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'Obama phones'? No, they've been around for years

National

The latest chain e-mail makes claims about free cell phones for welfare recipients.

By Catharine Richert October 28, 2009

The latest chain e-mail to land in our in box says a new program gives free phones to welfare recipients . But we found the e-mail was glossing over some key details — such as the fact that the program has been around for many years. We rated the claim Barely True.

See item for sources.

stated on May 5, 2010 in a broadcast of the Ed Show:

"Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu received almost $1.8 million from BP over the last decade."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on May 4, 2010 in an interview on CNN:

"In the last 10 years we've only had 7,000 barrels of oil spilled in the Gulf ... not counting hurricanes. This well is spewing that amount every day and a half."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on May 11, 2010 in a speech on the Senate floor:

On Sandra Day O'Connor: "I think one reason she was a good judge is she had no judicial experience" before she joined the Supreme Court.

false

false

stated on April 28, 2010 in an interview on the Fox Business Network:

"Up until two weeks ago, John McCain was a leading proponent of amnesty. Now with me challenging him, suddenly he has changed."

pants-fire

pants-fire

Katrina vanden Heuvel

stated on May 2, 2010 in a roundtable discussion on ABC's 'This Week':

"At the moment, energy companies spend 0.25 percent on R&D."

true

true

stated on April 21, 2010 in an interview on MSNBC's Daily Rundown:

"Congress can tell [the Supreme Court] which cases they ought to hear. We have that authority."

true

true

stated on April 25, 2010 in a panel discussion on ABC This Week:

"What the Arizona law does is make a state crime out of something that already is... a federal crime."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on April 25, 2010 in an interview on ABC's This Week:

The Banking Committee voted a 1,336-page bill "out of committee in 21 minutes with no amendments, with the understanding that before the bill came to the floor, we would reach this bipartisan agreement."

mostly-true

mostly-true

House Natural Resources Committee Republicans

stated on April 5, 2010 in a news release posted on his website.:

"Obama did not open new lands to offshore drilling – all of these areas were already open for drilling once Congress and President Bush lifted the moratorium in 2008. Instead, President Obama yesterday announced what areas he would CLOSE to offshore drilling."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on March 31, 2010 in a speech to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs:

In 2004, "20 percent of U.S. households were getting about 75 percent of their income from the federal government. ... Another 20 percent were receiving almost 40 percent."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on March 25, 2010 in a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner:

"The bill reported out of committee sets up a $50 billion slush fund that, while intended for resolving failing firms, is available for virtually any purpose that the treasury secretary sees fit."

false

false

Stephen Colbert

stated on April 12, 2010 in an interview on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report":

John Paul Stevens is the only Protestant on the U.S. Supreme Court.

true

true

stated on March 31, 2010 in an announcement at Andrews Air Force Base :

On oil drilling

no-flip

no-flip

stated on March 24, 2010 in an appearance on the Fox News show "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren:

"The average student will be spending $1,700 to $1,800 more during the life of their loan because of this surcharge."

false

false

stated on March 28, 2010 in a U.S. Senate primary debate on FOX News Sunday:

"The average cost for health insurance in Florida went from about $600 a month for an individual to about $150 a month."

false

false

Donald Trump
stated on October 29, 2024 in a rally in Allentown, Pa.:

In Lancaster, Pa., “We caught them with 2,600 votes. We caught them cold, 2,600 votes. ... And every vote was written by the same person."

By Amy Sherman • October 30, 2024
Instagram posts
stated on October 29, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Kamala Harris paid The Shade Room to interview her “for perceived support amongst black voters.”

By Sofia Ahmed • October 30, 2024
Viral image
stated on October 28, 2024 in a Facebook post:

A Pennsylvania TV station aired the 2024 presidential election results early.

By Ciara O'Rourke • October 30, 2024
Instagram posts
stated on October 29, 2024 in a post:

Video shows “illegal ‘voters’ cutting the line” to vote in Pennsylvania.

By Sara Swann • October 30, 2024
Threads posts
stated on October 30, 2024 in a Threads post:

"AOC is worth 29 Million dollars! How did that happen, on $174,000 per year?

By Jeff Cercone • October 30, 2024
Threads posts
stated on October 29, 2024 in a Threads post:

Video shows people “marching in Puerto Rico” after former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.

By Ciara O'Rourke • October 30, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on October 22, 2024 in a photo:

In Fordyce, Arkansas, voting machines changed votes from Republican to Democrat.

By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • October 30, 2024
Climate Power
stated on October 18, 2024 in Organization email:

Says Eric Hovde “claims anyone who believes in transitioning to a clean energy economy is ‘smoking crack cocaine.’”

By Madeline Heim • October 30, 2024
Threads posts
stated on October 24, 2024 in a Threads post:

“Feds RAID Jay Z & Beyonce Mansion After Diddy LINKS,” arrest couple.

By Jeff Cercone • October 30, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on October 23, 2024 in a Facebook post:

A Montana Democratic operative was caught tampering with a ballot box.

By Sofia Ahmed • October 30, 2024