Is FOX News/Opinion Dynamics push-polling? A new poll by FOX News has outlier results with Obama leading by only 3 points when third party candidates Barr and Nader are included, 42-39%, and by 4 points, 45-41%, when they are excluded. The poll’s results for McCain are consistent with other leading polls (in the 40% range), but Obama’s numbers are unusually low (Obama’s been consistently in the 50-47% range across polls).
This poll deserves a closer look. How about the questions FOX News asked voters about the candidates as part of the survey? Check out this one:
“How much do you think Obama loves America?”
The question is not only ridiculous, but it’s anti-Obama bias is obvious when it’s only asked about Obama and not McCain. Ironically, it was McCain, and not Barack, who put his love of country at issue when McCain said in an interview with Sean Hannity that he didn’t truly love his country until he was “deprived of her company” as a Vietnam War POW.
And how about this question included in the FOX News survey:
“Barack Obama has distanced himself from his former pastor Jeremiah Wright because of the controversial and unpatriotic comments Wright made. How much does it trouble you that Barack Obama attended Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s church and listened to Wright’s comments for 20 years?”
Nice. Let’s remind voters of Rev. Wright as we poll them, play the guilt-by-association game, and suggest that Obama sat in the pew for 20 years listening to the edited tape loop of Wright’s most offensive remarks with his eyes pulled open like in Clockwork Orange.
That’s fine, but let’s at least add a few questions to ask about McCain in the next poll. How about:
“McCain would be the oldest president elected to a first term in our country’s history. How disturbed are you about the possibility of having a president afflicted while in office by signs of aging, such as memory loss, loss of bladder control, excessive flatulence, grumpiness, involuntary napping, hearing loss, and/or intolerance for children playing outside loudly?”
Or this one:
“While most Americans believe McCain’s service as a POW during Vietnam was heroic, studies show that veterans who experienced POW imprisonment and torture for five or more years often suffer from lasting psychological harm. How comfortable are you that McCain could have have his finger on the nuclear button while likely suffering from deep psychological scars?
<
3 responses so far ↓
gil // June 22, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Republicans had better be careful about making Wright and other bad associations a question of integrity for Obama. McCain has received a free ride,during the Democratic Primary and hasn’t had to answer questions about the adultery that got he and Cindi in their marriage, the Keating, his rejection of leaders of millions of Christian followers. Be careful, either stick to the issues, or Mccain will be fair game. We’ve got to be careful here.
David C., Chelsea, MA // July 26, 2008 at 6:32 pm
This obvious push poll by Fox “News” needs to be widely condemned by the media. People need to email the various media outlets and tell them to show Fox’s poll tactics for what they are – pure propaganda. (For that matter, ALL of Fox’s tactics are propaganda.) Dan Abram’s “Beat The Press” segment would do well to cover this issue.
Mike - Colorado // October 10, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Thank You!!!
I can’t believe everyone is just citing this piece of propaganda and that no one is calling them out for push polling.
Luckily I found you via google. Keep up the good work my man!