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Oct 6, 2008 6:19 pm US/Central

Reality Check: 1st Senate Debate

Reporting
Pat Kessler
(WCCO) The campaign charges flew during Sunday night's fast-moving debate between Minnesota's U.S. Senate candidates Norm Coleman, Al Franken and Dean Barkley.
The candidates sometimes fast and loose with the facts. So Pat Kessler gives them, and their debate, a Reality Check.

 Among the many claims from all of the candidates on Sunday night, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman misstated Democratic candidate Al Franken's position on prescription drug coverage for seniors.

 "It's not enough to talk. It's not enough to fight against," Coleman said. "Al was against Medicare Part D. Five-hundred-thousand Minnesota seniors have prescription drug coverage today because of Medicare Part D."

 That's NOT TRUE.

 Franken does not oppose Medicare prescription drug coverage for seniors. What he's against is the bill which forbids the federal government from negotiating with drug companies for lower prices.

 Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley made questionable claims about Coleman's support for the Iraq War.

 "Where I differ from Norm more than anything else," said Barkley. "Is his decision to get us into that war."

 That's MISLEADING.

 Coleman never voted to authorize the war. He wasn't in the Senate then. However, since he was elected, Coleman's been a strong supporter of the Iraq War and war funding.

 Franken left out pertinent facts also about Coleman's War record.

"Norm Coleman is the only one on this platform whose voted to cut off funding for our troops," Franken said.

That's a DISTORTION.

In the "gotcha" game of Senate votes, Coleman voted against a Democratic war funding bill that included a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. He's voted for numerous Republican funding bills without a timetable.

That's Reality Check.

To check the resources for this Reality Check click on the links below.
Al Franken On Senior Issues
On The Issues: Norm Coleman On War & Peace
New York Times: Senate Supports a Pullout Date in Iraq War Bill

 

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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