Fact-checking the ad about Obama’s promises

An ad from Crossroads GPS attacks President Obama for broken promises, with each broken promise shattering the display of an iPad-like tablet computer.

“President Obama’s agenda promised so much,” the ad says, then recounts Obama’s promises on foreclosures, taxes, health care and the deficit.

Crossroads, a group backed by Republican strategist Karl Rove, said the ad is part of $25 million advocacy initiative and will run in 10 states, including Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Crossroads is not a super PAC, but a 501(c)4. It does not have to disclose its donors.

We’re checking several claims from this ad. Today, we start with the following claims:

• President Obama “promised” families making less than $250,000 a year would not see taxes go up, but “Obamacare raises 18 different taxes.” We rated that Mostly False. The health law did authorize new taxes on tanning and smoking, but most of the other taxes are on high-income people and the health care industry.

• Obama promised to cut the deficit by half by the end of his first term but he “hasn’t even come close.” We rated this True. Obama did make that promise early in his first term; he’s said himself it’s not achievable after all because of the poor economic conditions.