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Full coverage of the first Obama vs. Romney presidential debate of the 2012 campaign season.

By Alex Picone and Tara Jons
07/14/2015 • 03:31 PM EST

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: Click or tap on any techniquesee definition - the definition will be displayed here.
 that appears in bold to show its definition.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Romney's proposed tax cuts make it mathematically impossible to keep taking in the same revenue, even when you also account for growth.[1]
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Romney's tax plan will indeed reduce the share paid by high income individuals.[2]
: accuse of lyingsee definition - reacting to undesirable truths simply with accusations of lies and lying.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Romney's tax plan would raise taxes on middle-income families.[2]
: appeal to compromised authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: Five of the six other studies Romney cites are from people or groups with ties to his campaign.[3]
: post hocsee definition - proclaiming that because something occurred after X, it was caused by X, when no causal relationship at all may exist.
: Taking credit for lowering taxes 18 times, when 11 of those 18 times were just renewals of tax breaks that already existed.[4]
: appeal to compromised authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: The "National Federation of Independent Business" is actually a lobbying group funded in part by Crossroads GPS and the Koch brothers.[5]
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Romney warns that Obama will raise taxes, without mentioning he would only raise them on the top 3%.[6]
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Historical data actually shows that when the top tax rates were at their highest, the unemployment rate was at its lowest.[7]
: appeal to compromised authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: The "National Federation of Independent Business" is a lobbying group funded in part by Crossroads GPS and the Koch brothers.[5]
: dysphemismsee definition - replacing or augmenting otherwise accurate or neutral language with more derogatory or unappealing terms to instill a negative association.
: The term "corporate welfare" portrays certain government aid as unfair or excessive, rather than using a neutral term like "government subsidies." more...
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Obama mentions a special deduction for companies moving overseas, without mentioning it's the same standard deduction for any business that relocates anywhere, not just overseas.[8]
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Of the $90 billion Obama provided to green energy, 60% of it was directed to state and local governments and utility companies, not green energy companies.[9]
: hearsaysee definition - an often malicious statement from a third party that cannot be substantiated.
: appeal to authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: AA There was "a survey done" of small businesses, without specifying who did the survey.
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Many of the people that will "lose" their current insurance under Obamacare, will get insurance under Obamacare.[10]
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Health care spending (not premiums) grew slower than at any time in the last 50 years.[11]
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Romney states that people won't be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions under his plan, without mentioning that's only if they already have health coverage.[12]

Number of techniques detected in the 1:32:51 video runtime:

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES

5 OCCURRENCES

appeal to authority:        
dysphemism:  

DISINFORMATION TACTICS

12 OCCURRENCES

accuse of lying:  
false claim:        
half truth:      
misleading claim:      
post hoc:  

SUMMARY

17 OCCURRENCES

Romney76%
Obama24%

References
1. "Romney's Impossible Tax Promise". FactCheck.org. Published: August 03, 2012.

3. "Ryan says six studies say the math works in Romney tax plan". Politifact. Published: October 15, 2012.

4. "Obama's 18 small business tax cuts - explained". CNN Money. Published: September 24, 2012.

5. "NFIB Exposed: 'Voice Of Small Business' Is A Front, Group Charges". The Huffington Post. Published: September 26, 2012.

6. "What Is Obama's Tax Plan?". Forbes. Published: October 29, 2012.

7. "Tax Cuts Don't Lead to Economic Growth, a New 65-Year Study Finds". The Atlantic. Published: September 16, 2012.

8. "Is there a corporate tax break that ships jobs overseas?". Politifact. Published: September 16, 2014.

12. "Mitt Romney says his health care plan covers pre-existing conditions". Politifact. Published: October 05, 2012.