The real political facts at FactCheck.org

[minnie61650]

This is a good site to get the real facts about the debates, TV ads and political campaigns.

http://factcheck.org/

About FactCheck.org
Our Mission

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

 

[minnie61650]

Bump

 

[DawnCt1]

Lets put it in perspective. There are 7 guys who are fact check. Sometimes they get it right. Sometimes they get it wrong. They are only human. Frankly, I was surprised that they had such a small staff.

 

[rie'smom]

Actually, no factcheck is NOT a good place to check facts. It's backed by the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Senator Obama was the first Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which was a Division, or Project, of the Annenberg Foundation.

BTW, Bill Ayers was a “key founder” of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.

 

[DancingBear]

Yes, the Annenberg Foundation funded millions to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge as part of the Annenberg Challenge seeking to improve education. But to say that in itself renders FactCheck.org unreliable is ridiculous. The Annenberg who founded the Annenberg Foundation was Walter H. Annenberg, who was appointed by Nixon as ambassador to Great Britain. He and his wife Leonore were good friends of the Reagans (Reagan appointed Leonore Chief of Protocol), and Leonore (who is chairman and president of the Annenberg Foundation) supports McCain.

 

[bsnyder]

In past election cycles, I found factcheck.org to be fairly reliable. They attempted, more often than not, to stick to the facts.

Unfortunately, this election cycle they have clearly let their non-partisan image slip. They are now much more likely to inject opinion into their articles - they frequently use strawmen arguments, and they attempt to "interpret" the "true" meaning behind a candidate's ad.

 

[DancingBear]

bsnyder, I have some of the same issues with some of their work. I don't think it's because they're partisan, I think it's because they're sloppy, or incomplete, or just trying to stretch their role. But I can sift through some of that stuff myself--at least they show sources for the basic factual disputes.

 

[rie'smom]

Annenberg was a Republican and I'm well aware of his past association with Nixon. He left the foundation. He's probably flipping over in his grave.
BTW, the Annenberg Challenge was a failure. I Goofled it to try to find 1 positive article. The only 1 was from the Annenberg foundation itself.

 

[bsnyder]

bsnyder, I have some of the same issues with some of their work. I don't think it's because they're partisan, I think it's because they're sloppy, or incomplete, or just trying to stretch their role. But I can sift through some of that stuff myself--at least they show sources for the basic factual disputes.

Stretch their role? Could you explain further?

And I agree that they have some limited value, because they do provide links.

But they have definitely injected more opinion into their articles in this cycle. That would seem to be the very antithisis of what they were designed to do - just check the facts. We have more than enough political opinion journalism.

 

[minnie61650]

Bump

 

[Holly]

Factcheck.org is a valuable, nonpartisan source.

The accusation that they're pro-Obama is completely groundless. Walter Anneberg was a prominent Reaganite Republican and his wife, the curator of his estate, has given the maximum allowable amount to the McCain campaign. It's Annenberg's money that funds Factcheck.

 

[rie'smom]

Factcheck.org is a valuable, nonpartisan source.

The accusation that they're pro-Obama is completely groundless. Walter Anneberg was a prominent Reaganite Republican and his wife, the curator of his estate, has given the maximum allowable amount to the McCain campaign. It's Annenberg's money that funds Factcheck.

No, it's Annenberg's foundation. This is quite different. My husband's family has a foundation and the money is not always donated in a way that pleases the family. A foundation has a board and they determine where and how the money is spent. An individual can control how their money is spent.
Family politics=there will be a coup at the next foundation meeting.

 

[DancingBear]

No, it's Annenberg's foundation. This is quite different. My husband's family has a foundation and the money is not always donated in a way that pleases the family. A foundation has a board and they determine where and how the money is spent. An individual can control how their money is spent.
Family politics=there will be a coup at the next foundation meeting.

Leonore Annenberg is the current chairman and president of the Foundation. She has effective control of the Board and how the money is spent, within the structure of the Foundation (she can't just buy herself a house with the money).

But since you understand the concept of independent boards, I guess we can dispose of the idea that Bill Ayers had control of the Chicago Annenberg Project.

 

[Took]

Leonore Annenberg is the current chairman and president of the Foundation. She has effective control of the Board and how the money is spent, within the structure of the Foundation (she can't just buy herself a house with the money).

But since you understand the concept of independent boards, I guess we can dispose of the idea that Bill Ayers had control of the Chicago Annenberg Project.

No, if it's not negative about BO, then many of these folks WON'T believe it. They cling to lies manufactured by the extremist REpublicans.

 

[corndog]

Factcheck is extremely biased and is losing credibility rapidly.

 

[Mr Man]

Annenberg was a Republican and I'm well aware of his past association with Nixon. He left the foundation. He's probably flipping over in his grave.
BTW, the Annenberg Challenge was a failure. I Goofled it to try to find 1 positive article. The only 1 was from the Annenberg foundation itself.

Hi, can I please borrow "Goofle" from time to time. I know it was a typo but it "works" for me......



Yes, Annenberg would be disturbed. In the same way that Sen John Heinz III would be disturbed how his legacy has been honored by his wife.........

 

[bsnyder]

Leonore Annenberg is the current chairman and president of the Foundation. She has effective control of the Board and how the money is spent, within the structure of the Foundation (she can't just buy herself a house with the money).

But since you understand the concept of independent boards, I guess we can dispose of the idea that Bill Ayers had control of the Chicago Annenberg Project.

We really don't know how the board is structured, even if she's the chairman and president. Most family foundations allow all family members to direct some of the money. And several of the Annenberg family members who are trustees are extremely liberal, and have never given a dime of support to Republicans. You can look it up on opensecrets.org.

But Bill Ayers did control the Chicago portion of the Annenberg challenge. The grants were specifically given out without regard to the political leanings of the cities and groups awarded grants. My reading of the Challenge history is that they wanted to try out a variety of educational reform ideas, including very liberal ones.

 

[rie'smom]

Hi, can I please borrow "Goofle" from time to time. I know it was a typo but it "works" for me......



Yes, Annenberg would be disturbed. In the same way that Sen John Heinz III would be disturbed how his legacy has been honored by his wife.........

 

[DancingBear]

But Bill Ayers did control the Chicago portion of the Annenberg challenge.

How did Ayers "control" the Chicago Annenberg Challenge? He wasn't on the Board of Directors. He was head of the separate "Collaborative" body.

 

[DancingBear]

Factcheck is extremely biased and is losing credibility rapidly.

Then somebody better tell the McCain/Palin campaign to stop referencing them in their ads.

Care to point to errors by Factcheck?