Republican Delegates on Mars
The New York Times conducted a poll of Republican Delegates to the Convention. You have to wonder what planet these people have been living on for the last eight years. 80% think George Bush is doing a good job and almost 60% think the economy is in good shape. OMG!
Only 7% think it’s more important to provide universal health care than to keep their taxes low. And here’s the capper–80% believe the Invasion of Iraq was a smart move!
Not only are these people out of touch with the general electorate, they don’t even reflect the views of Republicans. If ever there was an example of the “echo-chamber” effect of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh as a Bush propaganda machine, this is it. A small group of far right ideologues (only 6% even support gay civil unions) has captured the Republican party machine. They live in a cocoon of gated communities and self-reinforcing media. They don’t have a clue about the lives of most Americans.
This is clearly why Sarah Palin and not Tom Ridge is the VP nominee.
When they say, “Power corrupts”, this is the kind of thing they are talking about.
When they say, “Power corrupts”, this is the kind of thing they are talking about.
Don’t have time to scrutinise the results, but that feels like a push poll to me.
For example, choose healthcare or reduce taxes – because you can’t have both right? And Republicans have to say ‘Reduce taxes’ because then the public will be able to pay for health insurance etc etc.
Same for the Iraq question – “miltary action” (not an invasion) or stay out (not sanctions or other options). The response requires a B&W admission of a governmental mistake which Republican delegates especially aren’t likely to admit right before the convention, just as they’re not likely to say the President is doing a bad job under the circumstances, etc etc.
Sounds like they got the answers they wanted to hear, frankly. Doesn’t mean I disagree with what these findings suggest, of course…
Don’t have time to scrutinise the results, but that feels like a push poll to me.
For example, choose healthcare or reduce taxes – because you can’t have both right? And Republicans have to say ‘Reduce taxes’ because then the public will be able to pay for health insurance etc etc.
Same for the Iraq question – “miltary action” (not an invasion) or stay out (not sanctions or other options). The response requires a B&W admission of a governmental mistake which Republican delegates especially aren’t likely to admit right before the convention, just as they’re not likely to say the President is doing a bad job under the circumstances, etc etc.
Sounds like they got the answers they wanted to hear, frankly. Doesn’t mean I disagree with what these findings suggest, of course…
Zesty-I’m not sure you could call it a push poll. Question 1,2 & 4 are very straight forward. Question 3, as you pointed out is a bit of a hobson’s choice, but still look how different the delegate response is from the average Republican response.
Zesty-I’m not sure you could call it a push poll. Question 1,2 & 4 are very straight forward. Question 3, as you pointed out is a bit of a hobson’s choice, but still look how different the delegate response is from the average Republican response.
I have to agree with zesty, especially about #3; but then I think that nearly all polls are push polls. My response to “Do you think it’s more important to provide universal healthcare or hold down taxes?” would be, “I don’t respond to simplistic loaded questions that assume that it simply must be entirely one or the other.”
I find it hard to believe that 70% of all Republican voters still think we did the right thing in invading Iraq. I wonder what the current percentage is who still believe that Saddam was connected to 9-11.
I have to agree with zesty, especially about #3; but then I think that nearly all polls are push polls. My response to “Do you think it’s more important to provide universal healthcare or hold down taxes?” would be, “I don’t respond to simplistic loaded questions that assume that it simply must be entirely one or the other.”
I find it hard to believe that 70% of all Republican voters still think we did the right thing in invading Iraq. I wonder what the current percentage is who still believe that Saddam was connected to 9-11.
That question three is a great example of Republican framing of healthcare reform – Zesty’s right on. By viewing the issue as an either/or polarity, it reinforces the underlying idea that healthcare reform will leave people with less money. There’s no room for the idea that people will be left with more money, after factoring in the savings on insurance premiums for individuals and businesses, or corporate profits for the system as a whole (or the divided costs of care for uninsured, etc).
That question three is a great example of Republican framing of healthcare reform – Zesty’s right on. By viewing the issue as an either/or polarity, it reinforces the underlying idea that healthcare reform will leave people with less money. There’s no room for the idea that people will be left with more money, after factoring in the savings on insurance premiums for individuals and businesses, or corporate profits for the system as a whole (or the divided costs of care for uninsured, etc).
Fielding- You are right, but still 40% of average republicans poll for Universal Health Care on that question as opposed to 7% of Republican Delegates.
Fielding- You are right, but still 40% of average republicans poll for Universal Health Care on that question as opposed to 7% of Republican Delegates.
Jon – my understanding is that polls on the issue produce widely varying results as a function of how the question is phrased. Forgive my nitpickiness, but I thought Zesty made a good point and wanted to highlight it.
The idea that Republican delegates are more extreme in their views than most Republicans doesn’t strike me as terribly surprising. The cognitive dissonance must be exhausting.
Jon – my understanding is that polls on the issue produce widely varying results as a function of how the question is phrased. Forgive my nitpickiness, but I thought Zesty made a good point and wanted to highlight it.
The idea that Republican delegates are more extreme in their views than most Republicans doesn’t strike me as terribly surprising. The cognitive dissonance must be exhausting.
Agreed with Z & FB on the misleading nature and effect of push polls (of which this really appears to be one).
And I’m impressed with FB’s reserve in declining to accept such black and white framings by answering at all – knowing, as he does – that regardless of which answer you choose, the very act of answering provides a tacit acceptance of the dichotomy that the question itself represents, and a win for whoever framed the question in the first place.
It’s the reductionism that’s really of concern here. And I think Jon’s right in that, at the extremes, the reductionist views that active party members try to push on everyone else quite often become their own. They go from using black and white questions to sort and manipulate others to simply seeing the world in these terms.
And then they run for office.
Agreed with Z & FB on the misleading nature and effect of push polls (of which this really appears to be one).
And I’m impressed with FB’s reserve in declining to accept such black and white framings by answering at all – knowing, as he does – that regardless of which answer you choose, the very act of answering provides a tacit acceptance of the dichotomy that the question itself represents, and a win for whoever framed the question in the first place.
It’s the reductionism that’s really of concern here. And I think Jon’s right in that, at the extremes, the reductionist views that active party members try to push on everyone else quite often become their own. They go from using black and white questions to sort and manipulate others to simply seeing the world in these terms.
And then they run for office.
Aw, Alex – did you have to bring my mother into it?
Aw, Alex – did you have to bring my mother into it?
One has to wonder – who are the 6% of Democratic voters who believe Bush is doing a good job?
One has to wonder – who are the 6% of Democratic voters who believe Bush is doing a good job?