I Finally Got Polled!

LA Times, NBC ^ | 10-22-06 | self

[Panzerlied]

I'll bet they drop you as an "outlier"

[Brad from Tennessee]

Early this year some polling company called me from either Minnesota or Wisconsin, can't remember, and asked if I'd be willing to answer a poll once a week or so. I said I would. They asked a number of demographic questions and said I would be hearing from them. On Sundays, for about a month or so, my phone would ring, I'd answer it, and no one would respond, then they would hang up after a while. I have Caller I.D. After the second time this happened I looked up the area code and it was the same area code as the polling company--which I've forgotten. Anyway, I figured later on one of their poll takers was calling me and hanging on the line long enough to imprint my number on a pen register. Then, perhaps since they knew I was a Republican, filled in the poll questions based on their own leanings. I know. I'm paranoid. But that is why most of these publicized polls are skewed. They are being conducted by part-time workers who are college students, union members, hippies and illegal aliens.

[april15Bendovr]

Usually stating your political party or ideology as being a conservative Republican would disqualify you from even being asked to participate right from the start with most pollsters.

[Edit35]

I finally got polled by a national news group..

What was the name of the group?

I got called about two weeks ago, and it was not a well-known nationally recognized polling outfit like Gallop, or Zogby, or Rasmuessen.

They gave their name so fast I can hardly recall it. It was 'Venus polling group' or something like that.

Anyway, it took about 15 minutes to answer all the questions (and they were definitely skewered against Republicans in very subtle ways.)

Once I realized it was legitimate pollster, my delimma was how to answer. I wanted to answer the questions in ways to put conservative Republicans in the best light, but how to do that??

I had just split seconds to decide how to answer: Should I just be up front and honest about my absolute support for conservative Republican candidates, or should I portray myself as an undecided moderate who has been won over by the GOP because "the Dems are wacky anti-US kooks"?

As a self-proclaimed "moderate voter", would I help show movement toward Republicans if I answered questions while also denouncing the Dems?

Or should I tell the pollster that I never vote Democrat.

Or should I say I voted for Clinton but am now disgusted with the Democrats because of their wimpy position on the War against Islamofascists?

After 15 minutes of topsy turvy questioning, I was confident that I had provided a fairly credible portrayal of an "independant" voter (although I am far from that moniker) who believes the GOP positions to be best for the country.

However, I think I blew it when the pollster asked who I voted for in 2000, Gore or GWB? Followed immediately by 2004, Kerry or GWB?

Somehow I couldn't openly out loud say that I voted for Kerry or Gore, and instead admitted that I voted for GWB both times.

To which the pollster paused for a few seconds, and then said, "Thank you. Our interview is finished."

[festus]

So they mark you down as a vote for the (D) candidate then would be my guess.............

[pollyannaish]

"Do you think that Bush is responsible for the situation in Iraq?"

That is an unanswerable question. Of course the President is responsible for the situation in Iraq. He gave the command to go in based on evidence presented to him. He makes the overarching policy decisions. He is in charge of the men and women making tactical decisions.

That does not mean a person does not support the decision or the policies. Or that the actions of the enemy are his fault.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize the only answer is yes...and 100% of respondents should see it that way.

The difference, however, between us and them is this: do you think of the word "responsible" as a synonym for "blame" or do you think "responsible" means "decision-making problem solver." And therein lies the complete and utter contrast between liberals and conservatives.

Polls are as good at understanding public sentiment as sitting out this election is at sending a clear message.

[stylin19a]

should have told them your mind could be changed.

i was polled last week and told them I was voting straight rat.

The Rats are gunna be shocked when the votes don't match their polling data...which, of course, will trigger "Voter Fraud" alerts

[wodinoneeye]

You should have recorded it and then made it available here on the internet for dissection and criticism of its bias.

Then a public record of the falsity of these polls could be made available. Such evidence can then be pointed to and thrown in the face of these agenda based poll-takers and be used to discredit and denounce them (and bring them into the light of the Sun where they will wither like the dishonest slugs they are.....)

[theDentist]

I really don't recall who did the polling.

[bmwcyle]

Caller ID cause me to never get polled.

[lowbridge]

Your post made it on Newsbusters:

http://newsbusters.org/node/8522

[MHT]

My poll happened on a Sunday evening also. Interestingly, they called a St. Louis resident at 5:30 PM just before that city's team would be playing in the World Series. I know for a fact that at that same time, people were packing the grocery stores and main roads in preparation for game watching. Who did they think would be available in St. Louis on World Series game night--a "typical" Democrat or an uninvolved Republican?

[MHT]

The caller ID read unknown. I only interrupted an ongoing call because my husband was out of town and I was fearful he was calling.

[kevkrom]

I Finally Got Polled!

Is that you, benburch?