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Subscribe to RSSZANESVILLE, OH -- The meta-fact check war rages on.
As the campaigns continued to trade salvos over the accuracy of claims made in both parties' convention speeches, Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday that he's happy to be under the microscope of fact checkers.
Carolyn Kaster / AP
Vice President Joe Biden talks with Lisa McIntosh of Lewisburg, Ohio, as he stops for an ice cream cone Saturday at a Dairy Queen in Nelsonville, Ohio.
"I say to the press, 'Fact check me,'" the vice president declared before launching into a lengthy critique of the Republican plan for Medicare overhaul.
"What they're proposing will actually cost the Medicare trust fund that pays for the benefits when you go to the hospital, the doctor, to run out of money, a sufficient amount of money by 2016," he said. "That's when it would hit the wall."
Biden's claim echoes one made Wednesday night by former President Bill Clinton, who said that the Romney-Ryan goal of repealing the Affordable Care Act would eliminate that bill's measures to keep Medicare solvent until 2024, pushing the date when Medicare will "go broke" up by 8 years.
The non-partisan factcheck.org found that to be an exaggeration; while repeal of ACA would mean the earlier exhaustion of the part of Medicare that covers hospitals, the fund would still collect payroll taxes to cover the vast majority of hospital bills.
The Washington Post put it more bluntly: "This is wrong," it wrote on Sept. 6 of Biden's 2016 Medicare solvency claim.
On Saturday, Biden also accused Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryanof proposing to turn the federal health insurance program for seniors into "Vouchercare," saying that the Romney-Ryan plan would raise costs for seniors.
Independent fact checkers have pointed out that while Ryan's most recent budget would provide private insurance vouchers which would grow at the rate of inflation rather than at the rate of health costs, it would also keep traditional Medicare as an option for seniors who wanted it. While most agree that it's likely that seniors would have to pay more if they chose Medicare, it's hard to project how health care costs would change under a hypothetical Romney-Ryan plan.
"Today, Vice President Biden said that he should be fact-checked, and we agree," said Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg. "The vice president knowingly and deliberately leveled false and discredited attacks."
The fact check challenge comes after a Romney pollster was quoted saying that "we're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers." Paul Ryan's convention speech was heavily criticized for citing several discredited claims.
Biden poked fun at that sentiment Saturday, calling it "amazing" that the Romney campaign "doesn't like to be fact checked."
Addressing the crowd of about 450 at an Ohio elementary school, Biden also needled Republicans for their impassioned support for Medicare.
"If … you got dropped down from Mars and turned on the convention, you'd think that they really cared about it. You'd think it's something they thought of," Biden said of Republicans.
“They mention it so often you'd be surprised to learn that they've always been trying to chip away [from it] for the last 40 years," he added.
Another fact check? You can't survive on Mars.
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Here's a fact Jumpin' Joe,you are going to need a job after January of next year and it's too late to run for senate,congress or dog catcher.Oh,that right,you are a multi millionare who has had a job in the private sector since you were 26.It's nice to know we pay or congress people enough money to retire in style .Don't forget those benes you are entitled to.By the way,did you vote "yes" to exempt the congress from ObamyCare?All the dimocraps voted to do that.So while everyone else in being refused treatment or standing in line to see one of rationed doctors,you will still be able to go to any private doctor not associated with ObamyCare for treatment.Nice!
Obuma/Biden are falling in the polls faster than a drunk on a mountainbike...
Obuma/biden are falling in the polls faster than bwarney fwrank twousers at a village people concert
Biden doesn't care if anyone "fact checks" his statements, he is too dumb to know what facts are. Facts aren't important to either Obama or Biden, to them it is all a matter of twisted perspective.
They are too used to listening to Clinton who equally doesn't care about facts. He is not used to telling the truth. It appears that Biden and Obama aren't either.
No matter how you twist it, Obama is a failure as President and has done more damage to the USA and the office of the President than any that went befre him.
What about George W. didn't see him at the Rep. convention did you? You have to acknowledge ti seems like nobody wants to embrace him.
Who gives a fu ck where is Obama's plan we are still waiting.
He ended the Iraqi war while many Conservatives wanted it continued and he has not got this country involved in another useless war and that in itself is a success story.
Biden..u forgot to ask all those NAACP church going nigros if they believed in same sex marriage...
or the bible..???
We cannot go forward as long as the Republicans are in reverse and that is a fact.
We are in fuc king reverse and it has nothing to do with the Republicans its Obama and until he is gone nothing will happen.
Obama ended the Iraqi War and has not involved this country in another needless war ; that in itself is a success story, Were you born with your issues or did you acquire them as you aged?
SOO SORRY #67 I meant #63.1
news reporter to Joe Biden...what about unemployment @ 8.3% after TRILLIONS spent..?
nah..nah ,I don't want to talk about that...
news reporter to Joe Biden.: What about economic growth @ only 1% after TRILLIONS spent..???
nah,nah , i don't want to talk about that...
news reporter to Loe Biden:..what about $16 TRILLION dollar debt..??
nah,nah I don't want to talk about that...
news reporter ..OK, then what about 100 MILLION on welfare.??? nah,nah I don't want to talk about that......news reporter OK, then Mr. Biden what do U want to talk about.???
Biden reply...Romney being a racist....
I'd say lol only it really isn't funny. I'm woman's libber, pro choice, pro gay rights, etc. person who VOTED Dem in the last 5 elections, but anyone who knows anything knows the economy and the defecit (which are inextricably tied) is THE most important isssue facing us.
It's the economy, stupid. Like Obama or not, he has NOT done what he promised he would, and it is time to give the other team a chance. In four years, if THEY also have failed, then we elect someone ELSE.
Because I want the government to STOP borrowing my kids' future in a futile attempt to BUY votes. Didn't like it under SHRUB, so why on EARTH would I like it from MY guy? Especially at nearly TWICE the rate?
Hello this is Mittens. As I speak to you from the planet Kobol. I would like the world to know that I will be calling on all my celestial brides. You know who you are as I have provided you sacred names and have provided you with the sacred underwear of our Mormon faith. Yes Joe Biden is the crazy one.
Slow Joe has never let facts get in the way of spinning a tall tale.
Tater Boy--he HAS, however, been CAUGHT at least twice PLAGARIZING someone ELSE's WORK.
Biden speaking to a crowd of about 450 at an Ohio elementary school, Elementary School!! Ooh! Biden drop down to his level now, speaking to the elementary school. Some there are more intelligent than him, talking about the Elementary Students. but just don't have the smile!
things obum-a can't control: Joe biden sticking his foot in his mouth....
OK Joe. Fact check complete. Every news organization says that you are full of poo. Nice work!
Its easy, If a Democrat's lips are moving he's lying
PPL..they can't get anybody to come to biden's appearances...so they round up the local
school groups ....cause nobody else will come...
PPL are tired of these liars
I be needing moe free money cause you be too rich and not needing so much
vote for moe hope and way moe chang and how do we feed are kids with no money.
Obana/bider 2o12 and 2o15 too ........no job so govt suppsed to help more
Hello Mittens again I would like the world to know that i will be populating the Earth with my spirit children after the election. Yes Joe Biden is crazy
tHE aBORTION pARTY
iS aBORTING iTS cAMPAIGN...tHEY cAN'T fIND tHE cHAIN kEY...AND
tHEY rAN oUT oF bIRTHER'S cONTROL pILLS.........
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Yeah but we still have our coat hangers
same sex marriage GAYS are taking OVER democrap party...PPL..
that is why they didn't have GOD or the BIBLE in their DNC platform.....initially..
vote them OUT...
Until OBama leaves office businesses will not hire its that simple people so if you want to continue to watch this cra p for another 4 years if you vote for Obama that is what you will get.
This is why I'm afraid of Romney and his ilk. Big business is holding our country hostage.
I'm one of them and will NOT hire anyone until AFTER the election (Obama win = not gonna hire)
HOSTAGE ???? what are you gonna do about it.............NOTHING
You may have built it but only I...THAT'S ME ALONE....can close it libiot
USAF Did you get my last (3) posts? Maybe they will make some things more clear.
Yeah chipperland what a good American you are. I'm not going to give my fellow americans a job until I get what I want. Perfect example of a Republican.
I hope that was sarcasm, chip. That is a pretty sick attitude. The kind that justifies your workers stealing everything they can get out the door.
All I can do about it is be glad I picked a profession that I could do on my own. Be glad your business philosophy is shared by a minority of A$$wipe business owners. And feel badly for ppl who have to put up with that minority. No person should have to suffer that to survive.
Obuma/Biden are falling in the polls faster than Bill clinton's trousers...at a lewinsky party...
these anti GOD,,anti_BIBLE bunch of democraps....PPL
this wasn't in their original DNC platform....
that should tell u something......!!!!
VOTE ALL GOP NOV. 2012...
It will never happen. Four more for that super cool halfrican Barry. Oh and that crazy Joe Biden too
Biden: the big lie lives on in a somewhat dim former Senator from Delaware.
Hello Mittens again. yes our Mormon leader Joseph Smith did put himself above Jesus and God much like that Rock an Roller John Lenon. So wheres the harm in that. Yes your right Joe Biden is crazy
The only fact biden can come up with is he does not possess a brain. The only reason he is on the ticket now as before is to prevent an assassination .
It probably has.