DEBATE FACT #7: BARACK OBAMA'S SUPPORT FOR EARMARKS

Summary:.

Barack Obama has request nearly $1 billion in earmarks in just three years.

More...


The Facts About Barack Obama's Record:

During His Time In The U.S. Senate, Barack Obama Requested More Than 300 Earmarks Totaling Nearly $1 Billion. (Obama Senate Website, 9/6/08)
PolitiFact.com: "But as for his claim in the debate: Is it accurate? Obama, on his Web site, has listed every earmark he’s requested – but not necessarily received – as a U.S. senator. It totals $931.3-million. McCain is also correct that it comes to nearly a million dollars for every day that Obama’s been in the United States Senate, provided you include just working days. ... We say this claim is Mostly True." ("McCain Right On Amount Of Obama's Pork Requests," PolitiFact.com, 9/26/08)
Citizens Against Government Waste Gave Barack Obama A Lifetime Rating Of 22 Out Of 100. (Citizens Against Government Waste, "CCAGW Challenges Presidential Candidates On Earmarks," Press Release, 12/27/07)

The Club For Growth Gave Barack Obama A Score Of 33 Percent For His Votes Against Anti-Pork Amendments. "[T]he Club for Growth released its 2007 Senate RePORK Card, compiling a scorecard of all senators' votes on fifteen anti-pork amendments throughout 2007. ... Obama (D-IL) Score: 33% Ratio: 2/6." (Club For Growth, "The Club's 2007 Senate RePORK Card," www.clubforgrowth.org , 11/5/07)

"In 2006, Obama Requested That The University Of Chicago Receive $1 Million To Support Its Construction Of The New Hospital Pavilion." "For more than 75 years, the University of Chicago Hospitals (UCH) has provided state of the art medical care on the South Side of Chicago. UCH is one of the largest Medicaid providers in Illinois, and it provided more than $90 million in uncompensated care for Medicare and Medicaid patients this past year. To continue providing the best care for patients from all walks of life, UCH is proceeding with the construction of a new 600,000 square foot facility that will ensure their ability to provide the best care for patients well into the future. Funding will go towards assisting the construction and equipping a new hospital pavilion that will increase the Hospitals' clinical capacity by over one-third." (Obama For America Website, answercenter.barackobama.com, Accessed 7/23/08)
Michelle Obama Was Appointed Vice President At The University Of Chicago Hospitals In 2005. (University Of Chicago Medical Center, "Michelle Obama Appointed Vice President For Community And External Affairs At The University Of Chicago Hospitals," Press Release, 5/9/05)