Cross posted at the Centrist Coalition:
In the FISA Wiretapping debate, pundits on both sides of the aisle are citing various opinion polls to make their cases. As someone who samples a wide variety of political opinions (one of the reasons I enjoy this blog), I’ve noticed that similarly conducted polls are yielding widely different results.
I think this presents an awesome opportunity for centrists to gain mindshare in the debate by demonstrating the need for all sides to finely articulate a nuanced position on the matter. Unfortunately, this is also leaving wingnuts the option of cherry-picking whatever poll supports their extremist viewpoint.
Note the following examples, and consider how their specific wording might affect their results.
A Zogby International Poll asked the question:
If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment.
- 52% agreed with the statement:
- 43% disagreed
- 6% didn’t know or declined to answer
A Fox News Poll (PDF Warning) asked the question:
Do you think the president should or should not have the power to authorize the National Security Agency to monitor electronic communications of suspected terrorists without getting warrants, even if one end of the communication is in the United States?
- 58% answered “Should”
- 36% answered “Should Not”
- 6% were not sure
An Associated Press poll (Actual PDF requires $69 Membership) asked the question:
Should the Bush administration be required to get a warrant from a judge before monitoring phone and internet communications between American citizens in the United States and suspected terrorists, or should the government be allowed to monitor such communications without a warrant?
- 56% Should be required to get a warrant
- 42% Should be allowed to monitor without a warrant
- 2% Not sure
A Washington Post poll asked the question:
Would you consider this wiretapping of telephone calls and e-mails without court approval as an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
- 35% Strongly felt it Acceptable
- 15% Somewhat felt it Acceptable
- 14% Somewhat felt it Unacceptable
- 33% Strongly felt it Unacceptable
- 51% NET for Acceptable
- 47% NET for Unaceptable
And an easy one…
A Rasmussen Report poll asked the question:
Should the National Security Agency be allowed to intercept telephone conversations between terrorism suspects in other countries and people living in the United States?
- 64% Yes
- 23% No
Psychology has always grappled with wording surveys. I think in this debate, we are really seeing how important it is.
Posted by Ryan Somma at January 25, 2006 06:44 PM