Fact-checking statements is a necessity when it comes to both the Democratic and Republican parties. Doing so allows people to form their own opinions and realize when the media is attempting to manipulate viewers and twist stories.
Amidst the powerful stories stated at the opening ceremony of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, there were also several false claims, highlighting the need for voters to do their own fact-checking.
A lot of the evening was spent reminding viewers of Donald Trump’s presidency and subsequent felonies.
“He is one of only two presidents in the history of the United States to leave office with fewer Americans working,” Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said.
Later, though, fact-checkers proved that while Durbin was correct, he left out the fact that there was a gain of 6.7 million jobs while Trump was president – until the pandemic struck. During COVID, 23 million Americans lost jobs, but to argue that the President was responsible overlooks the international crisis that was arising.
Shortly thereafter, a video presented at the DNC mentioned Lordstown, OH, where General Motors workers were struggling to maintain their jobs after their CEO, Mary Barra, sought to close the plant – all of which occurred during Trump’s presidency.
Once again, fact-checkers examined the claim, and found the Democrats were not representing the whole truth.
“Trump, as president, lobbied Barra endlessly to keep the Lordstown plant open and, once the plant closed, to reopen it with new investment. Soon after the plant’s closure, Trump began brokering a deal to reopen it,” John Binder, reporter for AllSides, said.
The overall implication during the opening night speeches seemed to be that Trump was not “for the people,” as Vice-President Kamala Harris claims to be. As stated by Regina Romero Mayor of Tucson: “Then you have Donald Trump: his extreme agenda is working against everyday Americans. He is fighting for big oil, big pharma, big banks; but most of all, most of all, he is fighting for himself.”
Voters must examine each of the candidates’ platforms, however, and then make their own decisions. Trump states on his website that he wants to “end inflation and make America affordable again.” Moreover, the unemployment rate reached 3.5% while he was president, the lowest it has been in a half-century.
Reproductive rights also took center stage when a video played of Trump saying “Women should be punished” for seeking abortions. The Democrats made it seem like Trump desired to ban abortion nationwide as a means of “punishing” women, but the clip the Democrats played at the DNC is 7 years old, and may not reflect Trump’s current plans and beliefs.
Trump, who is pro-life, has not directly stated his intentions regarding abortion rights, but Vice-Presidential candidate J.D. Vance clarified two weeks ago, “What the President has said very clearly is that abortion policy should be made by the states.”
One of the key moments at the opening ceremony involved a prop (book) meant to represent “Project 2025,” a plan allegedly released by Republicans representing the series of steps needed to transform the U.S. government. Senator Mallory McMorrow presented the book, which the Associated Press describes as a “tool” used to “fight…the conservative-written handbook” on a “bigger new scale.”
In fact, Trump says he does not know who created Project 2025, and he does not want anything to do with the doctrine.
“I know nothing about Project 2025” Trump said. “I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they are saying are absolutey ridiculous and abysmal.”
Ultimately, the DNC, and the RNC before it (to which student press were not invited), demonstrate the need for voters to do their own fact-checking; the decision in November is not one to take lightly, and voters must be “armed” with the facts.
