I just finished a long telephone poll and I can see where the Republicans are going

[mtngirl47]

I've taken telephone polls before, but this one was very long. Having studied Political Science, polling and statistics in college (a hundred years ago!) I was disappointed in the leading questions. Here are some of the things I remember:

First question asked me to tell them the main thing I think about when I think about the Trump Presidency. I said children in cages taken away from their mothers.

They asked about my favorability ratings for "Democrat" candidates. Why can't Republicans call us by our name?
The names they asked about were: Sanders, Harris, Warren, Biden and Ocasio-Cortez. I guess that AOC is the new Nancy Pelosi for Republicans!

They repeatedly asked questions about Trump's various "accomplishments" and I was supposed to choose from wholeheartedly supporting him, or supporting him even though I don't like his style, or not supporting him at all.

Some of the accomplishments they asked about were: the great economy and creating 187,000 jobs here in North Carolina, the 4% unemployment rate, and keeping us safe around the world. (No specifics on that last thing---I guess they couldn't bring up Russia, North Korea, and Denmark!)

There were several questions about North Carolina races...Governor and Senate

At the end the leading questions began:
Would you support a Democrat candidate who wanted to censor their opponents or Trump? I balked at that question and told the surveyor that a Democratic candidate would never do that--that in fact Trump attacks and wants to censor the press and wants to lock up his political opponents. She insisted that I answer the question so I said I would support a Democratic candidate no matter what!

Would you support a Democrat candidate who wanted open borders or Trump?
Would you support a Democrat candidate who wanted Socialism over Capitalism or Trump?
Would you support a Democrat candidate who wanted abortion available up until birth or Trump?
Do you see immigration as a problem with criminals and drugs coming over the border or as people coming into the country taking our jobs or a humanitarian crises?
Do you want to have a wall built on the Mexican border?

They asked for me specifically by name--so my guess is that they're calling North Carolina Democrats.

There were lots of questions about Socialism, abortion, the economy and criminals coming over the border.

Not one question about health care.

[leftieNanner]

1. Kinda like

Have you stopped beating your significant other?

There's no good answer.

Good for you answering the poll. I just hang up.

[mtngirl47]

3. You should try to take the polls!

When I went through training with Organizing for America in 2007 they told us that taking the polls was important and that especially younger people need to take the polls.

[Lochloosa]

12. I agree. Someone is going to answer them.

[leftieNanner]

24. Well, thanks for the encouragement

I will be more open to polls.

[Perseus]

28. Why should you take the poll? I am curious

I always hang up, so I really would like to know why some people feel it is important to take it, what is the gain?

[tblue37]

39. I just say, "I will never vote for Republicans. They're scum." The I hang up. nt

[EleanorR]

2. Push Poll

noun
noun: push poll; plural noun: push polls

an ostensible opinion poll in which the true objective is to sway voters using loaded or manipulative questions.

[BigmanPigman]

32. I just learned something new. Thanks!

I had a part time job doing phone surveys when I was a starving artist a lifetime ago and never heard of that term before.

[Towlie]

63. Exactly! The moment you detect bias you should express no political opinion and just hang up.

It might be safe to express disapproval of the bogus poll from the standpoint of one who understands statistics and sampling, but before you make the mistake of getting into a political argument with an unknown caller, (or more importantly, someone who knocked on your door) consider that the person knows who you are (or worse, where you live) while you have no idea who they are. If you must deal directly with a member of a political party that thrives on hate, then for your own safety at least do it on your own terms, not theirs.

Never wrestle a pig in its own pigsty because when you do, you get covered with pigshit and the pig loves it.

[GReedDiamond]

4. I woulda told em to go fuck themselves...

...with their "Democrat" bullshit and their contrived fake survey questions.

[soldierant]

51. Not that I take phone polls, but

I would never attempt to correct a Republican who says "Democrat" instead of "Democratic. Rattlesnakes are even more dangerous without the warning rattle. I have corrected decent people who don't know better - usually those are not Americans.

[Takket]

5. you were the victim of a push poll. who did they say, conducted this poll?

let me guess, some real generic sounding name like "The Freedom Patriots of Liberty Society" or some such nonsence

[sharedvalues]

8. Freedom (For Billionaires to Steal from Americans) Society

Or Club For Growth of Billionaires’ Wallets

[blm]

11. Sounds about right.

[PatrickforO]

22. Wow. That's catchy! They could sell FPLS tee shirts.

The Freedom Patriots of Liberty Society - really rolls off the tongue.

[sharedvalues]

6. Push poll.

Do we think the fake “pollster” is a GOP operative or just a low paid hard worker?

[not_the_one]

18. It doesn't matter.

Low paid workers can be hired to do just about anything. They need the money.

Just like undocumented workers will eagerly take jobs that Americans refuse, because they have no choice.

The GOP is counting on that.

And no matter WHAT side of an issue you take, no matter how worthy of a cause, SOMEONE is going to be hurt by the side you support.

Sad to say, So What? NOTHING will ever get accomplished if there is no pain.

[sharedvalues]

55. Yes, and so

Is there any point in educating the push poller? Or are they a likely Democrat low-wage worker?

[SCantiGOP]

7. In the 90s I got a poll in the mail

It was really a fundraiser, but it had a poll to fill out on gun control. All yes/no questions: Do you believe you have a right to protect yourself and your family from a vicious criminal attack? If assault rifles were outlawed, would criminals and drug cartels turn in their guns? Those are the two I still remember.

A few weeks later I saw a press release from the Congressman, saying that 81% of his constituents were opposed to gun control.

[Takket]

9. push polling should be illegal. if you want to say something, say it. but don't

manipulate people in that way

[soldierant]

53. I suppose they must work.

Some (too many) Democratic fundraising emails are now worded very similarly, I'm sorry (and somewhat ashamed) to say.

[calimary]

10. LOVE how those questions are worded.

They're trying to influence the answers by the way they describe what you're expected NOT to like anyway. Push that button and the targeted dogs will start to salivate.

Wonder why they're calling NC Democrats? Do they really think they can pick off any votes from Democrats? Trying to muddy the waters or something? Psy-ops of some sort - destabilize the opposition in some way? What's the objective here, I wonder? I'd guess their time would be wasted, calling North Carolina Dems.

It suggests they think they know the right buzzwords to use and buttons to push.

[Bettie]

13. That's why we shouldn't disqualify candidates because the

might be "too far left". Fact is they will call any candidate we have a socialist.

We could run anyone, literally anyone, and they'd be called a socialist.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

30. Although they will throw in the word "communist" occasionally for old times sake.

I guess they figure there are some older voters who still salivate at that term and turn off their rational thinking, just as they did in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

[Bettie]

34. Yeah, that too

but it wouldn't matter if we had someone whose views are identical to any Republicon out there. They would still declare our candidate to be socialist/commie.

It literally doesn't matter who we run, remember: the Democratic candidate is, according to TV, always the very most liberal member of the Senate/House/Human Race who ever existed or will exist. Well, until the next one.

Heck, I WISH we were as liberal as they pretend to think we are.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

44. "I WISH we were as liberal as they pretend to think we are."

Me too. The Democratic Party should establish a firm set of progressive ideals (equality, tolerance, environmental protection, medical care for all), put forward workable ideas to achieve those goals, and allow the rest of the population to move in that direction rather than the other way around.

We've done it before, with civil rights and the environment. Neither was generally accepted before the Party laid down a marker and did not budge.

I once told a conservative friend that if his point of view -- that all change was bad -- had won out for the entire history of the human race we'd still be living in caves. He couldn't come up with a counter-argument.

[Bettie]

46. This right here is why

as much as I LOVE DU and find it to be a refuge most of the time, I sometimes get so freaking frustrated.

Sometimes, you have to move forward, even if it is uncomfortable for some people. Even if it would upset the status quo.

[royable]

14. Sounds like this was not so much a push poll as a shove poll.

Perhaps even so far as a battering ram poll.

I would have put my foot down at the question about the "Democrat" candidates, saying that there aren't any, so the question can't be answered.

Do I support a Democrat candidate who wants to infuse the population with nano-bot viral brain rot, or Trump?
Do I support a Democrat candidate who will transform the Earth into a glassy glowing nuclear wasteland, or Trump?
Do I support a Democrat candidate who will conspire with malignant soul-sucking vampire space invaders, or Trump?

Report the polling company to the Better Business Bureau.

[smirkymonkey]

16. +1000

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. Were I taking that poll,

I'd have corrected the pollster every single time they said "Democrat" and insisted they say "Democratic".

That is one of the misuses of a word that tends to make me go ballistic.

[dflprincess]

17. They no doubt call pretending it's a neutral 3rd party polling outfit

and then immediately give themselves away by saying "Democrat",

They are so dumb.

[Bayard]

19. "Would you support a Democrat candidate who wanted abortion available up until birth or Trump?"

What is this shit? McConnell has an ad going against Amy McGrath that says she wants women to have the right to stop and have an abortion on the way to the hospital to give birth.

[zentrum]

20. Push. They're called

....Push Polls. Because they are designed to be fear inducing advertisements in disguise.They don't really care about your answers. They're whole purpose is to influence the callee's vote but in a stealth way.

[woodsprite]

21. You did great! I got a Dem one pushing Bloomberg the other day.

They were trying to bill him as the only anti-tRump Dem candidate. They tried asking about candidates in different order, dropping off key names (Biden and Warren).

[rockfordfile]

23. Yeah the un-American CEO of Hasbro was behind "Socialism Monopoly"

"Would you support a Democrat candidate who wanted Socialism over Capitalism or Trump?"

What they are doing is trying to plant seeds of doubt. You snooze you lose.

[KT2000]

25. had one of those

but did not get far. - I heard myself say - Oh for God's sake" before I hung up.

[Thekaspervote]

26. Awwwh the old MMRI I'll ask the same question in 100 different ways and finally trip her up

They never stop...

[pansypoo53219]

27. i love push polls. so i can fuck them up.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

52. You can't. You can only endure them if you must. They are not real polls so nothing to fuck up. . nt

[joanbarnes]

29. If this is NRCC poll. They called me multiple times and I blocked the number.

They call on a different number. I finally answered it and told them off. They know they suck.

[ffr]

31. F E A R - Same old bullshit, different day.

I said I would support a Democratic candidate no matter what!

[marybourg]

33. Post cards to Voters has a push on for

Allen Thomas in the special election on Sept 10 for NC3. Make sure you and all your friends vote. And join in post card writing if you can! Screw the publicans.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

35. universal answer: "Ain't no Repuke candidate worth pissin' on"

"Even if they's own far! Is y'all one of them low-life, scum-suckin', Satan worshippin' Russiapublicans? How come y'all are callin' Americans?"

[Pepsidog]

36. How about Trump gutting social security, the environment, family values? They have short memories.

[SpankMe]

37. Sounds like a "troll poll". n/t

[DallasNE]

38. I'm Guessing That Frank Luntz Focus Group Tested The Formulation Of These Questions

And this was the formulation that worked best.

[Liberal In Texas]

40. These push polls are nothing but a form of propaganda.

By getting the person involved with the process it's designed to make them feel like they have ownership with these ideas.

[Wednesdays]

41. Stall for as much time as possible

Whenever you get a puke push poll like this, don't let them on that you're hostile to them. Rather, act like you're friendly but hard of hearing and have them repeat every question. If everybody did that, they'd never get any results.

Hanging up on them immediately would just make them move on to a more gullible recipient.

[struggle4progress]

42. "Help us refine our 2021 list of people to arrest!"

[JohnnyRingo]

43. That wasn't a poll. Your answers were never recorded.

... and will never be made public.

The goal was to "inform" you about how good Trump is and how rotten Democrats are. Since on one would sit through such a hectoring phone call, they pose the talking points as questions and pretend that you're participating.

[raccoon]

45. What a crock of shit, especially this question:

Would you support a Democrat candidate who wanted abortion available up until birth or Trump?

[demigoddess]

65. what I would have answered is that yes, I supported abortion up until

birth.

[louis-t]

47. Did they talk in a mocking tone when saying

the names of Democratic candidates?

[barbtries]

48. I don't sit for those.

was it a human you were talking to?

I'm in NC. sounds as if that poll is designed to make you either for trump or for programs no Democrats represent. screw that.

[TryLogic]

49. This sounds more like a manipulation than a legititmate poll.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

50. Propaganda 101: Ask an equating question enough times & people begin to think that is the dichotomy

But of course it isn't the true dividing line.

Further, if you keep using certain adjectives side-by-side with "Democratic/Democrat" you don't have to even call them those adjectives. People will be reminded of them the next time they think about it.

[warmfeet]

54. I would have just answered

that I support all Democrats in every case.

I am voting for the Democrats, hang up phone.

Perhaps not politically correct, but I fucking hate repukelicons.

[rurallib]

56. Information like this may be of interest to the Democratic Party in your state

Pass what you wrote here on to your local Democratic Party chair or staffers for the campaigns if they have offices open in your state.

I used to get these sorts of calls all the time in Iowa. Candidates and local parties are always interested in Republican push polls like this. they like to know what kinds of things they are pushing and what areas the calls are going to.

They will appreciate your info. It helps them to mount a response.

[mtngirl47]

59. Thanks--I'm a Precinct Chair in my county

I'll definitely share the info!

[Rebl2]

57. Think I

would tell them I’ll never vote Republican or for the Republican communist party then hang up.

[Smackdown2019]

58. Missouri

Back a year ago, I experienced a similar poll, but it was for the Missouri US Senate and Trumps standing. The pollster lead leading questions that purely pointed to a lopsided conservative choice of answers. No liberal or middle of the road answers. I finished the survey and AFTER I answered the questions, the pollster stated he documented my number and name. I injected and demanded who is documenting the call and my information. He claimed it was some type of poll group and I responded back that true polls are to be random in nature and not have misleading questions. I responded on every answer the best Democrat response, no matter how the insulting the questions would be to a Democrat voter. Polls are supposed to be random and NOT insulting!

[TryLogic]

61. They are not real polls. They are manipulation tactics.

Often referred to, generously, as push polls.

[Smackdown2019]

62. Time is money

What ever it was, they wasted their time on me, 10 minutes worth time of money and using the tactic on a gullible voter.

[klook]

60. Donald Trump -- Great president or GREATEST president?

[treestar]

64. They assume their premises

That the unemployment rate is low - they want an assumption that Dotard gets credit for it 100%.