Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.

Barack Obama got many campaign contributions from Goldman Sachs

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/28/moore.michael.gi.art.jpg caption="Filmmaker Michael Moore speaks at a rally and march to Wall Street on September 22, 2009 in New York City."]

Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore has a new film coming out - Capitalism: A Love Story - and he appeared on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report to promote it.

The show's ironically conservative host, Stephen Colbert, defended capitalism and the bailouts of late 2008, which led to a mock debate between them.

At first, Wall Street was actually angry about the bailouts, Colbert claimed. "because it might come with strings attached," he explained. "But they forgave Obama when he didn't add any. Now all is forgiven."

"That's why you like Obama so much now?" Moore asked.

"I don't like Obama so much," Colbert said. "On this, I do. And your film is helping me like Obama, because you're a critic of his. You think he's in the pocket of guys like Goldman Sachs."

"I point out in the film that Goldman Sachs is his No. 1 private contributor," Moore answered. "But I voted for the guy. I'm still hopeful that he's going to do the right thing and side with us, and not Wall Street. But the jury's out on that."

We'll let you draw your own conclusions on their debate. We wanted to check Moore's statement about Obama's contributors and the financial services firm Goldman Sachs.

The Truth-O-Meter says: TRUE

Read more: Goldman employees gave close to $1m

FULL POST

Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.

Cost-shifting of uninsured is debated by the experts

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/21/obama.stephanoupolous.art.jpg caption="President Obama in an interview on "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos."]

President Barack Obama went on the Sunday news shows to make the case for health reform.

This Week host George Stephanopolous questioned Obama on his support for an individual mandate, which requires everyone who can find affordable coverage to purchase health insurance.

Obama defended the matter as a fairness issue to people who now have coverage.

"Here's what's happening," Obama said. "You and I are both paying 900 bucks on average - our families - in higher premiums because of uncompensated care. Now, what I've said is that, if you can't afford health insurance, you certainly shouldn't be punished for that. That's just piling on.

"If, on the other hand, we're giving tax credits, we've set up an exchange, you are now part of a big pool. We've driven down the costs, we've done everything we can, and you actually can afford health insurance. But you've just decided, 'You know what? I want to take my chances,' and then you get hit by a bus, (then) you and I have to pay for the emergency room care."

The Truth-O-Meter says: HALF TRUE

Read more: Another study contests that figure

Health care advocacy group blasts insurers for CEO pay packages

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/21/hcan.ceo.art.jpg caption="The ad from Health Care for America Now says insurance CEOs make $24 million a year and that insurers deny 1 in 5 treatments prescribed by doctors."]

Supporters of health care reform have portrayed insurance company CEOs as overpaid villains. In a recent television ad, Health Care for America Now, a group supporting the Democrats' health care reform bill, takes direct aim at the CEOs.

The group's ad mockingly explains "how to get rich" by showing a "book" written "by America's health insurance companies." Chapter 2 reads, "Pay your CEO $24,000,000 a year." A news release issued by HCAN attributed the assertion to the entry for Ronald A. Williams, CEO of insurance giant Aetna, in the 2008 Forbes magazine executive compensation survey.

The Truth-O-Meter says: BARELY TRUE

Read more: Cherry-picking highest number

TV ad overstates health insurance denials

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/21/hcan.ad.denied.art.jpg caption="The ad from Health Care for America Now says insurance CEOs make $24 million a year and that insurers deny 1 in 5 treatments prescribed by doctors."]

Supporters of health care reform have portrayed insurance companies as insensitive and too quick to deny claims. In a recent television ad, Health Care for America Now, a group supporting the Democrats' health care reform bill, says insurance companies get wealthy by denying those claims.

The group's ad mockingly explains "how to get rich" by showing a "book" written "by America's health insurance companies." Chapter 3 reads, "Deny 1 out of 5 treatments prescribed by doctors." A news release issued by HCAN attributed this statistic to a study released Sept. 2, 2009, by the California Nurses Association titled, "California's Real Death Panels: Insurers Deny 21% of Claims."

The Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE

Read more: Health insurers reject claims, but not that many

Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.

Obama says preventive care saves money. It doesn't.

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/09/09/obama.speech/art.obama.speech.03.pool.jpg caption="President Obama speaks to a joint session of Congress on September 9th, 2009."]

President Barack Obama defended his health care plan in a speech to a joint session of Congress, promoting the benefits of reform for those who already have coverage.

One of those benefits, he said, is that insurers will be required to cover checkups and other preventive care.

"Insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies — because there’s no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer before they get worse," Obama said. "That makes sense, it saves money, and it saves lives."

It may make sense and save lives, but does it save money? Experts say no.

The Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE

Read more: Covering preventive care for everyone is a net cost

Boehner says abortion access was always a key goal for Obama health plan

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/10/boehner.john.getty.art.jpg caption="House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) speaks on Capitol Hill on June 17, 2009 in Washington, DC. "]

As a candidate, President Obama "declared that everyone deserves access to reproductive health care that includes abortion, and vowed that this 'right' would be at the heart of his health care reform plan if elected president."

-John Boehner on Thursday, September 10th, 2009 in a statement from the Minority Leader's office

The Truth-O-Meter says: TRUE

Read more: Obama's wording was coy, but Boehner's basically right

Boustany and other Republicans say health care plan would create 53 new government bureaucracies

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/14/boustany.art.jpg caption="Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) on Capitol Hill February 6, 2007 in Washington, DC."]

The Democratic health care bill in the House would "create 53 new government bureaucracies."

-Charles Boustany on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 in response to President Obama's health care address to Congress

The Truth-O-Meter says: BARELY TRUE

Read more: Not that many

Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.

Republican Party of Florida says Obama will "indoctrinate" schoolchildren with "socialist ideology"

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/08/greer.jim.cnn.art.jpg caption="Florida RNC Chairman Jim Greer appears on CNN September 07, 2009."]

Schoolchildren across the nation "will be forced to watch the president justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other president."

-Republican Party of Florida on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 in a press release

The Truth-O-Meter says: PANTS ON FIRE

Read more: We didn't realize studying hard was socialist ideology

Weiner mangles details of health care reform

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/08/weiner.anthony.art.gi.jpg caption="Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) on January 12, 2009 in New York City."]

"Under the plan, for the first five years your employer not only has to keep the coverage, but you can't migrate to the public plan."

-Anthony Weiner on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 in an interview on "Fox and Friends"

The Truth-O-Meter says: BARELY TRUE

Read more: Getting the details wrong

Barack Obama poll after seven months shows him behind other presidents

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/08/gingrich.art.gi.jpg caption="Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) on Capitol Hill, March 25, 2009 in Washington, DC."]

"Since World War II, only Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton have had worse ratings after seven months than President Obama."

-Newt Gingrich on Sunday, August 30th, 2009 in an op-ed in The Washington Post

The Truth-O-Meter says: TRUE

Read more: Seven months in, Obama lags"

Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele says VA has a manual that encourages vets to commit suicide

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/31/steele.michael.gi.art.jpg caption="RNC Chairman Michael Steele addresses a meeting of state party chairmen May 20, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland."]

The Department of Veterans Affairs has "a manual out there telling our veterans stuff like, 'Are you really of value to your community?' You know, encouraging them to commit suicide."

-Michael Steele on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 in a Fox News interview

The Truth-O-Meter says: PANTS ON FIRE

Read more: VA does not encourage suicide

Health care bill does not 'force' employers to drop coverage

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/31/brown.ginny.gi.art.jpg caption="Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) on Capitol Hill March 30, 2006 in Washington, DC. "]

"Any government-run 'public' plan ... forces more employers to drop employee coverage due to rising costs and pay an additional 8% payroll tax for each worker."

-Ginny Brown-Waite on Monday, August 24th, 2009 in a mailing

The Truth-O-Meter says: BARELY TRUE

Read more: Creative interpretation of the health bill

Boxer claims that it costs $1,100 per person to cover the uninsured

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/31/boxer.barbara.gi.art.jpg caption="Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on Capitol Hill April 2, 2008 in Washington, DC."]

"It's costing every American who is insured $1,100 to pick up the cost of uncompensated care that goes on at the emergency room."

-Barbara Boxer on Monday, August 10th, 2009 in an interview with Rachel Maddow

The Truth-O-Meter says: BARELY TRUE

Read more: There's some dispute over the "hidden health tax"

Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.

Who are the uninsured? Hatch's take.

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/24/hatch.orrin.gi.art.jpg caption="Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on Capitol Hill July 14, 2009 in Washington, DC."]

If you don't count illegal aliens, people who qualify for other insurance, and people who make more than $75,000 a year, "it leaves about 15 million people" who are uninsured.

-Orrin Hatch on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 in an interview on Fox News

The Truth-O-Meter says: HALF TRUE

Read more: A back-of-the-envelope estimate

Sanders says U.S. doubles every other country in per capita health spending

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/24/sanders.bernie.gi.art.jpg caption="Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill March 3, 2009 in Washington, DC."]

"We spend twice as much per capita on health care as any other nation on Earth."

-Bernie Sanders on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 on the Rachel Maddow Show

Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE

Read more: As long as Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Austria and others aren't "nations on Earth"

At 59, GOP Congressman says he couldn't get a hip replacement in Canada or England

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/24/blunt.roy.gi.art.jpg caption="U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) speaks at a press conference on October 3, 2008 in Washington, D.C."]

"I'm 59. In either Canada or Great Britain, if I broke my hip, I couldn’t get it replaced."

-Roy Blunt on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 in an editorial board meeting with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Truth-O-Meter says: PANTS ON FIRE

Read more: You're nowhere near too old for a hip replacement, Congressman