Claim: “For his first interview as President, Obama chose Arab TV for an apology.”
Ad(s): “No Apologies. No Weakness. Stop Iran.”
Sponsor(s): Secure America Now
Air Dates: July 15-25, 2012
Total Estimated Spending On This Claim: $338,254
Market(s): West Palm Beach
Stations: WFLX, WPBF, WPEC, WPTV
Politifact Summary: “The ad uses only his comments, “Start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating.” But Obama was discussing how to begin brokering a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians. He was not referring to Iran, as the ad implies. In addition, we don’t agree that those words equate to an apology. In that statement, and a few others, Obama seemed to be acknowledging that past efforts in the Middle East have been imperfect… Nowhere in the interview did Obama use the word “apology,” “apologize” or “sorry.”