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The future of Medicare, the federal health care program for older and disabled Americans, has been a key issue in the race for the White House. The issue came into sharp focus after Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney named U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate.

In 2011, Ryan proposed a hotly debated plan to ensure Medicare remains solvent. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have consistently claimed the GOP approach would end Medicare guarantees for seniors. The Republicans have countered the Obama administration has cut Medicare spending through the controversial 2010 health care law.

Below are some abbreviated versions of fact checks of statements by the candidates on the issue. Look for the complete fact checks at the PolitiFact online sites.

Readers can comment on our Truth-O-Meter rulings at our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/politifact.georgia?fref=ts. And they can follow us on Twitter at: PolitiFactGA.

The campaigns and the super PACs have kept the Truth-O-Meter busy. Here are six claims that pushed the needle into the red.

By Jim Tharpe
PolitiFact Georgia  


In politics, there are truths. There are falsehoods. And there’s Pants on Fire.

PolitiFact and the AJC Truth-O-Meter complete hundreds of fact checks every year. And a few fall into that fiery netherworld of the ridiculously misleading. The 2012 campaign between President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has produced some memorable misstatements.

Below are abbreviated versions of some of the top Pants on Fire rulings of the campaign. Look for the complete fact checks at the PolitiFact online sites.

Want to comment on our Truth-O-Meter rulings? It’s easy. Just go to our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/politifact.georgia?fref=ts. Readers can follow us on Twitter at: PolitiFactGA.
 

For Halloween, we highlight the scare tactics of 2012. Don't be afraid! The Truth-O-Meter says they're not true!

In context: Romney's comments on FEMA

Women are a key demographic of this presidential campaign.

Both Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have targeted this swing group, trying to sway female voters on issues such as contraception, equity pay and employment.

The focus on females has produced some of the most memorable statements during the campaign from both men and their running mates, Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan.

Below are abbreviated versions of fact checks about the candidates’ statements during the campaign. Look for the complete fact checks at the PolitiFact online sites.

Want to  comment on our Truth-O-Meter rulings? It’s easy. Just go to  our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/politifact.georgia?fref=ts. Readers can follow us on Twitter at: PolitiFactGA.

Taxes have been a major focus of this presidential campaign. Both President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney have different ideas on the issue, and each has a specific tax plan.

Democrats have criticized Romney’s plan as being vague and a potential burden on middle-income families. Republicans have complained that Obama’s tax policies will keep the country mired in an economic slump.

Along the way, both men -- and their running mates, Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan -- have kept the AJC Truth-O-Meter busy.

Below are abbreviated versions of fact checks about the candidates’ statements during the campaign. Look for the complete fact checks at the PolitiFact online sites.

Readers can comment on our Truth-O-Meter rulings at our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/politifact.georgia?fref=ts.  And they can follow us on Twitter at: PolitiFactGA.

With a Republican governor presiding over a Repuplican-dominated legislature, it would seem to follow that Tennessee would be earning high marks from organizations like the Cato Institute.

But Cato recently gave Gov. Bill Haslam a 'D' and assigned him a number grade putting him among the lowest-ranking governors in the country. This, despite Haslam cutting taxes significantly and raising the state's rainy-day fund.

What gives?

The economy has been the central issue in this presidential race.

President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney have divergent visions about how to help create more jobs, sell more American goods overseas and make the nation more energy-independent.

Along the way, both men have made claims that caused the Truth-O-Meter to sway in all directions.

Below are some abbreviated versions of fact checks about the candidates’ statements during the campaign. Look for the complete fact checks at the PolitiFact online sites.

Readers can comment on our Truth-O-Meter rulings at our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/politifact.georgia?fref=ts.  And they can follow us on Twitter at: PolitiFactGA.

 

With the election for a critical open U.S. Senate seat just over a week away, Republican Tommy Thompson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin squared off Oct. 26, 2012 in their final debate.

Here's our roundup of repeat claims and how they fared on the Truth-O-Meter.

Both sides have used China as a villain in the 2012 campaign. We've put their claims to the Truth-O-Meter

PolitiFact and PolitiFact Georgia are checking statements made by the presidential challengers, who have less than two weeks until Election Day.

We will be updating our online site -- www.politifact.com/georgia/ -- as more fact checks are completed. Readers can comment on our Truth-O-Meter rulings at: www.facebook.com/politifact.georgia?fref=ts. They can follow us on Twitter at PolitiFactGA.

Both sides have used China as a villain in the 2012 campaign. We've put their claims to the Truth-O-Meter.