Close. I’ve Met With Our Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan. And I’ve Visited Our Wounded In Military Hospitals Here And Overseas. Our Troops Not Only Defend Us, They Inspire Us. They Remind Us Of Our Responsibility To Build A Future Worthy Of Their Sacrifice.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
Pelosi Was Against War/Troops:
Pelosi Has Said She Does Not Even Consider War On Terror A Real War. “‘I don’t really consider ourselves at war,’ Pelosi said. ‘We’re in a struggle against terrorism throughout the world, and we stand with the president in that fight.’ But that does not bestow ‘some kind of mantle on the president that he can’t be subject to criticism.’” (Miles Benson, “Democrats Show Greater Audacity In Criticizing Bush,” Newhouse News Service, 5/6/02)
Pelosi Voted Against Use Of Force In Iraq. (H. J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #455: Passed 296-133: R 215-6; D 81-126; I 0-1, 10/10/02, Pelosi Voted Nay)
Pelosi Voted Against Both Passage And Conference Report On Bill Appropriating $87 Billion In Supplemental Spending For Military Operations And Reconstruction In Iraq And Afghanistan. (H.R. 3289, CQ Vote #562: Passed 303-125: R 220-6; D 83-118; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Pelosi Voted Nay; H.R. 3289, CQ Vote #601: Adopted 298-121: R 216-5; D 82-115; I 0-1, 10/31/03, Pelosi Voted Nay)
7. Pelosi: “Despite The Administration’s Rhetoric, Airline Cargo Still Goes Uninspected, Shipping Containers Go Unscreened, And Our Railroads And Power Plants Are Not Secure. Police Officers And Firefighters Across America Have Pleaded For The Tools They Need To Prevent Or Respond To An Attack, But The Administration Still Hasn’t Delivered For Our First Responders.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
The President Initiated The Container Security Initiative (CSI) To Screen High-Risk Containers At Foreign Ports, Before They Ever Get To The United States. (www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0178.xml; http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040205-5.html)
One Hundred Percent Of Passengers And Passenger Bags Are Now Screened By TSA. (www.tsa.gov/public/display?content= 090005198002d52d;www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0391.xml)
The President’s 2005 Budget Increases Port Security 628 Percent Over 2001. The President has called for $1.9 billion in funding in 2005 to increase the security of our ports. That is a $224 million (13 percent) increase over 2004, and a $1.6 billion increase (628 percent) over funding levels from President Clinton’s last budget. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040205-5.html)
All Containers Are Screened, 100 Percent Of High-Risk Containers Are Physically Inspected. (Testimony By Robert C. Bonner Before The House Ways And Means Committee, Trade Subcommittee, On The FY 2005 Customs Service Reauthorization, 6/17/2004)
President Bush Has Increased Funding For Firefighters By 400 Percent. President Bush’s FY 2005 budget request allocates $500 million for Assistance to Firefighter Grants - a 400 percent increase over funding levels when he came into office. (President’s FY 2005 Budget Appendix, pg. 471; United States Fire Administration, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Awards FY 2001, at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/grants/afgp/awards/2001awards/01awards.shtm )
President Bush Has Increased First Responder Funding By 680 Percent. President Clinton’s last budget (FY 2001) provided $456 million for state and local funding. President Bush’s FY 2005 budget request allocates $3.561 billion for states and local first responders. That is a $3.1 billion increase (680 percent) in funding levels for President Clinton’s last budget. (President’s FY 2005 Budget, Pg. 163)
8. Reid: “The Bush Plan Would Take Our Already Record High $4.3 Trillion National Debt And Put Us Another $2 Trillion In The Red.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
Personal Accounts Would Not Add To National Debt; They “Would Have A Net Neutral Effect On The Fiscal Situation Of The Social Security And On The Federal Government.” “With respect to the fiscal effects of the personal accounts, in a long-term sense … would not create a net new cost for the system. To the extent that people put money in these accounts and invest in these accounts, there would be a corresponding reduction in the government’s liabilities from the Social Security system that is equal in present value to the money placed in the personal accounts up front. So in a long-term sense, the personal accounts would have a net neutral effect on the fiscal situation of the Social Security and on the federal government.” (Senior Administration Official, Press Briefing, 2/2/05)
9. Pelosi: “We Must Not Be Lulled Into A False Sense Of Confidence By The Administration’s Claim That A Large Number Of Security Personnel Have Been Trained. It Simply Hasn’t Happened, But It Must.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
“Iraq Had Some 125,000 Trained Security And Military Personnel As Of Jan. 19, According To U.S. Figures … The Figures Include Police And Iraqi National Guard As Well As Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations And Rapid-Response Units.” (John J. Lumpkin, “Buildup Of Iraqi Security Forces Far From Complete,” The Associated Press, 1/31/05)
10. Reid: “My Life Has Been Very Different From What I Imagined Growing Up, But No Matter How Far I’ve Traveled, Searchlight Is Still The Place I Go Back To And Still The Place I Call Home.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
“[Reid] Is Soaking Up City Life In A DC Ritz-Carlton Condo That He And His Wife, Landra, Bought In 2001 For $750,000.” (“Where Bush’s Brain Lives,” Washingtonian, 1/05)
http://www.gop.com/RNCResearch/Read.aspx?ID=5122
OF THE UNION RESPONSE
The Democrat Duo Of Obstruction Responds To
State Of The Union Address With Misstatements And Inaccuracies
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ___________________________
Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-NV) And Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) 10 Most Inaccurate Or Misleading Statements:
1. Reid Falsely Charges That Personal Accounts Would Guarantee A Benefit Cut Of 40% Or More. “And that’s why we so strongly disagree with the President’s plan to privatize Social Security. Let me share with you why I believe the President’s plan is so dangerous. There’s a lot we can do to improve American’s retirement security, but it’s wrong to replace the guaranteed benefit that Americans have earned with a guaranteed benefit cut of forty percent or more. Make no mistake, that’s exactly what President Bush is proposing.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
FactCheck.Org Confirms President Bush’s Plan Will Not Cut Benefits For Those At Or Near Retirement. “In fact, Bush has said over and over he won’t cut benefits for anybody currently getting them, or near retirement.” (FactCheck.Org Website, “Liberal Group’s Ad Falsely Claims Bush Plan Would Cut Benefits 46 Percent,” www.factcheck.org , 2/1/05)
For Those 55 And Older, Nothing Will Change. President Bush: “I have a message for every American who is 55 or older: Do not let anyone mislead you. For you, the Social Security system will not change in any way.” (President George W. Bush, State Of The Union Address, As Prepared For Delivery, Washington, DC, 2/2/05)
Personal Accounts Will Be Voluntary. “[I]ndividuals [will] have the option of not taking a personal account and paying the benefits that the traditional system would be able to pay.” (Senior Administration Official, Press Briefing, 2/2/05)
2. Pelosi: “In Our New Partnership For America’s Future, House Democrats Have Made A Commitment … To Honor Our Veterans And Their Families By Making Sure They Have The Health Care And Benefits They Have Earned.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
FactCheck.org: President Has Increased Veterans Funding. “In Bush’s first three years funding for the Veterans Administration increased 27%. And if Bush’s 2005 budget is approved, funding for his full four-year term will amount to an increase of 37.6%. In the eight years of the Clinton administration the increase was 31.7% Those figures include mandatory spending for such things as payments to veterans for service-connected disabilities, over which Congress and presidents have little control. But Bush has increased the discretionary portion of veterans funding even more than the mandatory portion has increased. Discretionary funding under Bush is up 30.2%. By any measure, veterans funding is going up faster under Bush than under Clinton.” (“Funding For Veterans Up 27%, But Democrats Call It A Cut,” FactCheck.org Website, www.factcheck.org , 2/18/04, Accessed 8/6/04)
Funding For Veterans Health Care Has Increased Over 40 Percent Since President Bush Took Office. “The president’s budget requests $29.5 billion for VA’s medical care, an increase of $1.17 billion, or 4.1 percent, over the 2004 level and more than 40 percent above the level in 2001.” (Department Of Veterans Affairs, “Administration Seeks $67.7 Billion For VA In 2005,” Press Release, 2/2/04)
3. Reid States Plan Would “Gamble” With “Social Security’s Guarantee.” “It’s more like Social Security roulette. Democrats are all for giving Americans more of a say and more choices when it comes to their retirement savings. But that doesn’t mean taking Social Security’s guarantee and gambling with it. And that’s coming from a Senator who represents Las Vegas.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
Personal Accounts Are Not A Gamble. “We will make sure the money can only go into a conservative mix of bonds and stock funds. We will make sure that your earnings are not eaten up by hidden Wall Street fees. We will make sure there are good options to protect your investments from sudden market swings on the eve of your retirement. We will make sure a personal account can’t be emptied out all at once, but rather paid out over time, as an addition to traditional Social Security benefits.” (President George W. Bush, State Of The Union Address, As Prepared For Delivery, Washington, DC, 2/2/05)
4. Reid Implied President Bush Is Not Concerned With National Debt. “[A]fter we worked so hard to eliminate the deficit, his policies have added trillions to the debt – in effect, a ‘birth tax’ of $36,000 on every child that is born.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
But In State Of The Union, President Bush Promised To Cut Deficit In Half By 2009, Cut Wasteful Programs, And Keep Spending Increases Under Rate Of Inflation. “[N]ext week I will send you a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. My budget substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs that are not getting results, or duplicate current efforts, or do not fulfill essential priorities. The principle here is clear: a taxpayer dollar must be spent wisely, or not at all.” (President George W. Bush, State Of The Union Address, As Prepared For Delivery, Washington, DC, 2/2/05)
5. Reid: “Do We Believe That Big Corporations With Powerful Lobbyists Should Get Special Favors And That The Wealthiest Should Get Special Tax Breaks?” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
But Reid’s Own Family Gets Plenty Of Special Favors – Reid Introduced Legislation That Benefited Sons’ Firm. “What Reid did not explain was that [The Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002] promised a cavalcade of benefits to real estate developers, corporations and local institutions that were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbying fees to his sons’ and son-in-law’s firms, federal lobbyist reports show. … Other provisions were intended to benefit a real estate development headed by a senior partner in the Nevada law firm that employs all four of Reid’s sons…” (Chuck Neubauer and Richard T. Cooper, “In Nevada, The Name To Know Is Reid,” Los Angeles Times, 6/23/03)
6. Pelosi: “I Have Seen That Sacrifice Up Close. I’ve Met With Our Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan. And I’ve Visited Our Wounded In Military Hospitals Here And Overseas. Our Troops Not Only Defend Us, They Inspire Us. They Remind Us Of Our Responsibility To Build A Future Worthy Of Their Sacrifice.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
Pelosi Was Against War/Troops:
Pelosi Has Said She Does Not Even Consider War On Terror A Real War. “‘I don’t really consider ourselves at war,’ Pelosi said. ‘We’re in a struggle against terrorism throughout the world, and we stand with the president in that fight.’ But that does not bestow ‘some kind of mantle on the president that he can’t be subject to criticism.’” (Miles Benson, “Democrats Show Greater Audacity In Criticizing Bush,” Newhouse News Service, 5/6/02)
Pelosi Voted Against Use Of Force In Iraq. (H. J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #455: Passed 296-133: R 215-6; D 81-126; I 0-1, 10/10/02, Pelosi Voted Nay)
Pelosi Voted Against Both Passage And Conference Report On Bill Appropriating $87 Billion In Supplemental Spending For Military Operations And Reconstruction In Iraq And Afghanistan. (H.R. 3289, CQ Vote #562: Passed 303-125: R 220-6; D 83-118; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Pelosi Voted Nay; H.R. 3289, CQ Vote #601: Adopted 298-121: R 216-5; D 82-115; I 0-1, 10/31/03, Pelosi Voted Nay)
7. Pelosi: “Despite The Administration’s Rhetoric, Airline Cargo Still Goes Uninspected, Shipping Containers Go Unscreened, And Our Railroads And Power Plants Are Not Secure. Police Officers And Firefighters Across America Have Pleaded For The Tools They Need To Prevent Or Respond To An Attack, But The Administration Still Hasn’t Delivered For Our First Responders.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
The President Initiated The Container Security Initiative (CSI) To Screen High-Risk Containers At Foreign Ports, Before They Ever Get To The United States. (www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0178.xml; http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040205-5.html)
One Hundred Percent Of Passengers And Passenger Bags Are Now Screened By TSA. (www.tsa.gov/public/display?content= 090005198002d52d;www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0391.xml)
The President’s 2005 Budget Increases Port Security 628 Percent Over 2001. The President has called for $1.9 billion in funding in 2005 to increase the security of our ports. That is a $224 million (13 percent) increase over 2004, and a $1.6 billion increase (628 percent) over funding levels from President Clinton’s last budget. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040205-5.html)
All Containers Are Screened, 100 Percent Of High-Risk Containers Are Physically Inspected. (Testimony By Robert C. Bonner Before The House Ways And Means Committee, Trade Subcommittee, On The FY 2005 Customs Service Reauthorization, 6/17/2004)
President Bush Has Increased Funding For Firefighters By 400 Percent. President Bush’s FY 2005 budget request allocates $500 million for Assistance to Firefighter Grants - a 400 percent increase over funding levels when he came into office. (President’s FY 2005 Budget Appendix, pg. 471; United States Fire Administration, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Awards FY 2001, at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/grants/afgp/awards/2001awards/01awards.shtm )
President Bush Has Increased First Responder Funding By 680 Percent. President Clinton’s last budget (FY 2001) provided $456 million for state and local funding. President Bush’s FY 2005 budget request allocates $3.561 billion for states and local first responders. That is a $3.1 billion increase (680 percent) in funding levels for President Clinton’s last budget. (President’s FY 2005 Budget, Pg. 163)
8. Reid: “The Bush Plan Would Take Our Already Record High $4.3 Trillion National Debt And Put Us Another $2 Trillion In The Red.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
Personal Accounts Would Not Add To National Debt; They “Would Have A Net Neutral Effect On The Fiscal Situation Of The Social Security And On The Federal Government.” “With respect to the fiscal effects of the personal accounts, in a long-term sense … would not create a net new cost for the system. To the extent that people put money in these accounts and invest in these accounts, there would be a corresponding reduction in the government’s liabilities from the Social Security system that is equal in present value to the money placed in the personal accounts up front. So in a long-term sense, the personal accounts would have a net neutral effect on the fiscal situation of the Social Security and on the federal government.” (Senior Administration Official, Press Briefing, 2/2/05)
9. Pelosi: “We Must Not Be Lulled Into A False Sense Of Confidence By The Administration’s Claim That A Large Number Of Security Personnel Have Been Trained. It Simply Hasn’t Happened, But It Must.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
“Iraq Had Some 125,000 Trained Security And Military Personnel As Of Jan. 19, According To U.S. Figures … The Figures Include Police And Iraqi National Guard As Well As Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations And Rapid-Response Units.” (John J. Lumpkin, “Buildup Of Iraqi Security Forces Far From Complete,” The Associated Press, 1/31/05)
10. Reid: “My Life Has Been Very Different From What I Imagined Growing Up, But No Matter How Far I’ve Traveled, Searchlight Is Still The Place I Go Back To And Still The Place I Call Home.” (Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, “Democratic Response To State Of The Union Address,” Press Release, 2/2/05)
“[Reid] Is Soaking Up City Life In A DC Ritz-Carlton Condo That He And His Wife, Landra, Bought In 2001 For $750,000.” (“Where Bush’s Brain Lives,” Washingtonian, 1/05)
http://www.gop.com/RNCResearch/Read.aspx?ID=5122