Tax Tally Trickery

Republicans claim Obama "voted 94 times for higher taxes." But their count is inflated and misleading.

Obama's Work Claim

His new ad says he "worked his way" through college and law school. His campaign says he had two summer jobs.

Can a freight train really move a ton of freight 436 miles on a gallon of fuel?

Yes, and some do even better. The figure used in the rail industry's advertising is a national average.

What's the percentage breakdown of the government's tax revenue stream?

Nearly half of federal revenue came from income taxes on individuals last year, and another one-third came from social insurance taxes, mainly for Social Security.

Did John McCain borrow money using public financing as collateral?

Lawyers for McCain and Fidelity & Trust Bank say he did not. The DNC says he did and should not have been allowed to withdraw from public financing during the primaries. The Federal Election Commission may have the final word.

If Only Our Cars Ran On Bunk

Sadly, they don't. But that hasn't stopped candidates Obama and McCain from producing it this week.

Are the Chinese drilling off the coast of Cuba?

No. George Will and Vice President Cheney got that wrong. But Cuba has allowed for exploration by at least six other non-Chinese firms in the region and onshore testing and exploration by China's Sinopec.

Distorting Obama

McCain's new Web ad misrepresents some of the Democrat's positions on energy.

Can a president issue a blanket pardon to an individual for crimes that may have been committed in the past but have not yet bee

Yes. That's just what Gerald Ford did when he granted "a full, free, and absolute pardon" to Richard Nixon for crimes he "has committed or may have committed" while in office.

Obama Polishes His Resume

His first ad of the post-primary season puffs up his legislative accomplishments.