Iowa Push-Polling controversy continues nationally

[CornField]

From Feb. 22nd WaPo blog: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/02/parsing_the_polls_unmasking_th.html

In at least two House districts (held by Iowa Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell and New York Republican Rep. John Sweeney) voters have received a call posing as a survey. Two questions are posed. The first says: "Al Gore strongly criticized President Bush for wiretapping American citizens without a warrant. Congressman Leonard Boswell supports President Bush's wiretapping program." Voters can push "1" if they agree with the President, "2" if they disagree and "3" if they're not sure. Pushing "3" leads the respondent to a second question: "Do you support the re election of Congressman Leonard Boswell?" Again, you can push "1" if you support the Iowa Democrat and "2" if you don't. The call then terminates.

Why would a group -- even anonymously -- use these tactics? Blumenthal's theory revolves around White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove's recent comments that the 2006 election should be decided on the issue of national security.

Quoting Blumenthal: "Someone out there would like to see Rove's hoped for 'debate' occur in as many Congressional races as possible. So they are making thousands of calls into Districts held by moderate Democrats spreading the rumor that those officeholders support Bush on wiretapping. They know that Democratic partisans... will be outraged and put pressure on their representatives to harshly criticize Bush on wiretapping. If the members respond to the pressure, the dirty tricksters get the debate they hoped for. If not, the Democrats are forced to put out fires ignited by the push poll in their base."

There's also more info on Marc Blumenthal's site: http://www.mysterypollster.com

[rurallib]

1. Dirty tricks by Rove? what a surprise!

Those assholes will twistevery little word to put Dems on the defensive and make them look confused and weak. And it will peak @ Nov. 1.
If you get called ask to speak to a supervisor. If it is an automated call, hang up.
On edit - these guys are just despicable as are the assholes on Fox that will take the so-called 'results' and trumpet them to prove that Dems are weak and Reps are the daddys.
God I'd love to meet one of these pukes face to face. But they can't have a civil conversation.