Poll: Majority of Republicans Believe ACORN Stole the Presidential Election

[Danascot]

WTF? Alternate reality anyone?

As his hopes of winning the congressional election in New York's 23rd district fade, conservative candidate Doug Hoffman is clearly getting desperate. Today he's blaming his loss on "ACORN, the unions, and the Democratic party" who he alleges, without a shred of evidence, tampered with votes to rig the election against him. Never mind that ACORN told David Weigel that they didn't have volunteers in the area, or that it largely operates in poor urban communities, which NY-23 is not. For conservatives, ACORN is shorthand for the evils of the left.

On the heels of that news, Public Policy Polling released this shocking nugget on its blog: "a 52% majority of GOP voters nationally think that ACORN stole the Presidential election for Barack Obama last year, with only 27% granting that he won it legitimately." Say what? More than half of Republican respondents believe the president was elected fraudulently! That's a stunningly high number. It's disturbing, not only as a demonstrable lack of faith in America's democracy but as an expression of wanton ignorance. Worse, it illustrates the effectiveness of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, et al., alongside a well-funded "Stop ACORN" campaign, in creating an atmosphere where unquestioned lies become received wisdom.

Barack Obama won the election by an easy margin. In the end, it wasn't even close. John McCain knew that and delivered his concession speech before 9:30 p.m. Obama didn't just win in the urban areas where ACORN could actually be seen as a force—and which would likely have voted for him regardless of ACORN's participation. He won in places like North Carolina, where ACORN had just eight staffers. There's been no formal challenge to the electoral validity of the votes.There's simply no proof to back up claims that ACORN tampered with ballots. But there is evidence of irresponsible reporting catalyzing misguided fears.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/11/19/poll-majority-of-republicans-believe-acorn-stole-the-presidential-election.aspx

[Politicub]

1. I'm surprised the majority of Americans know who ACRON is

They probably took the question literally. Acorns from oak trees invaded the Liebold machines and gummed up the works.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. What's 52% of 25%? (GOP conspiracy theorists * GOP voters)

About, what, 13%?

I'd be surprised if they even knew anyone from ACORN.

--d!

[Overseas]

3. Do they mean the majority of the 20% of Americans who identify as Republican?

And what is that then, 6% of the US voting public?

"But there is evidence of irresponsible reporting catalyzing misguided fears." -- Now there's a lovely understatement.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. So many people who've had their "brains" hijacked by Faux and right wing spin.

I have no clue as to how to fix it, since truth and facts simply don't work with that bunch. A dangerous lost cause.

[RDANGELO]

5. This shows how much these people are manipulated.

Tribalism is a very strong human instinct. That's how they control them.

[classysassy]

6. Zilch for schools,billions for the military

keep them dumb and we can steal them blind.

[Edweird]

7. It's called 'projection'. R/W S.O.P.