Web sites you can use to
fight the smears
It’s no secret that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has been the target of a barrage of “Swift-Boat”-type e-mails and ad campaigns.
In today’s information-intensive world, there’s no reason to let these false statements linger long enough to make an impression.
UAW members and their families can find the facts behind any and all such scurrilous attacks, so you can correct the record at your workplace and in your community.
Here are some reliable Web sites you can use to fight the smears, and to find out more information about issues, candidates and ongoing developments in the 2008 campaign:
Fight the Smears
www.my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome
Started by the Obama campaign to debunk Internet and media rumors concerning Obama and his wife, Michelle.
FactCheck.org
A nonpartisan, nonprofit, “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. Monitors 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.
Talking Points Memo
A progressive, Web-based political journalism organization created and run by Josh Marshall. It debuted Nov. 12, 2000, and covers a wide range of topics, including U.S. foreign policy, domestic politics (especially at the federal level) and domestic policy.
Huffington Post
An online, progressive news Web site and aggregated weblog founded by Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer, featuring hyperlinks to various news sources and columnists. The site covers a wide range of topics.
Open Secrets
The Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter, an involved citizenry and a more responsive government. Their award-winning Web site is the most comprehensive resource for campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis available anywhere.
Snopes.com
Snopes (pronounced “snoopes”), also known as the Urban Legends Reference Pages, is a Web site that is the most widely known resource for validating or debunking urban legends, Internet rumors, e-mail forwards and other such stories of uncertain or questionable origin in popular American culture.