FactCheck.org? Deal or dud?

[Ms. Clio]

What's the scoop on FactCheck.org?

Weren't there a couple of threads about this organization here (in GD)recently?


(edited for clarity)

[TSIAS]

1. I haven't read all their articles

Looking at their index of stories, they appear to go after both Democratic and Republican ads.

I thought they did a good job of debunking Bush's "Priorities" ad. I keep looking for their rebuttals as new ads are introduced by Bush.

[prodigal_green]

2. It is ruthlessly non-partisan

and I think it is a great service. It is important that we stay honest in our ads and speeches. On balance, the Republic Party (gonna start saying that because they've begun using "Democrat Party") finds itself on the list more often.

[Cocoa]

3. I think it's total crap

I think the "balance" that it claims is a subtle deception that the entire mainstream media also does.

Its article on Bush AWOL was simply atrocious. It was sloppy, it was ad hominem, it was filled with non sequiturs, it was confusing, and it had absolutely nothing to do with fact checking.

I think that as a whole, the only purpose it really serves is to confuse people, and possibly this is its intention. It definitely doesn't serve its stated intention.

[Malikshah]

4. Weren't they "outed" as being funded by Republicans?

I seem to recall a few mentions of that in a thread--

Especially in light of the commentary on PBS on the pre-convention ads-- totally totally anti-Kerry skewed.

[Ms. Clio]

5. Thanks all for the replies

I also thought I saw a couple of threads in GD recently that "outed" this org as more partisan than they claim. But it's interesting that others feel they are legitimate, and I couldn't find much one way or the other when I googled.

But I'm especially skeptical about the tone and direction of their analysis in several of the pieces currently on the front page, and I don't like their handling of the Bush AWOL story, either.

[lcooksey]

6. Check this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2156417

FactCheck just sent out an e-mail on this subject. You can read it at their website at http://wwwfactcheck.org/miscreports.aspx?docid=229