Rasmussen: 59% say town-hall protesters authentic
posted at 12:17 pm on September 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Rasmussen has bad news for the spin machine on the Left about the town-hall protests. Despite weeks of attempting to dismiss the outpouring of anger as “Astroturfing,” a strong majority of voters believes them to be genuine, and an increased plurality supports them. In fact, the numbers of those believing the protests to be genuine have increased as ObamaCare advocates have pushed their accusations hard:
Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters nationwide say that it’s more important for Congressmen to hear the view of their constituents rather than explain the proposed health care legislation. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 37% hold the opposite view while 7% are not sure.
The desire for Congress to listen may stem from the fact that voters believe they understand the legislation better than Congress.
Forty-nine percent (49%) have a favorable opinion of those opposing the health care reforms at town hall meetings. That’s up eight points from 41% a month ago. Thirty-five percent (35%) have an unfavorable view of the town hall protesters, unchanged from last month.
Fifty-nine percent (59%) now say the town hall protesters are citizens reflecting the concerns of their neighbors. That’s up ten points over the past month.
In fact, the only people convinced of the Astroturfing spin are the Obama True Believers — and not even all of them. Democrats, for instance, think that the protests are phony, but only with a bare majority, 53%-36%. Independents believe them to be authentic by almost 4-1, 67%-18%.
Majorities in every age demographic reject the Astroturfing accusations, with the highest majority coming from 18-29 year olds — Obama’s choice age demo (69%). Majorities in every income demo accept them as authentic as well. The only demographics accepting this argument are liberals (65%-24% for phony), black voters (a remarkably thin majority at 56%-33%), and the political class (63%-30%).
If Obama and Congress want to recover from this debacle, they will have to respond by changing the legislation, not by tossing around accusations of astroturfing. Increasing numbers of Americans not only believe the protesters to be genuine, they are agreeing with them as well. If Democrats are trying to convince themselves of their own spin, they will find themselves facing an enraged electorate at the midterms — and they may anyway.
Blowback
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41% are grassers.
ICBM on September 4, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Did you ever hear the parable about the frog, the scorpion, and the river?
Obama and his cronies can no more stop tossing around accusations than the scorpion could stop himself from committing suicide by proxy.
Kafir on September 4, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Maybe having read the damn thing has something to do with it…?
Seven Percent Solution on September 4, 2009 at 12:22 PM
90% of town-hall protesters say “Poll this!‘
Doorgunner on September 4, 2009 at 12:23 PM
SNAP!
Onager on September 4, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Be the turf.
exdeadhead on September 4, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Oh yes, my pet. It’s going to be moving day for the democrats and any stray rinos in 2011.
HornetSting on September 4, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I am wondering of Chairman Soetoro has the balls to try to claim “leadership of the protestors” by pretending to be their guardian against “Pelosi and Reid’s overreach”?
It’d be a Wile E Coyote move but he has pulled plenty of ACME manuevers this month…
sven10077 on September 4, 2009 at 12:25 PM
i can see you petting a dolls head and saying my precious!
upinak on September 4, 2009 at 12:26 PM
FTFY
Also, don’t kid yourselves. No democrat believes these are astroturfs. If they truely believed that, they wouldn’t have had to come out and say it. They know its grassroots but they know the effect it has on middle America so they had to spin the anger as fake.
100% if intellectually honest, knows its grassroots.
TendStl on September 4, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Authentic? sure they are. They’re authentic tantrums being thrown by and large by people who barely understand whats being proposed or why they oppose whatever it is they’re mad about. The kind of people who yell, “keep your gubmint hands off my medicare!”
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Actually, I’m AFRAID of dolls.
HornetSting on September 4, 2009 at 12:28 PM
That seems sort of low.
WisCon on September 4, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Yeah Ernie and all the moonbat peaceniks have dental appointments every day for the next four years now that it is no longer “Chimpy’s wars”….
“change”
sven10077 on September 4, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Wonder if this will make Nancy Pelosi will claim Rasmussen is filled with “nazi’s.”
theotherone on September 4, 2009 at 12:30 PM
What else to do they have?
These people don’t have the skill set to govern, period. Like our unprepared, unqualified president.
And that’s beyond their obvious corruption.
All they really have is invective, lies and race baiting.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 12:31 PM
These numbers can’t be real. They exclude the Russian, Chinese, and Euro votes.
All together now: “Everybody loves Obama!”
Liam on September 4, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Oops, too many “wills” in there. And I previewed my comment, too! *blush*
theotherone on September 4, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Not really you have the POTUS’ fluffers and the M$M(I laregly am being redundant) along with the Congresscritters actively trying to paint the counter image….
their efforts HAVE had success…then factor in the too cool for school libertatians who try to hang with “the cool kids of the DNC” by trashing the GOP and it sounds about right.
sven10077 on September 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Ain’t gonna happen anytime soon.
I can’t wait to see what the ratings are going to be for Barry’s next prime time speech.
Knucklehead on September 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM
The real test of acceptance of Rasmussen’s findings will be the response to the 912 gathering in Washington.
DrStock on September 4, 2009 at 12:33 PM
We are winning the battle for the heart and soul of the country, tea partiers. Keep the pressure on. Get involved. DC 9/12.
Christian Conservative on September 4, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Authentic? sure they are. They’re authentic tantrums being thrown by and large by people who barely understand whats being proposed”
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Perhaps because neither Congressional Democrat nor Barack Obama, understand what’s being proposed?
Because if they do, they’re doing a great job hiding it.
And you know what? Most people don’t trust a damn thing that comes out of a Democrat’s mouth, anyway.
We’re used to the bait and switch. Democrats will say one thing, then once they pass the legislation, it’ll be another. And there won’t be a damn thing we can do about it at that point.
So the best course of action is to work to kill anything proposed by the Democrats. That way, we won’t have all of the cute, clever surprises shoved down our throats later.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I’ve never made excuses for juvenile behavior from the left wing. And that poor behavior should not act as justification for more poor behavior, no matter how righteous the anger.
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:34 PM
The kind of people who yell, “keep your gubmint hands off my medicare!”
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:27 PM
this seems like a legitimate concern, seeing as how they raided the cookie jar of these programs long ago, are you suggesting that people who paid into medicare, without the option to opt-out, all their lives have no grounds to complain about MORE government control? should they forfeit their medicare benefits to suit your idea of righteous indignation?
weewilly on September 4, 2009 at 12:35 PM
you seem to be implying that the GOP doesnt engage in just the same behavior…how can that be true, given the GOP’s insistence on proposing policy antithetical to conservative ideology? (PATRIOT act, no child left behind, medicare part D, homeland security, etc etc)
this is exactly why i find the current foaming at the mouth so distasteful…it is a rah rah GOP affair, serving only GOP politicians’ interests. Should they ride this wave of discontent back to power, and they dont usher in a golden age of conservative governance, you’ll see that you were being used.
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Great news. The kids are once again listening to the parents.
ted c on September 4, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Phew! I was beginning to have doubts about myself.
Just_Vicki on September 4, 2009 at 12:37 PM
What “poor behavior” has there been?
Refusal to accept this crappy “reform” as a fait accompli”?
Holding protests? Like that should be stopping a reform effort when the president has all three branches at his beck and call?
You’re just upset he’s failing to cram this crap sandwich down our throats.
Referendums on politicians don’t just happen on election day. We as Americans have every right to demand that our representatives are responsive to us, every single day of the week.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 12:38 PM
One cannot give government MORE control of medicare…it controls the entire program. The program IS government, pure and simple, you cannot take government out of what is essentially government in and of itself…which is why insisting on taking government out of it is preposterous.
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:38 PM
About which ‘poor’ behavior are you writing? Peaceful protest, a Congresscritter’s talking down to constituents when he or she ‘bothers’ to talk to them at all, beating up a black man selling flags that say ‘Don’t Tread On Me’, or biting off a man’s finger?
Liam on September 4, 2009 at 12:38 PM
the day of reckoning cometh
ted c on September 4, 2009 at 12:38 PM
How many people in this country have social, business, or personal interrelationships with the Democrat or union leaderships? Now how many have had interrelationships with a friend or neighbor who has attended a tea party? Just who the heck do you think they are going to believe, someone far off, or someone they know? It is a completely losing proposition facing the lying socialist leadership. They are socialist, but they aren’t social.
That is also why the MSM is dying. The MSM is made up of a bunch of “educated” opinioners that can’t spell, do not speak the English language cogently, and do not check their facts. Before most of you were born, a respected engineer commented to me, that if Time Magazine knew as little about what he knew about, then Time Magazine knew nothing about anything at all.
Old Country Boy on September 4, 2009 at 12:40 PM
You got any data or is that just your dumbass opinion?
BacaDog on September 4, 2009 at 12:40 PM
You’ve also never decried the leftoids’ antics Ernie….
in honor of the spirit of Demi Moore’s “I Pledge” I pledge not to bite the pinky off of any Barack Obama Fam counter marchers at the 9/12 gathering….unlike my foes.
sven10077 on September 4, 2009 at 12:41 PM
The Obamabots are blowing their lead because they are so unused to real debate. They have been talking to each other, or to their college classes, which are not exactly challenging audiences. They don’t know and don’t understand real adults who differ from them.
PattyJ on September 4, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Complete nonsense. The RNC has so little influence over us. If they tried to orchestrate this, it would have failed miserably.
These protests serve OUR interests, those of us who don’t believe the federal government should be taking over health care, when they can’t even competently manage what’s currently on their plate (Medicare, Medicaid and the VA).
Yes, I’ll weep that I didn’t allow an unqualified jackass like Barry and the far-left corrupt incompetents leading Congress, to take over health care. I’ll realize what a fool I was.
However, I don’t really think that’s going to happen.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Thanks goes to our intellectuals.
faraway on September 4, 2009 at 12:42 PM
One cannot give government MORE control of medicare…it controls the entire program.
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:38 PM
i had no idea the argument was about medicare, i thought it was about the government insinuating itself into MORE aspects of healthcare. yeah of course medicare is pure government, if by that you mean it’s a slush fund for liberal politicians to raid when they need monies, getting government out of medicare would simply mean re-establishing the “funds” which they stole so that people who were coerced to pay-in can get their money back.
weewilly on September 4, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Speaking of Lib Astroturfing – Facebook is littered with this party-line “Status” statement today, and I’m formulating my own “Status” response:
My first pass at a response “Status”:
Imagine Health Care without lawyers and bureaucrats – Affordable for EVERYONE! Imagine the freedom to buy Health Insurance from any company you want, with only the catastrophic coverages you want to pay for – Affordable for EVERYONE!
Help out here, HA commenters – I’m not pithy enough today.
Fishoutofwater on September 4, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I never thought I would even SEE numbers like this in my lifetime. MAYBE, and real emphasis on the maybe, the giant is FINALLY waking up.
I hope it’s not too late. We’ve been hitting the Snooze button for about 100 years now…
karl9000 on September 4, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Who is more worthless, the moronic 37% or the spineless 7%?
rollthedice on September 4, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Leave my little finger alone. Yea tell the man from Thousand Oaks he is Astro Turf. MSM: reality sucks but is still reality!
Sanmon on September 4, 2009 at 12:45 PM
The entire ponzi scheme, idiotic idea from the very start, you’re so correct.
Congrats Dems, you forced people to contribute to Medicare over their lifetimes, to become dependent on it and now that they are, you say “see, Medicare works!”
No sane, educated person would ever have created Medicare, unless they wanted millions of people dependent on a poorly managed, dimly conceived ponzi scheme.
That Dems have people dependent on this is not to their credit, it’s like a dope dealer forcing heroin on someone then patting themselves on the back because they have a loyal customer.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 12:46 PM
But shreiking “Keep your rosaries off my ovaries” is eminently reasonable, right?
Akzed on September 4, 2009 at 12:46 PM
i dont see the point in doing that here…there arent really any lefties to hear the critique. i dish the lefty critiques to reddit or digg when im in the mood.
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Absolutely not, never said that. 2 wrongs dont make a right now do they? ;-)
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 12:47 PM
“You can fool all of the people some of the time…”
Well, you know. Obama’s credibility is gone. He’ll never regain it. And I want to thank him for trashing the American people so early in his presidency. Now they know what we know. That’s a good thing. Thank you, Mr. President, for being so completely tone deaf. Keep it up.
Rational Thought on September 4, 2009 at 12:51 PM
So ernesto wants govt to walk all over Medicare. You heard it here first!
Akzed on September 4, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Ever notice how libs have their own definitions of right and wrong, changeable as needed? The American people see that, which is why we have the numbers in this poll that we have.
I want the Dems to spew more venom at us, to watch their approval numbers sink lower.
Liam on September 4, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I’ll tell you what. If there are astroturfers out there for the right, let’s put them on an island–then, all the folks who “think” there are astroturfers out there for the right, let’s put them in a cave under the island.
We’ll then see who’s side gets depleted first….
ted c on September 4, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I want to see a poll of authenticity of Pro-Obama ralliers.
shick on September 4, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I hate to say it, but Ernesto is correct.
The only reason – the ONLY reason – I vote Republican is because they will destroy the country much more slowly than the Democrats, not because they are a saving grace.
At least this current crop of Creationists and RINOs.
Shambhala on September 4, 2009 at 12:55 PM
How is raising doubt in 41% of Americans that the townhall protesters are authentic failing?
It seems to me, that the spin machine largely succeeded.
jhffmn on September 4, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Are Obooba-Pelosi-Reid evil if they are seriously damaging the Democrat Party? Would it make them good if they were damaging something evil, or would it depend on whether it was intentional or unintentional?
An interesting ethical question.
Akzed on September 4, 2009 at 12:57 PM
We have one clueless party that believes it truly has the best interest of the people at heart… and yet always propose more for government to do, thus taking liberty away from the very people they want to help.
Oh, wait.
That is two parties doing that, my mistake.
The D and R parties both need a couple of decades ‘in the wilderness’ to ‘find themselves’.
That is why we need a third party: to wilderness the present two.
The health care protests, from what I’ve seen, are non-partisan, non-affiliated with any party and actually going after members of both parties, ticked off with authoritarians in Incumbistan regardless of stripe, and an actual representation of the people and how they feel about things.
Do I wish that the R party actually exercised fiscal controls, cut the size of the government, and chopped off some of the most obnoxious tax subsidies to their cronies? Yes. Absolutely. Get government out of ‘helping’ in schools, health care, agribusiness, and a whole host of areas it infests without Constitutional mandate.
My detesting of THAT does not mean I support DOING MORE OF THE SAME by the other party.
One can recognize that those protesting this health care ‘reform’ which is a government power grab and a budget-busting bankrupter have a legitimate gripe and whining about them not showing up for something 3% the size under a previous administration just demonstrates how little those whining actually understand the scale of what is going on. If you hated deficit spending for Iraq and Afghanistan, then the guy who just spent more than both conflicts COMBINED with the wave of his pen a couple of times is something that should not be appreciated. I support both those conflicts as they are long-term survival necessities for this Nation and much of the modern world. That does not mean I want my Nation going bankrupt ‘doing good’ while ruining the economy and the future of health care on a global basis as this Nation is a global engine for new drugs, new procedures and creating a greater life expectancy while having a growing population.
I don’t see this as a nuanced position but damned straightforward.
ajacksonian on September 4, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Kool-Aid drinkers unite!
cmsinaz on September 4, 2009 at 12:59 PM
“All men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…”
So, you know better eh?
Akzed on September 4, 2009 at 12:59 PM
you’re projecting ernie–you guys assume that it’s all a GOP affair. If the GOP were so largely dead, conservatism gone as you guys have predicted, then why is this so large? Moreover, why are there so many independents there and why are the polls showing Obama hemorrhaging, that means losing, independents so rapidly? A large proportion is likely GOP traditional voters, but not in total. Either way, so what–the left cannot field an adequate defense, their positions are overrun and they’re losing the debate on each and every front.
ted c on September 4, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Non sequitor.
Shambhala on September 4, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Obama True Believers need a more derogatory moniker. How about Obamarthers? Or Obama Radicalism Deniers?
BuckeyeSam on September 4, 2009 at 1:01 PM
But if/when this ‘righteous anger’ is borne out in the voting booth, it will only serve to aid GOP reps…who in turn will do as they always do when in power, namely, the same thing democrats do (expand government) whilst basking in the rhetoric so passionately expressed at these town halls.
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM
I’m actually surprised that number isn’t higher. Seems quite a few folks still asleep at the wheel.
4shoes on September 4, 2009 at 1:06 PM
The myth of anti-Obamacare astroturfing is dead, dead, dead.
I went to Sen. Mark Warner’s health care town hall last night here in Fredericksburg, VA and the ONLY pre-made, professionally-made signs were on the pro-Obamacare side. They had bundles of them at a table outside the door and were handing them out to any takers on the way in.
On the anti-Obamacare side they were all homemade signs, and nobody was handing anything out. Well, there was the Larouche brigade handing out their pamphlets, but there wasn’t much interest in them.
Oh, and I would put the anti-Obamacare faction at around 70% at this town hall event.
flipflop on September 4, 2009 at 1:13 PM
A lot of citizens like myself opted out of Medicare B when we retired. If I now desire to go into Medicare B I would have to pay a premium of ten percent each year since I was eligible. If Congress wanted to help those that now find the cost of their insurance prohibitive and desire to obtain Medicare B they would remove this penalty. I know, this is not in line with the theme of this post, but it may wake up some people to come up with alternatives to Obamacare at far less cost.
Big Nicholas on September 4, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Who’d a thunk it?
Seeing your friends and neighbors on TV at town halls decrying the obvious sinister nature of this travesty would convince people it’s real. Wow, I wonder if Oby picks it up as well?
JoeinTX on September 4, 2009 at 1:22 PM
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM
I don’t agree with you, but even if I did, what do you suggest?
We just allow the Democrats free reign to impose anything they want on this country, even when we don’t agree with it?
I don’t like everything the Republicans do, but I can’t think of a single thing the Democrats have done that I approve of.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Do what conservatives failed to do during the Bush years, agitate, and pressure the GOP the way you pressure the dems. By and large, the GOP is given a pass by the faithful because, as you point out, they’re only 1/2 as bad as the dems…but its almost as if the expansion of government only bothers conservatives when its a dem proposal.
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 1:27 PM
I’m glad to see the term “astroturf” being used so prominently. When the Harris County Domed Stadium first opened it had real grass growing inside. The problem was nobody could track a ball during daylight hours because of all the glare coming off the clear roof panels. So they painted the panels white to cut down the glare but that killed the grass and they ended up painting the dead grass green by seasons end. The solution was Astroturf named after the only team to play their homes games on it. That led to the locals calling the dome the Astrodome.
Now the Astrodome is closed and sitting next to a new stadium that has real grass again that is named after a bankrupt power company (Reliant) and the Astros play in a park formerly named after one of the most egregious examples of government and corporate greed (Enron). The recent repair of the roof at Reliant after Ike probably cost as much as the original dome ($30 million).
That aside, that the term astroturf has come to mean fakery is perfect when you consider the original source of the accusation is the democrat party. Projecting much? you donkeys…
DanMan on September 4, 2009 at 1:27 PM
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 1:27 PM
I don’t recall the Republicans attempting to take over 1/6th of the economy.
And one of the reasons President Bush lost his popularity, was because he did everything possible to work with Democrats on prescription drugs and No Child Left Behind (also known as “No Democrat Left Behind”).
And what did he get from it? Kicks in the crotch from Democrats.
Meanwhile, in order to get Republicans to vote for these terrible Bills, Republican reps and Senators asked for pork, which spiked the deficit.
So what we need to do, according to you, I agree with.
Implore Republicans to run roughshod over Democrats. Never again make the mistake of working with diehard socialists.
Lesson learned.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Actually, I think most of us are hoping this will get rid of the crappy GOP and the crappy DEMS. We want some real representation, party affiliation aside. I don’t think this could be any more clear, and that you cannot see it is probably because you don’t want to.
thevastlane on September 4, 2009 at 1:39 PM
The protesters are fake. We have the votes.
LibTired on September 4, 2009 at 1:45 PM
use ‘em while you got ‘em sweetie becaue in 2010 neither you nor acorn will stop the storm.
sven10077 on September 4, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Of course. Proper conservatism would cast off the basis of our form of govt.
Akzed on September 4, 2009 at 1:48 PM
thevastlane on September 4, 2009 at 1:39 PM
A competent Congress, for starters, would be a nice thing to have and something we seem so far away from having.
The GOP should campaign on competence. Because then they could outdistance the Democrat’s unending supply of unqualified/unaccomplished, race baiters, failed lawyers and dismal legacies.
Every single Congressional Democrat needs to be hurled from office and all hanger-on Republicans need to be thrown out in the primaries.
A third-party is not in the least feasible. We don’t have the time necessary to get a third-party, that would play right into the hands of the Democrats and allow them to keep their huge majority.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM
41% have obviously not been paying attention.
Grafted on September 4, 2009 at 2:01 PM
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I’m not really suggesting a third party. I just want to get rid of the crappy GOPers and start anew. Ernesto seems to think that we want to get rid of the dems and elect more RINO’s. I do not think that is the case, at least for the majority of us.
thevastlane on September 4, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Im sure the intentions of the protesters are close to what you lay out here…but I cant imagine the net result NOT being a GOP government expanding and spending just like they did during the Bush years…i mean, theres no nothing that suggests they’ll behave the way they’re talking now.
The lack of clear alternatives is whats killing us, and its partly because conservatives wont get as mad as they are now when proposals of a similar nature are proposed by GOPers.
Id like to believe everything will turn out the way the agitators are hoping…but i see no reason to think that whomever picks up the spoils from this fight wont just carry on similar policies…
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Defeating RINOs in the primaries is a goal that I definitely agree with and it’s a good time for that.
Tap the anti-incumbent wave that’s building.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Conservative anger manifested itself in the GOP losing Congress in 2006 and its feeble performance in 2008.
As I wrote before, conservatives opposed the GOP spending initiatives of the Bush Administration and it resulted in number of them losing their seats, which to me, is worse than being protested or shouted at during a Town Hall.
What more do we do?
NoDonkey on September 4, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Has it occurred to no one that when that person yelled, “Keep your government hands off my Medicare,” he was admonishing them to refund the trust and quit borrowing from it? Medicare may be ‘controlled’ by the government, but it’s paid for by the people. Therefore, it IS our Medicare.
Dee2008 on September 4, 2009 at 2:47 PM
ernesto on September 4, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Well we have to start somewhere, right? Why not here and now.
thevastlane on September 4, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Nope. Obamacare protestors have been showing up at meetings with copies of HR3200, reading specific passages of the bill to members of Congress, and basking in the glow of ‘deer in the headlights’ moments by the elected officials who can’t answer the questions posed by their constituants. It’s the members of Congress who barely understand what’s being proposed by Congress.
joejm65 on September 4, 2009 at 3:53 PM
“the political class (63%-30%).” WHAT??
How can that many be so delusional in a real, honest-to-goodness republic?
Who is in the political class?? Maybe that’s what is skewing this — maybe it includes professors and union members..?
alice on September 4, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Rank and file Democrats know damn well that these people are real, they just do not want to admit it.
Terrye on September 4, 2009 at 5:08 PM
How can 41% of people think they’re fake? If they we fake we’d have far more articulate people attending.
Mojave Mark on September 4, 2009 at 7:19 PM
20-25 % are like hardcore dems who would lie about it anyway. That leaves about 16% of Americans who are just plain idiotic.
CWforFreedom on September 4, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Ed, I’m on your side but I don’t consider 53% to 36% to be a ‘bare’ majority. It’s nearly 3 to 2.
njcommuter on September 4, 2009 at 7:31 PM
We explain to them that the next time it is: Tar + Feathers + Rope + Tree and Thee. And then do it.
Personally, I like the idea someone else here had. We vote out every incumbent for at least two election cycles in a row. Of course, we would have to for more like six two year cycles, just to make sure the Senators get the message.
mrpeabody on September 4, 2009 at 8:51 PM