GOP candidates and political groups have begun airing a flurry of attack ads in an attempt to win over voters.
One ad by supporters of Mitt Romney is making a lot of claims against Newt Gingrich.
The ad starts by warning voters about President Barack Obama’s plan to give Gingrich the GOP nomination, and then gives voter a list of reasons of why they shouldn’t vote for Gingrich.
But according to Danielle Vinson, who teaches Political Science at Furman University, most of claims are true.
Fact Check #1 “Gingrich was fined $300,000 for ethic violations.”
True: “He provided some misleading information to the Ethics Committee and was found guilty. The $300,000 was to cover the costs of the committee’s investigation of him.
Fact Check #2 “Gingrich took $1.6 million from Freddie Mac.”
True: “They paid him that amount of money, but it is not clear exactly what kind of consulting he did for them. They're not saying a lot about it.”
Vinson says Gingrich was once on the financial institution’s payroll while working a consultant.
Gingrich has stated in the past he never acted as a lobbyist for the firm.
Fact Check #3 “Supports amnesty for illegal immigrants.”
False: “It is actually not as easy a path to legality that Ronald Reagan signed in the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which basically did provide amnesty for people who had been here before a certain date."
Vinson says this accusation is tricky.
Many people have different opinions on the meaning of amnesty. Gingrich has suggested that he would possibly allow people who came to the U.S. illegally to stay, if they had made a life in the country and were law-abiding citizens.
Fact Check #4 “Teamed up with Nancy Pelosi and Al Gore on global warming.”
True: “There's video to prove it in the ad that they made together, and his argument is that he has changed his position on global warming."
Vinson believes the ad is fairly accurate, but misleading since it doesn’t explain the claims.
A pro-Romney Super PAC or political action committee paid for the ad.
Super PACs are not formally affiliated with campaigns, but still try to influence voters.
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