Published: January 14, 2008 03:04 pm         

Check out the Web site www.factcheck.org

As the days wind down to the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primary, of which Oklahoma will be a part, many voters may receive blanket e-mails or reports claiming certain “facts” about particular presidential candidates.

Voters also may be tuning in to debates of candidates of both parties over the next few weeks or seeing more political advertising.

There are resources out there voters can turn to in order to get accurate information about what the candidates are saying or about what is being said about the candidates, but the source I like the best is Factcheck.org.

Factcheck.org appears to be a nonpartisan Web site that takes a look at allegations or claims and dissects them bit by bit. They say they monitor the factual accuracy of what is being said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. They also take a look at those blanket e-mails.

The Annenerg Political Fact Check is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The Factcheck.org Web site says the APPC accepts no funding from business corporations, labor unions, political parties, lobbyists, etc. It is funded by the non-profit Annenberg Foundation.

I have this Web site bookmarked on my computer and check it regularly. I have been pleased with what I have seen as far as “equal-opportumity” coverage of both political parties and what they and their candidates are putting out.

I would encourage Enid area voters to check this resource to see the validity of any e-mails they may receive or to check facts presented by candidates.

Recent activity includes breaking down recent debates, dissecting e-mails being sent out about Barack Obama, etc.

What I have found out is every candidate seems to embellish his or her records, and it’s up to the individual voter to try to stay informed. It’s a great resource and one I highly recommend.