You won’t be if you rely on all the negative ads and robo calls we are bombarded with every day. The amount of money being spent on advertisements this year is completely unprecedented. But political ads do not create more informed voters. Most are misleading at best, absolute lies at worst.
So where do you get factual, unbiased information on the candidates? As reported earlier this year in the Manchester Review blog- at Votesmart.org, a non partisan, non profit, mostly volunteer organization committed to getting the truth out about candidates. On the web site you can find out all kinds of information on the candidates, some that they don’t really want you to know.
In addition to a “Political Courage Test” (almost all Connecticut candidates for the Senate and Congress refuse to take it- so much for political courage!) Votesmart has candidate biographies, voting records, issue positions, ratings, speeches, and campaign finance information. It tells you to what extent the candidate supports conservative vs liberal causes.
They are also launching VoteEasy .”For the first time, voters in all 50 states will be able to use VoteEasy to find their best match for congress AND president.” They are still processing interest group ratings for every candidate and providing you with transcripts of all their public speeches and statements.
“Vote Smart is more important this year than ever before. You know that half-truths, mis-truths, and downright lies are going to be the norm this November, unless more citizens than ever before get the facts they need, and deserve.” (Votesmart.org)
Votesmart is helpful for getting the real deal on candidates for President, Congress and the Senate- not so helpful for State legislative candidates.
Manchester Review is interested in your opinion of Votesmart. Try it out. Let us know what you think. Comments and questions can be sent to manchesterreview@gmail.com.
