Ouch, I have been PUSH POLLED (I feel so violated)

[Milo_Bloom]

So I am just sitting working at my computer when the phone rings and someone identifying themselves as being from the "Voter Research Group" asks me if I would like to take a political survey. I wish I had a tape recorder so I could get the exact words, but alas...

It starts off fairly innocent, do you approve of Bush, do you approve of Pelosi, blah blah blah.

But, we started getting into specific policy questions and we get to things like this. (Not exact wording, but this is the idea)

"Democrats in congress are trying to pass a bill that contains a timetable for withdrawl in a Iraq and President bush has promised to VETO, which statement is closer to your views."

"Democrats shouldn't waste time on a bill destined to fail and should concentrate on getting adequate funding for our troops"

"Democrats should continue to push for a timetable, even if it is a waste of time."

(it was phrased more eloquently, but that was the gist of the choices).


Then there was this gem (and this was more the way they arranged the questions.)


Democrats in congress are currently attempting to raise taxes to pay for programs that were cut by the bush administration. Do you approve?

This was followed by several questions about how the democrats raise taxes and republicans keep them low (including quotes from leaders, etc...)

Then came the fun one...

Who do you think can better spend your money, you or the federal government (And THAT question is quoted exactly! When they asked this question my response was, "That's not a question, it is a talking point")

And that section ended off with...

Who do you trust more to keep taxes low, The Democrats or Republicans?

I have to say after the way they led up to it, it actually felt silly to say the Democrats, because all of the previous questions were about how the democrats were trying to raise taxes.


It asked about whether the "troop withdrawl" taking place in December is a sign of victory or defeat, but didn't enable me to say 'neither, it is people who were already scheduled to come home post surge'.

When they asked about Iraq it was phrased in a way that if you said you wanted to pull out now you were essentially saying, "I want to declare defeat, bring the troops home and allow Iraqi's to kill each other" (again, more eloquent than that, but that was the impression you were left with).

They also asked about the AMT (alternative minimum tax) and phrased it in such a way that you would think the democrats are fighting to make the AMT apply to middle class families and the republicans are trying to do away with this unjust taxation. When they got down to the nitty gritty on that one, the question was

Do you want to go with the Democrats plan of removing the AMT and recovering the money by creating more taxes on businesses and wealthy Americans (notice they used "businesses" instead of "corporations", so they make it should like they are going to tax the corner bakery).

or

Do you want to go with the Republicans plan of removing the AMT and recovering the money by controlling spending.


I could easily see how someone who is just a little less informed could walk away from that poll thinking that we need to stay in Iraq and shouldn't allow the democrats to control policy.

I think what frightens me even more is that it is entirely possible that this WASN'T a push poll, but that the person who wrote the poll actually believes these are the choices we have to make.

[hlthe2b]

1. So what did you say to the pollster?

[Milo_Bloom]

4. I mostly answered the questions.

There were a few questions where I shot back (Like the who do you trust to spend your money, yourself or the federal govermment and I told him, "that's not a question, it's a talking point")

But it became very clear to me that this was someone doing a job, probabably a temp job and he didn't have any vested interest in my answers (and may have even enjoyed my unique point of view on a couple of things), since he would kinda laugh and then say, "That's not one of my choices".

I keep going back and forth in my head as to whether this was just a push poll trying to convert me OR a real honest poll written by an idiot who actually believed these are valid questions.

[magellan]

2. I'd tell them where to stick their "poll" when the bias became obvious

At least then they wouldn't have my responses to use in their agenda.

[Sal Minella]

7. I tell them "I have to choose NONE OF THE ABOVE, so you'd better go on to your next phone number."

[Lasher]

3. Take a long hot shower.

"Do you want to go with the Republicans plan of removing the AMT and recovering the money by controlling spending."

Didn't say what spending would be controlled, did they? Hint: They're talking about gutting social programs.

[Milo_Bloom]

5. That was one I got him to laugh on.

Because when he asked it I answered, "How about we use the money we are wasting on the war?"

[Lasher]

6. Hah!

I'm proud ta know ya!