Looking for non-partisan information sources

[archeiron]

I spent the evening with my parents last, and the conversation inevitably turned to politics. My wife and I sat outside speaking with my mother and we were amazed at how such an intelligent woman is so misinformed coming up to this election. She did not watch the debates, she has not read up on the candidates, and she is relying upon loose facts that are reallly off base.

I do not want to persuade her to vote for Kerry. She is an intelligent woman and I respect her opinions, so I want her to make an informed decision. The purpose of this thread is not to premeditate to win her vote for one candidate or another.

What amazes my wife is my mother's stance on social issues compared to her current choice of candidate. My mother is pro-choice, she believes in abortion on demand with no questions asked as long as the baby is not able to survive outside the womb. My mother's brother was gay, he died of AIDS and skin cancer in the mid-nineties, but she supports gay rights like civil unions as if he were still alive and it were hurting him not to have it; she felt the sting of having Jon, her brothers partner, unable to stay in the hospital with my mother when her brother died. She is appauled at the idea that people thing that anyone could damage the institution of marriage by opening it up to more people (gays). She thinks that we rushed into the war in Iraq and that we have done a horid job with foreign diplomacy - this stance comes after spending a decade in Europe, and she freely admits that she wouldn't feel this way now if she hadn't lived abroad.

Without going into too much detail, I listened to her describe her position, it sounded like she was a clear Kerry supporter, and then she said that she supports Bush. She was very surprised when my wife, an incredibly intelligent but soft spoken woman, basically laughed at her because her opinions so closely matched Kerry's platform yet she had intended to vote for Bush. It made my mother feel a little stupid, and she has resolved to be better informed before election day.

We have been asked to provide as much non-partisan material as we can to allow her to review the facts before making her mind up.

I started last night by adding http://www.factcheck.org to her bookmarks folder. I added the http://www.whitehouse.gov press room as well, so that she could review what Bush has said he supports over the last four years.

What other sites should would give good material for her to review facts? Is there a good site to review Kerry and Bush's voting record that is purely factual and has visible, clear sources?

I would like to steer clear of party sites because she doesn't like listening to politicians promise things. I would like to steer clear of any sites that make comparisons of the two candidates that reach a conclusion; she won't read something if the author is trying to steer her in one direction or another.

I am asking VV to help me provide her with the facts, so that she can read up over the next couple of weeks before her vote is cast in Florida where it will actually mean something significant.

[Marbus]

Well they are both partisan but have her check out each of the canidates websites. Both are pretty straight forwards on what they believe in regards to the larger issues. I would think, based upon the information you have shared, just visiting those sites would easily swing her to Kerry's side.

Marb

[Rivera Bladestrike]

Did she watch the debates? I think that was the best way to do it...

[Rekaar.]

the best way to go is check out both extremes, then arrive at your own place in the middle. Everyone has their core issue or issues that are most important to them. She'll idientify with one candidate's stand or the other.

Failing that I'd turn on fox.

[Kelshara]

I do hope your ironic there.. considering Fox should be listed as the extreme.

[Lohrno]

I'd firmly say that all news is biased. I mean think about it. What is news? They put stuff out they think is important right? So is anyone truly purely nonpartisan?

-=Lohrno

[Avestan]

wellboth sides constantly quote http://www.factcheck.org.

Not a bad site.

[Aaeamdar]

Not True. The Bush ticket quotes http://www.factcheck.com.

[Sirton]

Just wondering if she has a similar opinion as this woman?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... _1,00.html

Anyways anything you look at will be leaning one way or another.

[miir]

Not True. The Bush ticket quotes http://www.factcheck.com.

I thought he said fatchicks.com

[Chidoro]

Did she watch the debates? I think that was the best way to do it...

According to Arch, she didn't. If there is a way to watch them again I would suggest this as well. Regardless of what you agreed or disagreed with, both candidates points were, largely covered. She could also see just how dodgy each are and get a feel of their personalities

[Winnow]

Did she watch the debates? I think that was the best way to do it...

According to Arch, she didn't. If there is a way to watch them again I would suggest this as well. Regardless of what you agreed or disagreed with, both candidates points were, largely covered. She could also see just how dodgy each are and get a feel of their personalities

The debates are not a good way to make up your mind. Someone with a good presentation style and bad ideas shouldn't be the determining factor. The actual policies clearly defined in written form for both candidates side by side is what's needed. The problem is finding a site that's non biased with that info.

[Xatrei]

I think most would agree that the debates alone aren't the best way to make up one's mind. However, they certainly provide some useful insight into each candidate and their position on various issues, and that is worth exploring.

Get debate transcripts here: http://www.debates.org/