Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Breccia]

Looks like there's some fact-checking to be done

Our Ruling

President Trump is claiming that if not for his efforts, there would have been 2 million more deaths in the U.S. from COVID-19.

But that 2 million number is taken from a model that shows what would happen without any mitigation measures — that is, if citizens had continued their daily lives as usual, and governments did nothing. Experts said that wouldn’t have happened in real life.

And while lockdowns and social distancing have indeed been proven to prevent COVID-19 illness and deaths, credit for that doesn’t go solely to Trump. The White House issued federal recommendations asking Americans to stay home, but much stronger social distancing measures were enforced by states.

Travel restrictions implemented by Trump perhaps helped hold down transmission in the context of broader efforts, but on their own, they don’t seem to have significantly reduced the transmission rate of the coronavirus.

We rate this claim Mostly False.

Our Ruling

Trump said "phony" ballots "were printed without my name on it."

We found an instance of about 2,000 ballots sent to a single precinct in Los Angeles that skipped the presidential race entirely — not just his name, but Biden’s and the other candidates, too. The county quickly replaced those faulty ballots.

Errors are not evidence of a conspiracy to favor one candidate or commit fraud. We rate this statement Mostly False.

Our Ruling

Speaking of the federal debt before the coronavirus pandemic, Trump said, "we were starting to get that number down."

Trump’s claim is not supported by government data and analyses. Public debt and gross debt have gone up during Trump’s presidency. Debt as a percentage of the GDP has also increased throughout his administration.

We rate Trump’s claim False.

Our Ruling

Trump said Pennsylvania "never opened." That’s not true. Most businesses were closed and residents were ordered to stay home in April, but restrictions have been lifted gradually since May, and no new lockdowns have been ordered even as case counts climb. Trump’s statement is inaccurate. We rate it False.

Our Ruling

A Trump campaign ad claims Biden repeatedly told Americans he's going to raise their taxes.

That’s not what Biden actually said in the three clips highlighted in the ad, which were edited to pluck specific comments out of context. And it’s not what Biden’s tax plan would do, either.

Biden and his campaign have repeatedly said his tax plan does not call for direct tax increases on anyone making less than $400,000 per year.

We rate this ad’s claim False.

Our Ruling

Pence claimed in a news release that since he and Trump took office, their policies "led to an unemployment rate of 3.1% in Wisconsin and 61,000 jobs, including 15,000 manufacturing jobs."

Those numbers may have been high-water marks before the pandemic, but they ignore the current reality. Even then, they overstate the credit for improvements that are driven by many economic forces.

We rate Pence’s claim False.

Our Ruling

Biden said "the boilermakers union has endorsed me." There are several things wrong with this statement.

First, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers hasn’t endorsed a candidate for president this cycle.

Second, Local 154, the Pittsburgh area chapter mentioned during the town hall, endorsed Trump.

Third, the boilermakers did not endorse Biden twice in the past as his campaign said.

And fourth, the Biden campaign provided no evidence that he "sat down" with the union’s leaders as he said.

Biden’s statement is not accurate. We rate it False.

"Whoa, you cited a Biden lie?"

I mean, he either made a serious mistake or lied, neither one is redeeming, it'd be hypocritical if I didn't.

- - - Updated - - -

Trump campaign posts doctored video of Biden and Harris on their site

Trump is trying to push the lie that Biden wants to end all fracking instantly. Biden's been repeatedly publicly clear, on federal land, and no emissions by 2035. The only person who doesn't know that is Trump. Or, Trump does know it and is lying. Pick one.

[Antiganon]

Trump campaign posts doctored video of Biden and Harris on their site

Trump is trying to push the lie that Biden wants to end all fracking instantly. Biden's been repeatedly publicly clear, on federal land, and no emissions by 2035. The only person who doesn't know that is Trump. Or, Trump does know it and is lying. Pick one.

I made the mistake of reading the comments on that article.

Oh boy. I forgot how much of a right wing echo chamber that place is.

[Thepersona]

Trump signs declaration that there is no human right to abortion, and no international requirement to provide them.

Other signers of the declaration are such bastions of womens' rights as Saudi Arabia and Uganda.

EDIT: Trump is clearly desperate to hold onto his base. This declaration has no actual effect, other than to say "Hey I am still pro-life". And why didn't he do this earlier? If he's so pro-life, why didn't he sign this three years and ten months ago?

Isnt like... a human right to bodily autonomy, and that includes safe and secure abortions?

[Breccia]

Isnt like... a human right to bodily autonomy, and that includes safe and secure abortions?

Trump does not believe this to be true. Anyone who grabs women by the pussy does not believe this to be true.

[Benggaul]

Isnt like... a human right to bodily autonomy, and that includes safe and secure abortions?

That's Roe vs. Wade. The thing Trump and the GOP are counting on the newest SCOTUS seat-warmer to help kill.

[Thepersona]

That's Roe vs. Wade. The thing Trump and the GOP are counting on the newest SCOTUS seat-warmer to help kill.

I really hope that your country soon gets a majority of non-believers. Having religion constantly holding it back is fucking awful.

[Benggaul]

I really hope that your country soon gets a majority of non-believers. Having religion constantly holding it back is fucking awful.

We can't really have that discussion here, but strongly agree.

[Fugus]

I have been busy all day, how did the debates go? If you don't mind me asking.

[Zaydin]

I have been busy all day, how did the debates go? If you don't mind me asking.

CNNs post-debate focus group of 11 undecided voters had zero who thought Trump won, nine who thought Biden won and two who thought it was a draw.

[Omega10]

CNNs post-debate focus group of 11 undecided voters had zero who thought Trump won, nine who thought Biden won and two who thought it was a draw.

That is very good news

[pathora44]

Isnt like... a human right to bodily autonomy, and that includes safe and secure abortions?

Yes except for women because according to conservatives they should have a shock collar with an invisible electric fence around the house so they can do their God given task in life. Take care of the home and all duties included in there and rear children. The only thing women are good for in this world according to Conservatives.

[Elegiac]

CNNs post-debate focus group of 11 undecided voters

Where the fuck do they keep finding these people.

[Thepersona]

Where the fuck do they keep finding these people.

Under rocks.

But more probably, there are people who really craves the attention of being an undecided voter.

[Fugus]

CNNs post-debate focus group of 11 undecided voters had zero who thought Trump won, nine who thought Biden won and two who thought it was a draw.

About what I was thinking, wondering if the two who thought it was a draw are also beyond 100% uninformed on the stuff and hasn't paid attention this entire time and just wanted their 5 seconds of fame on TV. Either that or they were Trump supporters who were ashamed to admit it.

[Benggaul]

Where the fuck do they keep finding these people.

Liars? Throw a stone.

[Zaydin]

Among debate watchers according to CNN, Bidens favorability went up after the debate, having been 55% favorable before the debate and 56% favorable after the debate. Trumps ratings change, too.

He went from a 42% favorable rating to a 41% favorable rating.

[Breccia]

Among debate watchers according to CNN, Bidens favorability went up after the debate, having been 55% favorable before the debate and 56% favorable after the debate. Trumps ratings change, too.

He went from a 42% favorable rating to a 41% favorable rating.

Granted it's CNN, but, it should be noted that Biden's lead, whlle not massive, is wide enough that Trump can't afford even this minor drop.

[Zaydin]

Granted it's CNN, but, it should be noted that Biden's lead, whlle not massive, is wide enough that Trump can't afford even this minor drop.

Yep. Hence why I said in the General Election thread that the debate is a loss for Trump because he didn't score the decisive win he needed. Being generous, the best case scenario for him here is that it was a draw.

[beanman12345]

Among debate watchers according to CNN, Bidens favorability went up after the debate, having been 55% favorable before the debate and 56% favorable after the debate. Trumps ratings change, too.

He went from a 42% favorable rating to a 41% favorable rating.

that guy's facial expression is meme worthy.

[Zantos]

My uncle is a Trump supporter. He is watching the final debate. I couldn't watch it. Kept saying commentary about how Trump said "NY is a ghost town" and I would reply "Yeah, Because you refuse to give them any aid". Things like that. Well, my uncle said the dems are clogging up the process. I said no, Trump has said he refuses to sign anything until after November 3rd. To which my uncle said "pretty sure you're getting your news from bad places". I had to inform him that, it didn't come from the news. It came from Trump himself, posting it to his own twitter. He said "im sure theres a reason for it" and "Don't think he did."

Seems the mindset of a Trump supporter is Deny and shift blame when denying wont work. Hate listening to Trump talk. Hes an actual moron and you can tell when he opens his mouth.