Lies, Damn Lies, and DailyKOS/Research 2000 Polls
The progressive site DailyKOS recently released their new poll on Republican views conducted by Research 2000. It’s common wisdom that a poll is only worth the quality of it’s questions. By this standard the DailyKOS poll is worth less than the bandwidth used to post it. To say the questions asked in this poll were slanted to give answers they desired would be a gross understatement. The following are some of the questions asked with DailyKOS’s interpretation and mine:
Do you think Barack Obama is a socialist?
Yes 63
No 21
Not Sure 16
That’s the power of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh, after one year of relentlessly claiming Obama is the second coming of Lenin … and Hitler!
DailyKOS gives far to much credit to the influence of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. Actually, the vast majority of Congress could be charged with socialistic tendencies. Apparently, DailyKOS isn’t aware of the definition of socialism.
Do you believe Barack Obama was born in the United States, or not?
Yes 42
No 36
Not Sure 22
We still have over a half of Republicans who don’t think Obama was born in the US or think it’s a matter open to debate.
This question clearly was asked to paint Republicans as “crazy right-wingers” who harbor conspiracy theories.
Do you believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be President than Barack Obama?
Yes 53
No 14
Not Sure 33
Sigh…
Although Sarah Palin hasn’t spent her entire career milking the teat of government, she has had more executive experience than a “community organizer.” Let’s be honest and admit that most recent presidents have had questions regarding their qualifications. In my opinion, the most important qualification is adhering to the Constitution and if we use that standard, the last truly “qualified” president we had was Grover Cleveland.
Do you believe Barack Obama is a racist who hates White people?
Yes 31
No 36
Not Sure 33
I bet more people think Obama is racist, but were too afraid to tell a live operator the truth.
If DailyKOS is in search of people who are racists, they just have to turn their dial to MSNBC and listen to Chris Matthews
Are marrigiages equal partnerships, or are men the leaders of their households?
Men 13
Equal 76
Not Sure 11Should women work outside the home?
Yes 86
No 4
Not Sure 10
Phyllis Schlafly is crying. That looks a lot more enlightened than I expected, likely because the economic reality is that few people can get away with single-income homes. But whatever the reason, on this front, there’s progress.
Oops. There’s a couple of questions that didn’t go their way. Sorry to disappoint DailyKOS, but perhaps you haven’t realized that it’s 2010 and most people, let alone Republicans are cool with women working.
Do you believe that the only way for an individual to go to heaven is though Jesus Christ, or can one make it to heaven through another faith?
Christ 67
Other 15
Not Sure 18
Two-thirds of Republicans assume anyone that is not a Christian is going to hell. It certainly makes it easier for them to dehumanize their enemies, either real or perceived.
I’m not sure which rock the DailyKOS bloggers have been living under but nearly %90 of Americans call themselves Christian. Sorry to rain on your secular parade but believing in Heaven and Jesus Christ kinda goes with the whole “Christian” theology, whether they are Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Independent.
There’s many more ridiculous questions related to gays, abortion, same-sex marriage and every other divisive issue they could conjure in the full version of DailyKOS’s poll if you are in the mood for some laughs and want examples of how not to do an accurate poll. I’m quite certain that I could come up with some questions tailored to make progressives look downright silly as well….wait a minute…they don’t need any help with that.
I usually agree with your article content, but in this case I am sorry to say that I do not share your views.
That’s okay…I wouldn’t expect everyone to agree with me all the time. Sometimes I even disagree with myself…;-) Thanks for reading.
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Perhaps the politicians should listed to what Rush Limbaugh is saying….he’s more popular (and sensible) than they are all put together!