I just posted this on an evangelical Christian website that has a politics board I sometimes stick my nose into. Lots of Shrub supporters. I'm expecting a total meltdown over there soon... but in the meantime I thought I'd share over here. :)
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http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Pres_Election_04/Report10_21_04.pdfThe Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland and the Center on Policy Attitudes did a little study. Guess what they found?
In a nutshell: Kerry supporters for the most part actually know what they're talking about on the main issues surrounding the election, Bush supporters for the most part are either misinformed, misled or in denial on those same issues.
Let's look at the details shall we? I will not be covering every single point of course so read the report yourselves. We see the symptoms of what this study demonstrates right here on this board every day so this won't come as a surprise to some of us.
Let's just ignore the large percentage of Bush supporters who still think Iraq actually had WMDs or major WMD programs immediately prior to the war despite all the evidence to the contrary since I'm sure there will be immediate ranting about Saddam shipping all his weapons to Syria or some other equally silly idea. ("Yes... I'm a super-paranoid dictator who has devoted endless days, months and years to developing and stockpiling deadly weapons to use against my enemies... and then when those same enemies are massing on my border stating their clear intentions to capture and imprison if not just plain kill me I'm going to turn over all the weapons I could use to defend myself against them to ANOTHER COUNTRY. After all, being the trusting and pleasant fellow that I am, and with the excellent friendly and warm relations I have with my neighbours, I'm sure they'll give them right back if I need them...")
So, moving past that, let's deal with what there is really no basis for argument on.
1. On the subject of Iraq possessing WMDs immediately prior to the war. What is the opinion of most experts?58% of Bush supporters believe that
most experts say that Iraq had WMDs. (They do not, they overwhelmingly say that he had no WMDs)
Another
18% of Bush supporters believe experts opinions are evenly divided on the issue. See above. Wrong again.
Only
23% of Bush supporters knew that most experts say that Iraq had no WMDs before the war.
56% of Kerry supporters got the question right, with only 18% being so far off as to think most experts actually think there were WMDs there.
2. On the subject of the Duelfer report. What did it conclude?19% of Bush supporters thought it concluded that Saddam had WMDs.
Another
38% of Bush supporters thought that it concluded Saddam had a major program for developing WMDs.
The correct answer is: The report concluded he had neither weapond NOR major weapons programs.
Only 7% of Kerry supporters were under the impression that the report concluded Saddam had WMDs, and only 16% thought it concluded he had a major weapons program.
Grasp on reality scorecard: Kerry Supporters - 2. Bush Supporters - 0.
3. Iraq/Al Qaeda connection.75% of Bush supporters believe Iraq was providing substantial support to Al Qaeda.
20% of Bush supporters (included within that 75%) believe Iraq was DIRECTLY INVOLVED in 9/11!
The respective numbers for Kerry supporters: 30%, 8%.
Asked what
most experts believe 60% of Bush supporters actually think the experts agree with them that Iraq provided Al Qaeda with significant support! Only 21% of Kerry supporters made this error.
Asked in August what the 9/11 commission specifically had concluded,
56% of Bush supporters thought it had concluded Iraq had provided substantial support to Al Qaeda. (A clear majority wrong again, the commission specifically said it found no evidence of any significant relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda). Only 27% of Kerry supporters dropped the ball on that one.
Scorecard: Kerry supporters - 3. Bush supporters - 0.
4. Views on what the Bush administration SAYS about IraqThis one's illuminating. Bush and Kerry supporters agree on something!
63% of Bush supporters say that the Bush administration currently says Iraq had WMDs. (Not "said", past tense... "says", present tense. Survey conducted THIS MONTH.) Another
19% say the Bush administration currently says Iraq had a major weapons program. Total: 82% believe the Bush administration is (or at least has been right up until THIS month) making these claims...
Kerry supporters? 73% say the Bush administration says Iraq had WMDs. 11% that the administration says Iraq had a major weapons program. Total: 84%.
So gee... I wonder who we blame for Bush supporters not having an entirely firm grasp on the reality of the situation? There are similar numbers on current Bush administration claims about an Iraq/Al Qaeda connection.
5. World Public OpinionOnly
31% of Bush supporters realize that the majority (and it was a LARGE majority) of the world opposed the Iraq war.
42% believe world opinion was evenly divided.
26% believe world opinion was IN FAVOR of the war!
Kerry supporters? 74%: Majority opposed. 20%: Evenly divided: 6%: Majoruty favored.
Scorecard: Kerry supporters - 4. Bush Supporters - 0. (Or, 5 - 1 if you accept both their views on what the Bush administration is SAYING about things)
Bush supporters are equally in the dark about worldwide suport for president Bush's re-election. Somehow
57% of Bush supporters think most people in the world want Bush re-elected! An additional
33% think views are evenly divided! Only
9% know that the majority (And, once again, it's not even close) do not wish to see Bush re-elected.
Kerry supporters? Only 1% are under the the delusion that the majority of the world wants Bush re-elected. 30% wrongly believe opinion is evenly divided. 69% know that the majority of the world wants Bush gone.
That's 5 - zip Kerry supporters (Feel free to add that 1 point adjustment to both sides if you feel like it, I'm not bringing it up anymore)
And to complete the "clueless about the world outside the U.S. border" trifecta:
37% of Bush supporters think the majority of the world feels BETTER about the U.S. as a result of Bush administration foreign policy. Another 45% of Bush supporters think world opinion is evenly divided. Only 17% of Bush supporters know that the majority of the world now feels worse about the U.S. as a result of Bush's policies.
Kerry supporters? Only 2% were so out of touch with reality that they thought the majority of the world now felt better about the U.S. 12% wrongly believed opinion was evenly divided. 86% knew that world opinion of the U.S. has gone downhill.
6 - nada for the Kerry supporters.
6. Knowledge of Bush's and Kerry's own positions.And it just keeps getting scarier. The majority of Bush supporters don't even know what Bush's own poitions are! Bush campaigners can spin all they like about Kerry not taking clear positions on the issues but
somehow the majority of Kerry supporters actually know what his positions are while the same can not be said of Bush.
69% of Bush supporters incorrectly think he supports the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
(68%)72% incorrectly think he supports the treaty banning land mines.
(66%)51% incorrectly think he favors participation in the Kyoto treaty.
(54%)53% incorrectly think he favors participation in the International Criminal court.
Oh... wondering what those numbers in italics are? The percentage of Bush supporters who THEMSELVES support those treaties. Fascinating isn't it? They support it, they INCORRECTLY THINK the president also supports it, and they're voting for him.
The chart on page 14 of the study is educational. On only a SINGLE issue out of eight do
less than 50% of Kerry supporters answer correctly on what Kerry's position is. On only 2 issues out of eight do
more than 50% of Bush supporters answer correctly on what Bush's position is.
Final scorecard... 6, 7, 8... oh forget it. It's a blowout for the Kerry supporters.
-Grant (So gee... I wonder why so many people still think it's a good idea to vote for Bush...)
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