Democratic debate: Fact checkers find many problems

Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, and Hillary Clinton

The mainstream media noticed some errors in statements from the Democratic party presidential candidates in last night’s debate:

December 20, 2015

Political fact checkers in the United States are debunking some of the claims by the three 2016 Democratic presidential contenders at their latest debate.

The Washington Post, The New York Times, Politico and Politifact all said there is no evidence for the claim made Saturday by the party’s frontrunner, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, that the Islamic State group is showing videos of the leading Republican candidate, billionaire real estate tycoon Donald Trump, “insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists.”

The Post said Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric has been referenced by IS recruiters in social media, but analysts who monitor the jihadist group have not turned up any videos.

Campaign donations

Politico also disputed the claims by Clinton that only 3 percent of her campaign donations have come from wealthy people “in the fiance and investment world,” saying the figure is about twice that, including money contributed directly to her campaign and an independent group supporting her bid to succeed President Barack Obama when he leaves office in January 2017.

Politico noted that one of Clinton’s Democratic opponents, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, was wrong when he cited U.S. difficulties in Iraq and Syria, “where we’ve involved ourselves in toppling dictators without having any idea what comes next.”

Politico said that “is certainly true in Iraq,” after the fall of Saddam Hussein, but “quite the opposite in Syria,” where President Bashar al-Assad remains in power in the midst of a years-long civil war defending his regime.

The Post questioned the claim by the third candidate seeking the party’s presidential nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, that female workers in the United States are paid only 79 cents out of $1 compared to men.

Wage allegation

The newspaper said the 21-cent gap is accurate when compared on an annual basis, but that it is less than that when comparing weekly or hourly wages, and comparisons made more difficult by life choices men and women make in the United States, such as women tending to leave the work force when they have children. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-political-fact-check-clinton-wrong-on-islamic-state-recruiting-trump/3110858.html

December 20, 2015

The Democratic candidates met for the third time, and stretched the facts again:

• Former secretary of State Hillary Clinton said 3% of her campaign donations “come from people in the finance and investment world.” That’s correct, but the total is 6% when including donations to outside groups supporting her candidacy.

• Clinton also claimed she had received “more donations from students and teachers than I do from people associated with Wall Street.” Public records contradict that. Her campaign said it was based on internal data but didn’t immediately send that to us. …

• Clinton said that the Republican presidential candidates “don’t want to raise the minimum wage.” But Rick Santorum has supported an increase.

• O’Malley said that Clinton told the big banks that “you weren’t responsible for the crash” in 2008. But Clinton said in December 2007 that Wall Street “has played a significant role in the current problems, and in particular in the housing crisis.”

• Clinton said that “we lose 33,000 people a year already to gun violence.” To put that in context, 33% of those deaths were homicides; 63% were suicides.

• O’Malley went too far in accusing Clinton of flip-flopping on federal gun control. She did back off her earlier support for a national gun registry but has consistently supported an assault weapons ban and tightened regulations on sales at gun shows.

The three Democratic candidates debated Dec. 19 at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire on a range of topics, from national security to the economy, in the ABC News Saturday night meeting. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/12/20/fact-check-third-democratic-debate-sanders-clinton-omalley/77647452/

Republican candidates have there own problems with facts in their debates as well.

Many will say, “So what? Politicians often lie.” That may be so, but that does not make it right.

The Bible says:

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)

Yet, political leaders often do so, including last night. The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil.

Notice something from my Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States book:

Of course, other U.S.A. leaders have had integrity problems. For example, the first U.S. President George Bush broke his promise, “Read my lips, no new taxes.” Bill Clinton lied about his affair with Monica Lewinski. Barack Obama broke his promise, “if you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan” (Gore D. ^{Fact check: If you like your health plan, you can keep it 2-year deal. USA Today, November 1l, 2013}) No one should bear false witness.

Her boss when she worked on Watergate, Bernard Nussbaum, said Hillary was prone to temper tantrums (and that she insisted back in the 1970s that Bill Clinton would become President) (Baker P, Chozick A. Hillary Clinton’s History as First Lady: Powerful, but Not Always Deft. New York Times, December 5, 2014). It is alleged that Hillary produced false documents in that job and was fired from it because of integrity issues (Fader C. Fact Check: Was Hillary Clinton fired from Watergate investigation? Florida Times Union, March 8, 2014). (pp. 32-33)

Lest this post seem to be partisan, let me again state that I am NOT a Republican nor a Democrat nor will I be voting in this election (see also Should a Christian Vote?).

Now since God can decide who will win, it should be understood that does not necessarily mean the best person will according to the Bible:

7 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’ (Daniel 4:17)

So, God apparently often sets the lowest of men up as leaders.

And it is not only males that can be set up. The Bible warns the following related to females:

12 As for My people, children are their oppressors,
And women rule over them.
O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err,
And destroy the way of your paths. (Isaiah 3:12)

None of the announced candidates for the US presidency will fix the moral problems of that nation. And many have already publicly embraced moral positions in direct opposition to the Bible.

The USA is going the wrong moral direction. From legalization of abortion and homosexual ‘marriage’ to increased acceptance of mind-altering drugs like marijuana as well as celebrity pornography while continuing to increase its debt, the USA is making major mistakes. While some candidates have claimed to oppose some of these, none look like they will have the ability to turn the USA around (though some might slow the drive towards destruction).

The USA needs national repentance, otherwise it is doomed. It is almost impossible to believe that the next USA president would call for meaningful repentance before the USA is hit with more massive problems. The USA needs the return of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Some items of possibly related interest include:

Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermons Why Teach the Kingdom of God? and The Gospel of the Kingdom.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
 Hillary Clinton in Prophecy Prophecy, Hillary Clinton? Are there prophecies that Hillary Clinton may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that she has already helped fulfill? Could Hillary Clinton be apocalyptic? Could Hillary Clinton be the final Antichrist? A video of related interest is titled Hillary Clinton and Bible Prophecy.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There is also a YouTube video related to that also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?
Overcoming Sin What is sin? How are Christians suppose to overcome it? Here is also a link to a video titled How to Overcome Sin.
How to Prevent Sin This is an article by Herbert W. Armstrong.
Just What Do You Mean Conversion? Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’? Thousands of years ago, King Belshazzar saw a hand appear at a big party he was hosting. The hand wrote Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. Shortly after the Prophet Daniel explained it, his empire was taken over and King Belshazzar died. Is this applicable today? Are there signs right before our eyes that show that the end is coming to the United States and its Anglo-descended allies. Do abortions, sexual immorality, celebrity pornography, and increased debt mean anything? What does the Bible show?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? Here is a link to a YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition.