July 26, 2012 4:22PM 

# Fair and Balanced, Think Tank Edition 

By [Caleb O. Brown](https://www.cato.org/people/caleb-o-brown) 

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The website [Capi​tol​Words​.org](http://www.capitolwords.org) allows you to track the use of words uttered by members of Congress. Our intern wrangler, Michael Hamilton, decided to compare uses of the term “Cato Institute” to the names of other think tanks around town. Here’s what he found:

![Media Name: 524142_524281814605_1074049762_n.jpeg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/wp-content/uploads/524142_524281814605_1074049762_n.jpeg?itok=H8lxZHKF) 

Cato is mentioned roughly equally by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. It’s hard to draw conclusions based solely on members’ use of the names of think tanks, but it seems clear that Democrats and Republicans make roughly equal use of Cato research in making appeals to their colleagues and the public.

Note: The Brookings Institution is sometimes misstated as “Brookings Institute,” so both are included.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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