One of the greatest things about the advent of blogging in our political discourse is the fact that claims and assertions can be immediately fact-checked. Of course, it means that lies and misinformation can also spread rapidly, but well written political commentary should come with links to primary sources that backup the essentials of that argument.

Media Matters has been one of the most important voices for truth in politics. It has spent years criticizing media outlets for their credulity in reporting claims by pundits, politicians and others. Now, they’re taking their skills and applying them to the politicians themselves on a new site, Political Correction. Here’s a taste.

Massey Energy, the Virginia-based coal company currently under federal investigation after an explosion at its Upper Branch coal mine in West Virginia killed 29 miners earlier in the year, has received a safety award from an industry group.

…

In a press release, beleaguered Massey CEO Don Blankenship – who several years ago spent considerable sums of money getting a coal-friendly judge elected to the West Virginia Supreme Court – gloated, “All of these awards are well deserved recognition of how our members are committed to working safely and that Massey’s safety culture is effective throughout the organization.”

The safety culture Blankenship alludes to is quite elusive. – Political Correction

Go. Read.Here at Loudoun Progress, we hope to provide a small slice of the service that Media Matters provides on a national basis. We hope to be accurate and truthful in revealing the disingenuous motives and simple falsehoods at the root of some of our political opponents’ assertions and campaigns. And when and where we are wrong, we hope you’ll give us an opportunity to get it right.

Because in politics, as in life, the truth does matter.

“We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to

tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” -Thomas Jefferson to William Roscoe, 1820.