fineprint

Less words, more story.

by Jenn Carbin

In super-partisan times, the willingness to challenge and annoy the likes of both liberal-bashing Treason author Ann Coulter and her political opposite, conservative-baiting filmmaker Michael Moore, is not just commendable. Itís arguably necessary for healthy political discourse in this country.

Just ask the three 20-something editors of the nonpartisan www.spinsanity.com website. Today, their columns are receiving attention -- often positive -- from across the country.

Ben Fritz and Brendan Nyhan are graduates of Swarthmore College, where they met (neither is from Pennsylvania). Along with co-editor Bryan Keefer, they produce weekly columns addressing current political spin, lies and distortions. But unlike many media watchdogs and journalists, they say they don't worry about tipping the scales in favor of either Republicans or Democrats on any given day.

"The press doesn't do this seriously," says Nyhan, who sees "a huge need" for the site. "There's this reticence about saying, åThis side's wrong on an issue.'"

Since starting the site two years ago, the editors have devoted columns to criticizing the tactics of conservative commentator Andrew Sullivan and liberal columnists including Robert Scheer and Molly Ivins. Topics this year include "more excesses from Bush critics" and "myths and misconceptions about Iraq."

Their impact is tangible as Alan Colmes recently confronted Coulter about Spinsanity's devastating review of her book and methodology on his syndicated radio show. (She dismissed Spinsanity as a "big Democratic website.")

On the site Fritz and Nyhan admit in "full disclosure" mode to stints as co-presidents of the College Democrats at Swarthmore in the late '90s. In fact, they even invited Michael Moore to speak there. ("My politics were a little naive," explains Fritz.)

After Fritz, writing on Spinsanity a few years later, called Moore on the "inaccurate, contradictory and confused" information relayed in Bowling for Columbine and his book, Stupid White Men, Moore sidestepped the issues. He reasoned Fritz was miffed that Moore's speech at Swarthmore hadn't gone well and because he didn't respond to an e-mail. Fritz laughs, calling Moore's claim "absurd," and says Moore spoke to a standing room-only crowd.

The guys are even philosophical about hate mail. "We're continually antagonizing half of our readers," says Nyhan, noting that the Spinsanity trio is "talking to book publishers right now."