FactCheck.org is a nonprofit website that describes its own goal as "[reducing] the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics." In its efforts, FactCheck says it is nonpartisan. It is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and is funded primarily by the Annenberg Foundation.

Most of its content consists of rebuttals to what it considers inaccurate, misleading, or false claims by politicians. FactCheck has also targeted the misleading claims from various partisan groups.

Topic in the 2004 Vice-presidential debate

FactCheck.org became a focus of political commentary following the 2004 vice-presidential debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. Cheney cited the website, claiming that the independent site defended his actions while CEO of Halliburton. Although FactCheck.org did note that Cheney had not profited directly from Halliburton's Iraq contracts, the issue in question during the debate — criminal investigations and fines levied against Halliburton — was not addressed on the site until after the debate.

Cheney's reference created some controversy because he incorrectly cited the web site's address as "FactCheck.com." At the time of the debate, factcheck.com was controlled by Frank Schilling's company Name Administration Inc., who quickly redirected the address to point to an anti-Bush website owned by Bush critic George Soros.

Criticism

On September 22, 2008, Factcheck.org issued a report entitled "NRA Targets Obama" which discussed television spots and mailers circulated by the National Rifle Association. Factcheck.org concluded that the NRA had "distort[ed] Obama's position on gun control beyond recognition".

In response, NRA member David Kopel published an online article entitled "FactCheck flubs Obama gun fact check". Kopel offered a detailed critique of the Factcheck.org piece, concluding that "The September 22, 2008, FactCheck on the NRA criticism of Obama is marred by the omission of crucial facts, one-sided and misleading presentations of issues, and thinly-concealed political advocacy".

Recognition

In 2006, FactCheck.org received the most votes among the The Top 10 Who are Changing the World of Internet and Politics, a poll hosted by PoliticsOnline and the World E-Gov Forum. The poll, in which 18,000 voters participated worldwide, recognized "people, organizations and companies that are changing the world of Internet and politics." FactCheck.org was also awarded the 2006 Trophée International PoliticsOnline.

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