Polls that use the word "liberal" are automatically biased.

[Cetacea]

Since Reagan began his successful attempt at demonizing the word not too many people are going to admit being one in a Gallup or any other poll.

The democratic party as a whole is still reacting to Reagan (DLC, et all)and we still have many of his top cabinet as talking heads in the media. No wonder then that right after a Gallup poll showing the "liberals"
are a minority, former shit-writer Peggy Noonan hits the airwaves spewing on about how the country has moved to the right...While Obama didn't run as a liberal, he was certainly painted as one in the campaign and was elected by a large majority of Americans.

The recent Gallup Poll was biased.

[renegade000]

1. i suspect if polls were conducted on policy positions individually

This nation would be more 'liberal' than even it realizes.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yes. nt

[zbdent]

11. wasn't there an unbiased poll where the person taking the poll did it online

and when most of them found out which candidate agreed most with what they entered ...

the candidate was Dennis Kucinich?

[Captain Hilts]

2. No. Pollsters try to use the same terms they've used for decades so that data

can be compared.

'Left' is worse.

A split sample using each of the terms in just half the survey would be interesting.

[Cetacea]

4. Even if the definition has "changed"?

"Liberal" has become a negatively charged word in the past thirty years. How can it be used as a control?

[robcon]

7. Have you got a better word.

I agree that the liberal "brand name" has been diminished in stature. But what else should we use? 'Progressive' is just as bad.

[Cetacea]

9. No. I like the word. I'm just pointing out a polling technique.

[Captain Hilts]

15. 'Progressive' also has historic connotations that are not directly relate to today.

It's tough.

[Captain Hilts]

14. 'Left' has even more negative connotations. nt

[timeforpeace]

5. "he was certainly painted as one" Thus you disprove your own theory.

[Cetacea]

6. Not really. How many pols or people openly refer to themselves as liberals?

[krabigirl]

12. Why wouldn't they? Why are people so afraid?

[Cetacea]

16. "Tax and spend Liberals" was one of the rally cries of the Reagan crew.

It worked, and it still carries negative connotations.

[robcon]

22. "Limousine Liberals" was another pejorative term

n/t

[Captain Hilts]

18. This is not Gallup's fault and using the term is common among pollsters. nt

[Cetacea]

20. Perhaps it would be more balanced if they used "neo-con" ?

[Captain Hilts]

21. 'Neo-con' is a term that confuses too many people. It's not part of the vocabulary

outside DC and NYC.

But, if you were to use 'left' that would be the balancer. Absolutely.

[RaleighNCDUer]

24. And wingers using 'liberal' are NOT confused? nt

[Captain Hilts]

25. Discerning the diff between a 'neo' con and a conservative is too confusing for a survey. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

26. Kinda like discerning the diff between 'liberal' and 'communist'. nt

[reformist]

8. 'Progressive' is the best word to use.

'Liberal' can be rehabilitated,with time. 'Left' should never be used, imo.

[krabigirl]

10. Funny, I've never shied away from the word.

[Cetacea]

13. Have you ever run for office?

I don't shy away from it either.

[Captain Hilts]

17. 'Liberal' & 'conservative' are parallel terms as 'lady/gentleman', 'man/woman' 'black/'white' are.

[Cetacea]

19. Points taken. There is no way around it.

[Captain Hilts]

23. It's a tough call. There are too many 'progressives' out there that call themselves

'moderate' or 'middle of the road' or conservative simply because they believe in paying their bills on time.

Really.

The connotations of these terms have really become distorted.

At my firm we NEVER gave folks the choice of saying they were 'moderate' or 'middle' otherwise too many people chose it.