The Mendacious Fox
Fox had two headlines running yesterday, the first is this one:
WHILE CONGRESS CONTINUES to point fingers over who is to blame for the current budget impasse, Fox News polls show Americans appear equally fed up with Congress and President Obama, raising the possibility of an anti-incumbent backlash in 2014.
Firstly, it would seem that the headline was attempting to create the impression that Obama is as unpopular as Congress. Now, perhaps it’s just poor writing and the headline really solely relates to the shutdown of government. Amusingly, underneath the above headline, was this one. I laughed.
Fox News Poll: 81 percent disapprove of Congress, 49 percent disapprove of Obama
See, it appears that appear ain’t quite what it appears to be.
But that Fox news poll, does have some interesting numbers. And they don’t really stack up unless one tries to provide an out to the Republican leadership.
32. Who do you think is most responsible for the federal government shutdown?
1-2 Oct 13
Republican leaders, such as John Boehner 25%
Tea Party Republicans, such as Ted Cruz 17
Democratic leaders, such as Harry Reid 8
President Barack Obama 24
(All/Combination) 20
(Don’t know) 5
Interesting that we have the Republican leadership, and a cadre they can’t apparently control who get their own polling. That seems a little mendacious as the Republican leadership is accountable for ALL their members. We have only Democratic leadership. Here’s how those poll numbers really work….Republican leaders and Tea Party Republicans, are ALL Republicans. So let’s look at those numbers in that view.
32. Who do you think is most responsible for the federal government shutdown?
1-2 Oct 13
Republican leaders, such as John Boehner 42%
Democratic leaders, such as Harry Reid 8
President Barack Obama 24
(All/Combination) 20
(Don’t know) 5
Big change isn’t it. So back to the original headline “Fox News polls show Americans appear equally fed up with Congress and President Obama”. Democratic leadership looks to have come off pretty well really. When Republican leadership is tagged for all Republicans, they don’t come off too well at all. I remain slightly amused however at the amount of blame Obama gets, when the issues lie between Congress and the Senate.
Yes indeed, it really ain’t what is appears to be. Except on Fox.