Day After Vice Presidential Debate; Fact Check

Author: Rick Sanchez, William Schneider

Published: October 6, 2003

An analysis of the vice presidential debate held last night in Ohio, and a look at what was said and what was not said from each side of the political aisle.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Dick Cheney said Edwards was wrong when he claimed that 90 percent of the coalition casualties in Iraq have been Americans. Cheney said the correct figure was closer to 50 percent.

But according to the Pentagon and the Central Command, 88 and a half percent of the coalition military fatalities in Iraq since the war begin have been Americans. Cheney was changing the base to include losses by Iraqi security forces. Edwards was referring to the coalition forces that invaded Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein.

Another point: Edwards said the U.S. has spent $200 billion and counting on the Iraq war. The Office of Management and Budget says the cost through September 20, '04 has actually been $120 billion. The $200 billion figure includes money allocated for the coming fiscal year, some of which is actually earmarked for Afghanistan.

So, the claim that the United States is spending 90 percent of the costs in Iraq appears to have been a bit of an exaggeration by Mr. Edwards.

And finally this: Dick Cheney said 900,000 small businesses that create new jobs will be hit by Kerry's tax increase. Listen to what the vice president said.

CHENEY: A great many of our small businesses pay taxes under the personal income tax rather than the corporate rate. And about 900,000 small businesses will be hit if you do, in fact, do what they want to do with the top bracket. That's not smart, because 7 out of 10 new jobs in America are created by small businesses.

SCHNEIDER: Now, the Tax Policy Center tells us that only 471,000 small businesses would actually face a tax increase from the Kerry plan, and those that file tax returns as individuals include a lot of so-called sideline businesses, such as occasional rentals of yachts and condos. Most of those who pay higher taxes under Kerry's plan are individuals who are not primarily business owners. And a lot of them, a huge number they say, have no employees at all.

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SANCHEZ: Bill Schneider, as usual, extrapolating the facts for us. CNN is going to have more fact-checks for you Friday night after George Bush and John Kerry go for round two. Our coverage of their debate begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.