Pants on Fire # 8: Obama Gave Some Lady a Phone

The Lie: The Obama administration is giving out free phones to poor people in order to persudade them to vote for Pres. Obama to get re-elected this year.

Here's the video:

The Truth:  There IS a federal program that increases Internet access for doctors and patients in rural hospitals, subsidizes Internet and phone coverage for schools and libraries, and provides free or subsidized coverage for poor families so they'll get links to emergency and government services. It didn't start with Obama, though. It was started as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Here's what Forbes (not known as a rabble-rousing liberal organization) says about it:  "The bottom line is that there is free phone assistance available to those who qualify but it is not an Obama administration program. Taxpayers do support the program but not through federal income taxes. And despite the screaming lady in the video, eligibility doesn’t hinge on Social Security, disability or food stamps; there’s no “buy one bag of chips, get an Obama phone free” promotion. Just because a woman holding a sign gets a microphone in her face doesn’t make her statements true."

And here's what a big Republican super PAC is trying to do with this pack of lies, according to Slate: "The Tea Party Victory Fund, a new Super PAC, has clipped the video, added a black and white filter, and asked possible donors to help air it in Ohio."

Here, thanks to Slate.com, is  the letter they're sending to potential donors:

   "This is it-- this is the October surprise. We just need to get this ad on television today.Will you help us?

    "This commercial is a microcosm of the difference between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans want to create an environment where free people make their own choices and pursue their dreams. President Obama and the Democrats want to create a dependency on Government that ensures that Americans will continue to rely on Washington from cradle to grave.

    "What this lady said is so offensive because it's so blatant--she finally comes out and says what we all know that the Democrats really think. That's why this ad is so damaging to the President here in Ohio.

    "Let me tell you something, I'm from Ohio -- I was elected statewide as the Secretary of State, and Ohio State Treasurer--this ad is effective. If swing voters in this state see this ad, they simply will not support President Obama, and he will lose Ohio."

In Sum: Madame L thinks voters should be outraged at the racist lies being told, without consequence, by these Republican super PACs---not this woman who clearly doesn't understand the program.