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The story:

Promises, promises

By Bill Adair
Published on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at 6:57 p.m.


It's been a summer of exaggerations and falsehoods in the health care debate. If you've been following PolitiFact, it probably seemed like all the action was on the Truth-O-Meter.

But we've also been updating lots of campaign promises for our Obameter feature. With each one, the Obameter becomes a richer and more fascinating database that explores the status of President Barack Obama's promises — all 515 of them.

The Obameter not only provides a convenient tally of how Obama is doing, but each article provides an interesting glimpse into Obama's agenda and his vision for government. For example, here are a few we've rated recently.

Promise No. 510 — Obama promised to support "Net neutrality," the concept that all Internet traffic should be treated equally. We've rated that one In the Works.

Promise No. 229 — He vowed to expand the Nurse-Family Partnership, which provides home visits to low-income expectant mothers, to all low-income, first-time mothers. That one also earned an In the Works.

Promise No. 119 — Obama has Kept his promise to appoint a special adviser on violence against women.

Promise No. 517 — Obama promised to develop his health care plan during open meetings with the health care industry that would be televised on C-SPAN. But like any other piece of major legislation in Washington, this one was developed largely behind closed doors at the White House and Congress before it emerged. So we rated that one a Promise Broken.

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Sources:

See Obameter items.

Researchers: Bill Adair

Names in this story: Barack Obama

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We want to hear your suggestions and comments. For tips or comments on our campaign promise database, please e-mail the Obameter. If you are commenting on a specific promise, please include the promise number. For comments about our Truth-O-Meter or Flip-O-Meter items, please e-mail the Truth-O-Meter. We’re especially interested in seeing any chain e-mails you receive that you would like us to check out.

PolitiFact is a project of the St. Petersburg Times to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters and editors from the Times fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them on our Truth-O-Meter. We’re also tracking more than 500 of Barack Obama’s campaign promises and are rating their progress on our new Obameter. >> More

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