After Obama addressed the nation this evening, Speaker Boehner gave the Republican response. I don't think I've ever seen a national leader say so many things in one speech that are demonstrably false. A casual observer of recent events in Washington will readily recognize that Boehner went beyond spin.

Below are the false statements by Boehner that jumped out at me:


<< The president has often said we need a 'balanced' approach -- which in Washington means: we spend more... you pay more. >>

The truth is that the "grand bargain" Obama preferred would have cut spending more than the plan that Republicans were pushing.


<< The president is adamant that we cannot make fundamental changes to our entitlement programs. >>

As part of the grand bargain, Obama proposed big changes to both Medicare and Social Security. Republicans turned down the "deal of the century," as David Brooks described it in an article to which I linked earlier. No future Republican president will be able to get away with proposing such big changes to entitlement programs.


<< The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today. >>

That's just silly. All presidents are bound by appropriations bills passed by Congress. The debt ceiling increase would not be a blank check. It would merely allow the government to pay for appropriations already passed by Congress. Moreover, Obama wants larger deficit reduction than Republicans want.


<< If the President signs it, the 'crisis' atmosphere he has created will simply disappear. >>

Obama did not create the crisis. The "crisis" is entirely of Congress' making. It's only a crisis because Republicans in the House want a crisis.


Boehner said a few other things that I suspect a little research would show are false.

What kind of politician can't spin a half truth without telling an outright lie?

Full transcript of Boehner's response:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20083261-503544.html

Hopefully one of the fact checking organizations will score Boehner's remarks.

Another one:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_07/boehners_truth_allergy031099.php

In the above linked article, Steve Benen from the Washington Monthly (a liberal publication) says the most surprising thing about Boehner's speech was its "breathtaking dishonesty." He then lists 10 lies from Boehner's speech.

Actually, I think I agreed with Kardios more than Factcheck.org and Politifact.com did. I thought they were VERY kind to Boehner; now washingtonmonthly.com sounded biased...

And - I'll be derned. There are two more pledges circulating now, which need to be signed for the support of two other conservative groups; the "Cap, Cut and Balance Pledge", the citizen's version of which goes like:

<I pledge to urge my Senators and Member of the House of Representatives to oppose any debt limit increase unless all three of the following conditions have been met:
<1.Cut - Substantial cuts in spending that will reduce the deficit next year and thereafter.
<2.Cap - Enforceable spending caps that will put federal spending on a path to a balanced budget.
<3.Balance - Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- but only if it includes both a spending limitation and a super-majority for raising taxes, in addition to balancing revenues and expenses.

A super-majority vote to raise taxes is probably impossible in the foreseeable future, given the number of congressmen who have signed the Norquist pledge to not do that.

and would you believe it - there's a new conservative "Marriage Vow"!

http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/The-Family-Leader-Presidential-Pledge.pdf

This is just silly.

Maybe - if we apologized - the Queen would take us back.


Bairyn