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Oct 8, 2008 10:41 pm US/Central

Reality Check: Smears, Lies And Videotape

Reporting
Pat Kessler
(WCCO) Republicans Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin stepped up their attacks on Democratic Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday calling his ideas "dangerous" as supporters in the crowd yelled "terrorist" and "liar."

 Meanwhile, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden called McCain an "angry man" making "ugly attacks" and a "sidekick" of President Bush.

 And one night after the presidential debate, the campaigns for president are running harsh ads accusing each other of lying.

 The campaigns may disagree, but it probably doesn't matter who started it. The road to the White House is now paved with mud.

 "John McCain wants to tear Barack Obama down," said an announcer in an Obama ad. "With smears that have been proven false."

 This Is PARTLY TRUE.

 Obama's ad is talking about allegations from vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin about his purported relationship with a 1960s radical. William Ayers was part of an anti-Vietnam War group called, Weather Underground, which set off pipe bombs in bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon.

 "Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country," said Palin.

 That's a gross DISTORTION of the facts.

 Obama was 8-years-old at the time and condemns the violent acts. Ayers is now a Chicago education professor, who sat on a non-profit and a charitable board with Obama for 3 years. And he held a coffee fundraiser for Obama in 1995.

 Obama said he didn't know about Ayer's past, there's no evidence the two are friends and no evidence they have any relationship now.

 "How hypocritical," said the announcer in a McCain ad. "Obama's Social Security attack was called 'a falsehood.' His health care attack: 'misleading'. Obama's stem cell attack: 'not true.'"

 That McCain ad is TRUE.

 Obama has been misleading with McCain's positions on all three issues. McCain does not want to cut Social Security benefits in half. He does want people to be able to purchase health care plans across state lines. And he supports federal funding for stem cell research.

 The REALITY Is This:

 Campaign professionals believe negative campaigns work and failing to respond to negative attacks hurts. So here's what to watch for: More negative attack ads stopping just short of lying.

 That's Reality Check.

 To check the resources for this Reality Check click on the links below.
 Fact Check: Is Obama 'palling around with terrorists'?
On The Issues: John McCain On Social Security
On The Issues: John McCain On Health Care
On The Issues: John McCain On Abortion
Negative Campaigning
John McCain/Sarah Palin Web Site
Barack Obama/Joseph Biden Web Site

 

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

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© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.