Government

Fact Check: Obama’s 80% of Americans Are ‘Sold’ Claim Is Skewed

Last week, president Obama made the bold claim that 80 percent of Americans support a resolution that includes a mixture of budget cuts and tax hikes. This seems like an awfully generous number considering that the president’s claim is entirely based on a poll. One would assume that he took the poll’s margin of error into consideration before he spoke. But this may be hoping for too much.

True, there are several polls that suggest, as Obama said, that Americans are open to a compromise that involves higher taxes as part of the solution. However, claiming that 8 in 10 Americans support it is questionable (to say the least).

“You have 80 percent of the American people who support a balanced approach. Eighty percent of the American people support an approach that includes revenues and includes cuts. So the notion that somehow the American people aren’t sold is not the problem,” the president said last week.

The White House has been using a Gallup poll as the main basis for this fantastic claim. However, the Gallup poll tells a different story. According to the original data, 69 percent supported solving the deficit with a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. An additional 4 percent favored tax increases only (this 4 percent is not part of Obama’s “balanced” approach and one can safely assume that they are in his pocket regardless of which approach he takes). That brings his support to 73 percent at most in that poll.

But the number 73 only matters if we blindly accept it. One would be foolish to do so. Polls are not definitive by any means and they only give a rough picture. In fact, there are several problems that need to be considered before one accepts the results of any poll. For example, there may be a problem with the sample design (for telephone surveys, how the numbers were selected and how the individuals are selected within the household), non-availability, the refusal problem (is the refusal rate different on the particular variable we are measuring?), question wording, question order, deliberate, or unconscious, lying or false reporting by respondents, or inappropriate or inadequate weighing of data.

All of these variables have been shown in various studies to be the source of not just small errors but sometimes quite substantial ones. Unfortunately, there are not many methods that allow one to quantify the effects of these errors or to validate the results within any kind of reasonable measure. Out of everything that can go wrong in a survey, only the “sampling error” can be quantified

So how did Gallup go about surveying Americans to find out where they stood on the budget crisis? According to Gallup’s website:

“Results are based on telephone interviews conducted April 7-11, 2011 with a random sample of –1,077—adults, aged 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone respondents and 600 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers, cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both, having an unlisted landline number, and being cell phone mostly). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the age 18+ non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls [emphasis added].”

The Gallup report itself says that there are possible errors and bias in its findings. However, it does not mention issues that may skew results such as refusal problems, non-availability issues, deliberate, or unconscious, lying or false reporting by respondents, or inappropriate or inadequate weighting of the data, coverage error, measurement error, and non-response error.

Furthermore, the report’s “margin of error” presents another problem. Most surveys report margin of error thus: “The results of this survey are accurate at the 95% confidence level – or + 3 percentage points.” This error is the statistical imprecision that results from interviewing a random sample instead of the entire population.

The Gallup report only emphasizes sampling error, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, and does little to address the wide range of other opportunities for something to go wrong.

What we know that the “80 percent” claim is false. What is yet to be determined is just how off the mark it really is.

With all of these possible errors, wouldn’t one expect the president of the United States to make sure that he had an iron-clad case for his “balanced approach” before he spoke? One wouldn’t expect him to misquote a poll that may suffer from bias and statistical errors. Furthermore, one wouldn’t expect him to base fiscal policies with long-term repercussions on that same poll. Perhaps the leader of a representative government should not rely on data pulled from random samplings but should instead make decisions based on the overall population. Crazy thought: we could take a vote.

If the president were honestly interested in knowing what Americans thought about including tax hikes into the budget conversation, then perhaps he could jog his memory and recall the “shellacking” of November. Thousands of voters voiced their opinion in no uncertain terms.

The president has been associated with the word “audacity” on numerous occasions. Maybe this is why.

Comments (229)

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  • Vernon Black
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:09pm

    Let’s also eliminate the 50% of American‘s who don’t pay ANY Fed income TAX…What do they care…Bloodsuckers….The rest of US are sooo SCREWED!!!

    Report Post » Vernon Black  
    • dont tread
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:36pm

      Gallup does a very good job of taking polls and they do a good job of taking neutral wording in their questions – they are non-partisan. Get out from under your rocks and stop pretending like the majority of Americans don’t want the “balanced approach”.

      Report Post »  
    • Mike N
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:40pm

      Yeah, remember our forefather’s refusing taxation without representation? How about we refuse representation without taxation?

      Report Post »  
    • DrFrost
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:42pm

      Even if you don’t discount those who pay no federal taxes, and even if the number is right… it’s 80% who support this method now that we are on the brink of a government shutdown. I wonder what the percentage was 6 months ago.

      Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:51pm

      Yes we are screwed, we pay the taxes and we will be the ones most affected by the cuts. The poor pay zero tax and the Uber rich just got a 6% tax reduction. The middle class as always will get sucker punched as usual. I am not surprised by the poll as I believe that the middle class do not want a slash and burn approach as they are already tapped out.

      Report Post »  
    • dont tread
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:54pm

      Let’s also not ignore the fact that a HUGE number of statistics are either false or misrepresented by the media by both sides. You all speak of this like republican officials have never done this but Obama is a lier, pull your heads out of your asses because his statement is “mostly” true.

       
    • restoretheusa
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:10pm

      and the bloodsuckers get to vote too and we all know who they vote for!

      Report Post »  
    • lane829
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:14pm

      I think it is shameful that the blaze has not posted this yet.
      http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1894:statement-on-the-cut-cap-and-balance-act&catid=15:floor-statements

      Cowards.
      RON PAUL!

      Report Post »  
    • Ethereal
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:18pm

      Also when he says people support a balanced approach, but doesn’t state what the word “balanced” means until after the poll and replaces the word “tax” with “revenue” you could screw the results up quite a bit.

      Report Post » Ethereal  
    • chazman
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:23pm

      “… 80% of American’s are sold, is skewed.” Oh, ya think? DUH!!!

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:26pm

      Well, to 50% of them, nothing times nothing is still nothing. So I guess his real number is 30%.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • Tars_Tarkas
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:28pm

      Get out from under a rock you say??? I’m trying my best to get out from under the boulder of taxation—crushing….

      Report Post » Tars_Tarkas  
    • Docrow
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:18pm

      only the free loaders want the “balanced approach”!!

      Report Post » Docrow  
    • Look4DBigPicture
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:27pm

      @lane829 … Thanks for the Ron Paul link. I only recently started researching his background and I think he’s exactly what our country needs right now. I wish the media would quit politely dismissing him as though he’s not serious. He’s probably the least polarizing candidate and appeals to a broad range of people, including many democrats. I’d love to see a Paul/Cain ticket (but Cain’s not being taken very seriously either.)

      Report Post »  
    • Av8tor056
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:16pm

      Zorro6821

      Yes we are screwed, we pay the taxes and we will be the ones most affected by the cuts. The poor pay zero tax and the Uber rich just got a 6% tax reduction.
      ___________________________________________________________________________________

      Is that kind of like the changes in the deductions that the IRS made that actually meant that we paid more in taxes without a tax increase?

      Report Post » Av8tor056  
    • cyndidm
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:19pm

      I’ve been conducting a little polling myself…..And I’ve asked about 50 people I know, if they support a tax increase, and have yet to find 1 such person who does. Doesn’t common sense say, I don’t want you to increase my taxes? These people in favor of a tax increase must be people WHO DON‘T PAY TAXES and WON’T BE EVEN IF THE RATES GO UP! Hardly seems fair to include them in the polling.

      Report Post »  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:29pm

      You couldn’t get 80% of Americans to agree the Sun will come up tomorrow.

      Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • Callmekozmo
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:30pm

      The majority of americans spoke in 2010, we are tired of tax and spend, we want some real responsibility in our government. We want people who are willing to understand the fact that the government has spent its way into oblivion, by being irresponsible. Spend Spend Spend, what we have is a spending problem, not a income problem, most Americans understand this fact. Although there are also some hold outs who think that new taxes are harmless and just spring up from the ground like a magical flow of energy.

      Report Post »  
    • BeardedDog
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:53pm

      I agree. Everyone who actually pays taxes should have them REDUCED, and everyone who pays nothing but is happy to take money that I HAVE EARNED out of my paycheck needs to pay something. If you do not pay into the system then shut up or pony up. Human Leeches! Raise (collect) taxes from those who freeload, not from those who contribute and excell!

      Report Post »  
    • Histrees
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:54pm

      I know it sounds great to say, all that are not paying taxes are blood suckers, but many have lost all their income and have no taxes to pay. What part of zero do you expect them to pay! We all need to get away from this childish name calling.
      If things many more of the US population will be joining these so called BloodSuckers.. and for many that’s just a paycheck away.

      Report Post »  
    • ProgressivesAreEvil
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 9:54pm

      Umm the poll was taken APRIL 7-11?….Thats a bit in the past to be using it to describe how the American people are currently feeling about the debt ceiling…especially when the GOP has come out with “cut cap and balance” and the libs have come out with….crickets

      Report Post » ProgressivesAreEvil  
    • IMAWAKENOW
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:39am

      You hit the nail on the head. Almost 50% of us pay NO income tax. Everything taken from those that do gets redistributed. Call them blood suckers or call them your neighbors. Of course half of us will say “raise the taxs”. Go to a tax system where EVEYONE pays something. If everyone was voting on an increase out of their own pocket the poll would be markedly different.

      Report Post » IMAWAKENOW  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 6:29am

      I wonder how the questions were worded. Q: do you support a revenue increase or Q: Do you support having your taxes raised? I would also like to know of the the people who supported raising taxes, what percentage ACTUALLY pay federal income taxes???

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • beekeeper
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:25am

      How many “millionaires and billionaires” were included in the poll sample?

      It would have been great if they also asked the question: “would you personally be willing to pay more in taxes to help resolve deficit spending”? That’s a number I would have liked to have seen…

      Report Post » beekeeper  
    • UPSETVET
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 8:37am

      Obama is sold on the idea that the rich don’t pay ENOUGH taxes. Well, what about the poor that don’t pay ANY taxes. If our American freedom and rights are based on equality, this should apply to taxes as well as anything else.

      All Americans should pay the same percentage rate of taxes, like 15% across the board. The rich pay 15% of a $1,000,000 and the poor pay 15% of $10,000 or gross income. That’s equality and it would bring more tax revenue to the US Treasury than the current system.

      God requires ALL to give a tithe of their income to the treasury, which today is considered to be the local church to which a person is affiliated. The TITHE is 10% across the board. If this equality of giving works for God then it should work for the USA.

      Why should anyone have a voice on how the government spends our taxes if they don’t pay any federal tax ? We all should be equal (percentage) contributors to the system that gives and sustains our freedoms and rights. Entitlements then could be more equally distributed according to income.

      Report Post »  
    • UPSETVET
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 9:50am

      “ Facts ” ? ” Don’t confuse Obama-bin-Lying with the facts “. Facts and truth are just two of the many things the Obama administration refuses to deal with, unless of course, they happen to favor his position at the moment. Apparently he believes his on lies and therefore expects evrybody else to believe them also.

      Obama‘s whole life has been one lie after another lie and he’s too accustomed to lying to start telling the truth now. Honesty, integrity and honor weren’t attributes of the Obama family. Deceit, subterfuge
      dishonesty were the character traits that were taught and well learned. Remember, this is the guy who, as his first officil act in office, signed an executive order sealing all his personal records.Why ?

      Obama practices the saying, “ The bigger the lie the more people will believe it ”. It’s worked well for him the past two and a half years and we can expect more of the same until November 2012. George Washington said, “ I can not tell a lie”. Barack Obama says, “ I can not tell the truth ”. Well, he can’t tell truth from fiction either.

      Report Post »  
    • hud
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 10:11am

      90% of the polled didn’t know what the pollster was talking about, but 10% guessed right anyway. 80%of the polled were Dumbocraps

      Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:09pm

    No need to discuss this.
    He lied.
    He lies.
    He will lie.

    Report Post »  
    • BMartin1776
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:36pm

      Emperor Obama lied about his own mother to get Ocare thru; if he lies about his own flesh and blood he will obviously lie about America/Americans.

      Hows that hopey changey working out for all of you progressive zombie drones? NEXT TIME DONT VOTE FOR A GUY B/C HE CAN READ OFF A TELEPROMPTER WELL DO YOUR HOMEWORK AS MYSELF AND COUNTLESS OTHERS DID! I will make to remind America and keep hisory accurate that those of you with your hands outs played a role in hammering the final nails into this countries coffin! The day will come when you will have to answer for what you have done!
      http://SavingtheRepublic.com

      Report Post » BMartin1776  
    • worthless
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:00pm

      @BMARTIN

      My country died Nov. 4, 2008 and was officially pronounced dead on Jan. 21, 2009 when he was sworn in

      I started seeing the signs of this when McCain was announced as “my party’s” horse

      Report Post » worthless  
    • yosemitefan
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:51pm

      @Gaspar

      If his lips move it is probably a lie. If not he’s thinking up one – scratch that – looking at the teleprompter for his next lie.

      Report Post »  
    • snidley-whiplash
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 11:32pm

      The POTUS is a rambling uneducated idiot……..can’t even prove he went to high school,
      yet alone prove he graduate from college. Actually he can’t even prove he is The President of The United States.

      Report Post » snidley-whiplash  
    • Snidely
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:03am

      Hello, Mr. Whiplash!

      Report Post » Snidely  
  • mydogtippy
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:07pm

    They need to a real poll call all the people in this country,and find out how they feel about obama and his tax increasness. Here one that would say NO to them.

    Report Post »  
  • Texas Hills Patriot
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:07pm

    The poll that I saw stated that 50% wanted the debt reduced with spending cuts and 32% wanted the debt reduced using spending cuts plus “revenue” increases. Obama took the two numbers, combined them and lied. Nothing new for him to skew the facts.

    Report Post » Texas Hills Patriot  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:01pm

      Gallup is non partisan and Obama has no say in the outcome. Accept it and try to understand why the number is spot on. You must remember most folks are center right, and take a more reasoned approach toward the budget. You must also take into account that about 65% of the population get some form of government assistance…medicare, medicaid, welfare, SSI, VA, etc. Of course these folks do nut want cuts from their program.

      Report Post »  
  • TreeTrimmerJim
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:07pm

    People tend to do what they have done before. Trust but verify.

    The President is authoring a growing list of false statements. We need to stand for something or fall for anything this guy says.

    Can a nation follow a person who habitually deceives his listeners?

    Report Post » TreeTrimmerJim  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:16pm

      Yea, it‘s like his mother’s insurance problems….it’s how HE remembered the events. He must have remembered the poll numbers wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:34pm

      The arrogant man-child will do and say anything to make himself look good. He might even tell a lie,

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Swamp B Gummer
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:16pm

      My sweet quadroon, oh, how your color is fading

      Report Post »  
  • zoro51
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:06pm

    i dont believe that damn socialist one bit the americn ppl r sold my fat bum… hell be removed in 2012 period… i cant wait in the mean time IMPEACH the bastrd!!

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • better red than dead
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:06pm

    Seriously, Blaze? You trumpet poll results for months and only NOW, when polls suggest something you don’t like, do you question the veracity of polling at all. This news site looks more and more like Pravda every day.

    Report Post » better red than dead  
    • nptden
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:21pm

      The lame stream media is PRAVDA. Thank God we have Fox. Fact is 80% of the Marxist/progressives that helped his fraudulent election are for his policies, since they benefit from them. He will not win running on the economy. So let’s think of options. Have a racist campaign. Or let his partner in Marxism Hillary Clinton be drafted by the Dems. They all lie in the same bed. They are the ordained elite who will lead the new ‘transformed’ America.

      Report Post » nptden  
    • Steve
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:22pm

      lol

      Report Post »  
    • Brizz
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:48pm

      So how is this newsworthy? Where are the stories about increasing unemployment rate of American youths 16-24?

      Report Post » Brizz  
  • JohnGalt
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:05pm

    This is the typical “Say lie’s enough times, and people start to believe it”.

    Report Post » JohnGalt  
  • Canada_Goose
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:05pm

    Does that mean that Mr. Obama was 91.25% correct?

    Report Post » Canada_Goose  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:03pm

    you can get 80% of the non tax paying citizens to say raise taxes. it depends where you take the poll. you can make a poll say anything you want it depends how you phrase the question. if i didn’t pay tax i would say hell yeah raise taxes. more freebies fo me yo. i heard that maybe 47% of the country pays no federal tax. everyone should pay (flat tax).

    Report Post »  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:02pm

    I still say the 80% is really 80% of the 48% of the US population that does not pay taxes.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:06pm

      Great point! You are on to something there.
      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Rillobymorning
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:10pm

      I‘ll bet you’re right on!

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:21pm

      Is everyone aware that the blaze loads more that 15 tracking cookies when you come to the site. Providing information on you that I’m sure they are making money from. Make sure you have your privacy setting set to eliminating cookies ASAP. No need to thank me.

      Report Post »  
    • I Hear the Wolves
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:33pm

      @JRook

      Thank you.
      I know you said no need, but I insist…

      Report Post » I Hear the Wolves  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:48pm

      @I Hear the Wolves Sir you are a gentleman and a scholar

      Report Post »  
    • fatjack
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 6:12pm

      JRook
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:21pm

      Is everyone aware that the blaze loads more that 15 tracking cookies when you come to the site. Providing information on you that I’m sure they are making money from. Make sure you have your privacy setting set to eliminating cookies ASAP. No need to thank me.
      =======================================================
      This morning it was 23%. So…………another fact-less statement.

      Report Post » fatjack  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:45pm

      @fatjack If you mean 23 cookies you are correct, but some are not tracking cookies so I did not include them in my count. There are several types of cookies. But thanks for pointing out the total.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:48pm

      @fatjack Oh and by the way get a dog or something to deal with your obvious stress issues.

      Report Post »  
  • MONICNE
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:02pm

    H mm, the “latest” numbers are clarified to be within 90% (less than 10% inaccurate) after 3 days of adjusting and verifying? No story. Sorry.

    TEA

    Report Post » MONICNE  
  • Locked
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:01pm

    “Not intended to be a factual statement.”

    Report Post »  
  • Canada_Goose
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:01pm

    Great! So next time some right winger claims that 60% of Americans are opposed to the Affordable Care Act I can regurgitate Mr. Adams’s brilliant tutorial on the reliability and accuracy of polling data.

    Report Post » Canada_Goose  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:01pm

    The poll said 69% would use spending cuts and raise taxes,what percentage of the 69% pay any income tax?

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Blitz
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:00pm

    When his lips move truth is on vaca…. Or never present.

    Report Post »  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:57pm

    Tell me one thing…just one…that obama hasn’t skewed?

    Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:01pm

      You stumped me on this one…

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • worthless
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:05pm

      How about this you GodLovinMom!

      He hasn’t skewed, …..um……..oh that one ti………um……..uh…….huh, I guess you’re correct.

      BTW You conservative women are so sexy. You all have good looks and greater minds!

      Report Post » worthless  
    • mdlwoods
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:27pm

      I have been thinking and thinking about an answer to your question, GodLovinMom. I have given myself a headache! Can‘t think of a single thing he hasn’t skewed!!!! Or flat out lied about for that matter.

      Report Post » mdlwoods  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 1:45pm

      worthless…and we’re fiesty too!…this conservative woman hates the way our country is being dragged through the mud hole, and one of the number one causes, this idiot we have as our president!

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
  • agameofthrones
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:57pm

    Well here is my poll. I am 99% opposed to everything Obama has done so far, and pretty sure I will be 100% opposed to him being reelected. I can personally guarantee the accuracy of this statement!

    Report Post » agameofthrones  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:04pm

      only 99%? you liberal.

      Report Post »  
    • agameofthrones
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:18pm

      Well I’m giving him a 1% score for the Bin Laden thing. Yeah, I know it wasn’t him who should get credit for it, it was our military OO-Rah. But since he was acting* pres. at the time, he gets 1%.

      What can I say, I had a weak moment there.

      Report Post » agameofthrones  
    • Steve
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:27pm

      agameofthrones

      Ya really cant give him 1% on OBL. The information was gathered during Bush’s watch by the very methods that he (Obama) has claimed illegal so I think .1% (thats point 1 percent) could be given to Osama …oopss I’m sorry Obama.

      Report Post »  
  • SoiledDove
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:56pm

    Thanks for the lesson on how polls are conducted and analyzed, but the fact remains that they are an incredibly accurate tool. Simply describing pollsters‘ methodologies won’t cast any doubt on the results of a poll.

    Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:36pm

      Ron Paul correctly stated that no matter what we do the USA will still default, so why suffer and let the good times roll as long as possible. We are so far gone that balancing the budget is merely political posturing. Just enjoy your lives as things will get ugly soon. As soon as the Eurozone falls all bets are off and the whole financial system will collapse. The folks who hedged with gold and hard assets are the smart folks, the complainers and loudmouths with no plan will be in the breadlines.

      Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:56pm

    Anyone would have to be an idiot if the believed anything this sociopath said.

    Report Post »  
  • harumph
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:56pm

    You’re not lying if you just read it from a teleprompter. Please make a note of it.

    Report Post » harumph  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:04pm

      It’s very tempting to jump on people for saying things that are not factually possible to verify, when we should be worrying about turning the country around, and not focusing on just a bunch of facts. These harmless fake issues – like hypothetically beneficial slavery — are just meant to motivate people to act in the correct way, just as Christ would use a parable to get a point across.

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • harumph
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:17pm

      In the case of Obama’s message, it was merely a lie. A lie meant to sway people (like you, it seems) into believing that the masses agree with his belief that spending more and soaking the “rich” to pay for more useless programs is true.

      Report Post » harumph  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:21pm

      monicne,
      subtlety becomes you..

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:26pm

      Ooops, you missed my whole point. The so-called “lie” is not the thing.

      If you follow the fact checking, you will see that the entire Republican Woman debate technique revolves around making rhetorical statements that are “technically untrue,” but have a higher purpose in getting people to Stand Up and Act Out. Because they are ladies, we gentlemen let them pass.

      Good for the goose, … eh?

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:37pm

      Harumph & Monicne

      What a couple of clowns!
      Ha!

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
    • harumph
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:41pm

      Oh, but the “lie” IS the thing. He is the president. He is to represent the people and answer to the people. In November, he was told very clearly, that he was NOT to keep spending our hard-earned money on useless programs and keep giving our hard-earned money away to deadbeats. He refused to listen and is now lying about what the majority of Americans believe. If he wants people to believe he is a pathological liar, the speech is dead-on.

      Report Post » harumph  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:51pm

      Oh, Harrumph!
      Are you saying that if Sarah REALLY BELIEVES what she is saying, (Just because it is factually incorrect) it’s a LIE?

      Are you saying if Michele has to SAY WHAT IT TAKES to have the listeners “see things her way.” it’s a LIE?

      I guess you never heard about AMWAY or Dale Carnegie – and you never sold a used car.

      Uncle Tom, love the look, BTW! ((I am trying to post with every Clown Avatar today, its like TETRIS!))

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • firstHat
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:06pm

      @MONICNE
      Huh what? You said:
      “you will see that the entire Republican Woman debate technique revolves around making rhetorical statements that are “technically untrue,”

      Either I missed some previous discourse, you are the king/queen of the non sequitur, you fell out of your graduate seminar and forgot your audience or (what may be the same thing) I need to ask you what you are smoking.

      Contextualize your comments, if you will, and explain what it has to do with the current discussion. As it is you are writing like a freshman trying to imitate a graduate’s paper and making about as much sense as either would.

      Report Post »  
    • harumph
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:10pm

      Oh, Monnicne!
      I expect everyone to check and double-check their FACTS before they say them. An anecdote or parable is just that. If you do not know the difference between a fact and an anecdote, then your belief system makes perfect sense. I fully expect facts to be scrutinized, regardless of who delivers them. This president is just lying because he can. People like you will take it as fact and move on.

      Report Post » harumph  
    • fatjack
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 6:25pm

      MONICNE

      Who is that other clown? No not Encinom, the other clown harumrah?
      BTW please have a talk with your dear friend jrook he’s full of it.

      Report Post » fatjack  
  • Islesfordian
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:55pm

    Noooo. Really???? Well blow me down. Obama skews the facts. I felt CERTAIN he was telling us the Gospel truth because he’s the President. Why would he lie? Oh….wait…I know.

    That man’s pants must be made of asbestos.

    Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:05pm

      In the long run, “true” facts are not as important as “good speech,” after all, as they say, “strong words” can paint verbal pictures that inspire and motivate listeners to believe certain ways and even act certain ways. It’s more important for people to feel and act the way they need to, than to be “truthful.”

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:44pm

      An apology for pure propoganda? I don’t buy it. Stable democracies are not built on demogoguery.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:54pm

      His statement stands, +/- 10% which is pretty good these days. (To Be Fair!)

      But, you can call him a “pants-on-fire liar” that is OK with me. I get it.

      Good for the Gander, eh?

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • firstHat
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:20pm

      @MONICNE
      “True facts don’t matter” I do wonder why you keep certain phrases in quotes since you do not do much else to suggest that you are using the terms satirically or keeping any distance from them in any other way. If you are attempting satire, I suggest you return to a writing workshop and learn how it works before you attempt it in public. You are failing miserably.

      Otherwise, OK then, let’s just go there for a moment. If they don’t, then some people with a little bit of power (we won’t say who bestowed that power) could decide that the current useful “fact” is that you do not exist. After all, these are just “good words” (note that I am using quotes to distance myself?) that serve a purpose at the moment and the purpose of these people at the moment is to make you go away by erasing the “fact” of you.

      Governments have done that to people for just as much or as little reason than you have given by speaking out in a public forum. We don‘t make a practice of making people persona non grata in these parts because it doesn’t suit our sense of “fairness” and because we trust that truth may find its way through debate. But that slippery little slope of accepting the “good speech” crap is risky, my dear, very risky. Watch your step.

      Report Post »  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 9:20am

      ((I hear some bees – they must know what is true… just the bees know))

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 9:27am

      Ilesfordian

      Most of the fact checkers employ standardized accuracy ranges like, “partly true,” and teachers in school give grades for getting things right to various degrees.

      Thus, 80 percent ends up being 73 percent.

      So, the President quoted an A-, that turned out to be a B+.

      I can still understand his point, without referring to him as a liar, which paints its own picture.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
  • Whostolemypig
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:55pm

    Obama skews the fact and ski roos the American people

    Report Post »  
  • JRook
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:54pm

    73% is still pretty strong support. Hope you provide the same exactness and weaknesses regarding polls every time one is cited.

    Report Post »  
    • ProgressivesAreEvil
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 9:56pm

      yeah 73% in the beginning of APRIL…before the real talks and Obama fear mongering started…..

      Report Post » ProgressivesAreEvil  
    • beekeeper
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:29am

      I wonder why folks are surprised that 73% of polled Americans think someone should pay more taxes – how many offered to personally pay more taxes?

      Report Post » beekeeper  
  • Seagal45
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:49pm

    Gee who would have guessed that he LIED again.

    Report Post »  
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