Gearing Up For the Election

Now that the conventions for the two largest political parties are over, the candidates are racing neck-in-neck through the final stretch of the presidential race. Voters, especially those who are as yet undecided, are being bombarded with tons of information, not all of it truthful or relevant. So, we’ve compiled a list of resources for the election that we feel are helpful and (mostly) objective.

BOOKS:

Most of these were written before the two major candidates were nominated, but they are still relevant.

• Choosing the President 2008: A Citizen’s Guide to the Electoral Process – edited by Bob Guldin for the League of Women Voters
• Election 2008: A Voter’s Guide – by Franklin Foer and the editors of the New Republic
• The Undecided Voter’s Guide to the Next President: Where the Candidates Come From, What They Believe, and How to Make Your Choice – by Mark Halperin

Books written by the candidates:

• Faith of My Fathers and Worth the Fighting For: A Memoir by John McCain
• Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama

WEBSITES:

Because basically anyone can put up a web page, we’ve chosen these sites as those where you’ll find guidance from people who aren’t necessarily working an agenda.

• Smartvoter.org – Run by the League of Women Voters, this site will provide information on the candidates, the electoral process, and links to local sites.
• Project Vote Smart – This site, run by a non-partisan volunteer staff, is another good resource for looking at the candidates’ records and statements.
• Rock the Vote – With a youthful slant, this site provides information on the candidates with a focus on the issues that appeal to younger voters.
• FactCheck.org – Billed as a “consumer-advocate” site, this page is run by the folks at the Annenberg Center.
• OpenSecrets.org – This site is run by the Center for Responsive Politics and provides information on campaign finance, lobbying, and other issues.

Candidate Websites:

• Barack Obama
• John McCain

Political Parties:

• Democratic Party
• Green Party
• Libertarian Party
• Reform Party
• Republican Party

This information should give you a more reasonable, balanced account of the election process this fall. The only position we wholeheartedly endorse is that of encouraging people to use their voice this November 4th and VOTE!