Dakota Beacon

Why are political polling results such big news? Does anyone really believe that the numbers this far out reflect the outcome of the elections? More to the point, will polling sway the electorate substantially this early in the campaign? It is likely that a constant drumbeat over time of poor polling results for any single candidate could have a negative effect. In the end, the only important poll is the one held on Election Day.

People may not recognize the term “push polling” but they do realize that polls can be used to generate news. The dominant media is not above structuring polls so that the results will fit their own biased narrative. This is a form of surrogate negative campaigning on behalf of a candidate of their choice.

As practiced by a biased media, polling becomes a head game toying with the minds of the public. More insidious, it is a way to generate news as a means to an end.

One of the sneakiest tricks of political survey methodology is that of push polling. A telephone survey is the typical medium of execution. The survey begins with a few standard qualifying questions about race, gender, age, income, education – all pretty innocent stuff.

Usually an interviewee is caught off guard when the phone call comes. They are not paying attention and they don’t realize who is calling. Unless they ask they will not know if it is a media outlet, one of the two major political parties or a polling firm hired by a campaign. Even when asked, the caller is trained not to identify themselves or for whom they are calling. The caller may terminate the call if challenged.

Push polling results are designed to influence or change the view of the public by leading them to believe the survey results are legitimate. Respondents answer misleading questions fraught with innuendo, propaganda and rumors. There is no attempt to legitimately analyze the answers. Once conducted, the push poll results generate the news story favoring one candidate and disparaging the other.

For example, the phrase “tax the rich” plays well with many people. Stop and think. The rich have already accumulated their wealth. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet could care less if the federal government raises taxes on the rich. Such a tax does not tax wealth. It taxes income. The rich could give up a large portion of their income in any given year and they would still be wealthy. Besides, a good portion of their wealth is sheltered in tax-free investments. An increase in income tax would not make a dent in their accumulated wealth.

Hillary Clinton supports taxing the rich. In an emotional response to a tainted survey, gullible people support “making the rich pay their fair share.” The news then breaks that Hillary proposes to give people free “stuff” paid for by the wealthy that have not been paying their fair share. In reality, media polling helps pander for votes.

Trump speaks to supporters of the Second Amendment. He encourages them to take care of Clinton in November. Any reasonable person understands Trump means at the ballot box. In no way does he imply assassination. Yet some in the media report that Trump implied assassination because of who he was speaking to. Previous push polling on gun control conditioned many to assume the media narrative. Skew the polling, tabulate the results and then report the biased story.

Trump could sneeze, the media would report how he attacked the environment and a whole new series of polls and skewed news reporting would follow.

Hillary Clinton cannot run on a record of accomplishments. Therefore, with the media’s help, she must run a negative campaign using dirty tricks, attack ads and, yes, push polling. Her campaign will do anything to discourage opposition voters from turning out in November. At this both Bill and Hillary are experts.

As an addendum, take note of the wide disparity between various polls. Also, take note of the wide difference in percentage points between two candidates in a given state. A ten to fifteen point spread is suspicious. Not all polls seek the truth and push polling leads the way.

Let there be no doubt that the mainstream media is campaigning for their presidential candidate. Gone are the days of so-called objective reporting. The New York Times admitted as much in a front page article last week. The media objective today is to suppress voter turnout for the opposition.

Let the voter beware.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).