US: News Interest (Pew 9/18-21)
Emily Swanson | September 23, 2009
Pew Research Center
9/18-21/09; 1,000 adults, 3.5% margin of error
Mode: Live telephone interviews
(Pew release)
National
All things considered... these days have you been hearing too much, too little, or the right amount about Barack Obama?
37% Too much, 12% Too little, 46% Right amount
Most Closely Followed Story
36% Debate over health care reform
15% Reports about the condition of the U.S. economy
14% Reports about swine flu and the availability of a vaccine
12% The murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le in a campus lab building
6% The U.S. military effort in Afghanistan
4% Obama cancelling a planned missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic
How much if anything, have you heard about each of the following?
Senator Max Baucus unveiling his health care reform proposal:
19% A lot, 36% A little, 45% Nothing at all
Employees of the community organizing group "ACORN" appearing to give advice to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute:
31% A lot, 25% A little, 43% Nothing at all
Charges that racism is a factor in criticisms of President Obama and his policies:
40% A lot, 35% A little, 24% Nothing at all
A September 12th rally in Washington to protest government spending and policies:
23% A lot, 37% A little, 40% Nothing at all
By Emily Swanson | September 23, 2009 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
Comments
I find it interesting that 36% are most closely following the health care story, yet 45% said they were not aware of Baucus's bill being unveiled. That was the most important of the 5 bills.
But then 40% HAVE heard about charges of racism surrounding Obama. What does that have to do with health care?
I agree that that it's likely a significant majority has very little understanding of either the health care system or the proposals to reform it.
This poll tells you a vital piece of information considering polling in general - that people are ignorant. I find it funny that people are analyzing health care polls for example and debating why Obama's plan isn't more popular or is the public option dead etc. The bottom line is that people don't have any clue whatsoever about any of that. Most people are lazy and ignorant.
So please, remember this when talking about polls. 80% of people are of the opinion they are simply because of where they live or who their parents were. They have no clue about the actual substance.
Posted on September 24, 2009 12:57 AM