Here's an interesting lesson in how to bias poll results. Compare this new Here's an interesting lesson in how to bias poll results. Compare this new CBS poll on public opinion following Barack Obama's speech last week on race in America with this new poll from Insider Advantage. Note the different phrasing and significantly different results.
In the Insider Advantage poll, folks were asked if they are "aware" of the "situation regarding Sen. Barack Obama's church pastor," and 82 percent said they were. Eighty-three percent said they are "aware of Obama's speech on Tuesday" in which he "addressed the issue of his pastor." "Taking all this into account," 20 percent said they were more likely to vote for Obama and 49 percent said they were less likely to. Note the lack of any concrete statements about what the speech was about, and the prolific use of ambiguous scare words to create the impression of controversy. When people are asked about the substance of the speech, however, the results were considerably different. From the CBS poll:
Sixty-nine percent of voters who have heard or read about Obama's speech say he did a good job addressing the issue of race relations, and 63 percent of voters following the events say they agree with Obama's views on race relations. Seventy-one percent say he did a good job explaining his relationship with Wright.
This really just goes to show the degree to which the perception of controversy fans the flames of animosity and distrust. Asked to engage in the real issues, people are both more understanding and more likely to agree with Obama's assessment of race in America offered in the speech. Of course, the folks over at The National Review are heralding the Insider poll since it helps them perpetuate the idea that Americans are turning away from the scary black candidate. They seem to think it's the more honest assessment of the impact of the speech, because Insider Advantage "carefully crafted the poll’s questions" so as not to mention "race" or "controversy." Right, because ambiguity and insinuation always make for better poll results. At least when you're The National Review.
--Kate Sheppard
