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A Large Margin
of Error
May 1, 2001
by Ken Alford
The reporting of the results of the latest ABC-Washington Post poll is
a perfect example of what is wrong with our national media. Every TV station
and major newspaper across this nation boldly proclaimed that 63% of the
people approved of the job the pResident was doing. However, on a closer
analysis, we see that the majority of respondents did not think the present
Resident even understood their concerns. The headlines could have read,
"Majority of Americans Do Not Think President Understands Problems."
Furthermore, 66% thought it was more important to provide needed services
than to cut the size of government. Also, 66% thought the pResident cared
more about big business and corporations than about "normal" people. The
headlines could have read, "Bush Cares More For Corporations Than People."
We should note that it is not the polls that are faulty. It is not even
the results of the polls. It is the "reporting" of the results. From every
question in the poll, there was a clear indication that the people did
not agree with Bush's policies. By more than 80%, the people polled thought
Bush was more interested in "economic growth" and oil exploration than
in the environment. The headlines could have said, "Vast Majority Disagree
With Bush On Environment."
However, we were told that 63% of the people approve of the job the pResident
is doing. Only 32% disapproved. From the job approval question alone,
these numbers are to be expected. Even Bill Clinton had high job approval
ratings during the height of the McCarthyite impeachment hearings.
Unless Bush is caught in bed with a corpse or a young boy, we can expect
his "job approval" to remain high - so long as we have a good economy
- even though the obvious conclusion from the poll was that the majority
of people do not agree with Bush's priorities and he does not understand
the problems of average Americans. The media and the Repugnant Party wish
for us to believe that Bush is as popular as their idol, Reagan. But Democrats
should not be deceived. This pResident is wading in deep doo-do.
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