You know me, I hate to call people names, especially fellow members of the media.
Like I would never, ever call Red State’s Erick Erickson a choad. Nope. Never going to happen.
And I’m not about to break that rule today. Not even when it comes to U.S. News’ bullshit report that Americans fear Obama’s re-election by a 2 to 1 margin.
Yes, I’m tempted to call him a prison-cell pillow pet and accuse him of huffing Newt Gingrich’s soiled boxer briefs, but I’m not going to do that. I’ve got one vice and one vice only: I care too much about the feelings of others. If I wasn’t that kind of guy, you can bet your bottom’s dollar that I’d be calling Paul Bedard, the man who wrote the U.S. News report, the foulest of foul words.
Now, exactly what about Bedard’s report has got me right riled? Well, he’s what Bedard had to say:
In our New Year’s poll, when asked what news event they fear most about 2012, Americans by a margin of two-to-one said Obama’s reelection. Only 16 percent said they fear the Democrat won’t win a second term, while 33 percent said they fear four more years.
The problem is, those poll didn’t say they fear Obama’s re-election by a 2 to 1 margin. See, those polled had five answer to choose from. Obama’s re-election only accounted for two of the choices.
Here’s what U.S. News asked:
As we enter the presidential election year of 2012, what potential news event do you fear the most?
President Obama wins reelection 33%
Taxes will increase 31%
Iran will get a nuclear weapon 16%
Obama will lose reelection 16%
North Korea will attack South Korea 4%
In that context, 7 out of every 10 Americans aren’t scared that Obama will be re-elected — they’re worried about taxes, Iran, and a showdown in Korea. But that goes against what Bedard is trying to accomplish here is take this poll and act as if only two answer were available: You fear Obama’s re-election and you fear that Obama won’t be re-elected. Of course, there were three other choices available to respondents and over half, 51 percent, noted they were more concerned about something other than who does or who doesn’t occupy the White House in 2013.
It’s also curious to note that the poll itself is skewed to get those surveyed to either say that they fear Obama’s re-election or they fear that he won’t be re-elected. I mean, there is no reason for the poll question to mention that 2012 is a presidential election year other than to not-so subtlety urge respondents to select one of the Obama-related answers.
Ugh.
Paul Bedard, you don’t know how hard it is right now not to call you disingenuous dickhead. Seriously, man, you really don’t.
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