During this Presidential campaign, the candidates keep complaining that their opponents keep putting words in their mouths or distorting their true records and what they actually have said. In past years, it may have been difficult to unravel the banter to figure out where the candidates truly stood on the issues. Those days are over for truly interested voters, as now they can go to the candidates' respective Web sites to find out how they position themselves.
A case in point is HillaryClinton.com. This robust site covers the waterfront on practically anything anyone wants to know about Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The site covers in detail Hillary Clinton's upbringing in Illinois, her life as a mother and an advocate, her role as First Lady and her experience as a United States Senator. The site does not stop there; rather, it then drills down into Senator Clinton's stands on a variety of important issues.
Details are provided in terms how Senator Clinton, as President, would seek to strengthen the middle class, improve health care choices, end the war in Iraq, tackle energy and environmental challenges, improve schools, restore the standing of the United States in the world community, provide support for parents and children, bolster women's rights, initiate comprehensive government reform, strengthen democracy through fair and honest elections, and reform the immigration system.
Beyond providing content on issues of importance, the site also sets up an action center for interested voters who seek to assist the Hillary Clinton cause. Information is provided to enlist help with respect to candidate support phone calls, Hillary blogs, door-to-door efforts, office work, events, and other assistance.
The site also features the Hillary Hub. The Hub links to numerous news and blog articles covering the Hillary Clinton campaign.
A wide variety of media releases from the Clinton campaign are profiled on the HillaryClinton.com site as well.
The Fact Hub also can be found on the site. This part of the site tries to give the "straight scoop" on the 2008 Presidential election from the Clinton campaign. There are various pieces on the Fact Hub that refer to "false claims" attributed to Senator Clinton.
The site further links to campaign headquarters in states across the country.
The site is proud to boast a nine-page list of endorsements.
And, of course, the site contains photos, an official head shot, and videos with Senator Clinton speaking on a variety of topics.
Not surprisingly, the site provides instructions on how to contribute to the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign.
So, while voters may complain that they do not truly know about the candidates and their positions, arguing that they are bombarded by sound-bite ads and negative back and forth accusations, with very little initiative, voters on their own they can discover the candidates' positions and backgrounds simply by going to their respective Web sites.
Biography
Eric Sinrod is a partner in the San Francisco office of Duane Morris. His focus includes information technology and intellectual property disputes. To receive his weekly columns, send an e-mail to with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line.
Disclaimer: This column is prepared and published for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author's law firm or its individual partners.
Reprinted with permission of Findlaw.com