Ask FactCheck: Week ending October 10

October 10, 2008

Q: Are three former Fannie Mae executives "economic advisers" to Obama?

A: No, claims made in a chain e-mail are false. Jim Johnson advised on non-economic matters but quit after a week. Franklin Raines says he took a "couple of calls" but was never an adviser. We find no evidence Tim Howard ever had a connection to the Obama campaign.

Q: Is Obama's brother really dirt poor in Kenya and living on a dollar a day?

A: CNN tracked down George Obama, and he said that he was "brought up well" and "live[s] well now."

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