Nate Silver Cursed Out By Right-Winger

Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight interviewed John Ziegler, who commissioned a Zogby poll purporting to prove that Obama voters are uninformed. Things started off testy:

NS: What was the right answer to that [Palin] question?

JZ: The technically accurate question [sic] is that none of the four people said that, but we counted it as correct if they said Sarah Palin.

NS: Why would you commission a survey question with no correct response?

JZ: The purpose of the question, you pinhead, was we wanted to determine the Tina Fey Effect.

And it only got worse, ending with Ziegler telling Silver to "go fuck yourself."

NS: Would you consider yourself well-informed?

JZ: I'd consider myself extremely well-informed.

NS: Who are the two senators from South Dakota

JZ: Thune and, uh, Johnson.

Story continues below

NS: Very good. South Carolina?

JZ: Go fuck yourself. I'm done with this interview if you're going to ask me stupid questions like that. Obviously I know who Lindsay Graham is.

NS: Well, since you're running a website calling people misinformed, I'd like to see if -- there are certain things you've said that I would consider misinformed.

JZ: Misinformed? You're a piece of work! You are never going to have the guts to post a representative transcript on your website! I thought you actually ran a legitimate website!

NS: Thank you, have a good day.

JZ: Go fuck yourself.

Comments

[murly]

That Ziegler guy reminds me of a character Martin Short used to do. He would portray someone from the tobacco industry being interviewed, and whenever he couldn't justify his answer he would give a nervous laugh and say, "I knew that! I can't believe that you'd think I didn't know that!" Ziegler is more hostile and profane than Martin's character, but he displays the same sort of "the best defense is a good offense" attitude.

[roshni]

McCain did that. I know how to get Bin Ladin. I know how to win wars. Blahblahblah.

[littlepuffycloud]

Calm over hysterical wins everytime.

[roshni]

Data over distortion wins too.

[Okieborn]

You Sir are doing a Great Job and a very precise !!
Hey Nate when they curse you "curse Back !!!
Go Nate GO Thank You !!!

[Rictracee]

it was a funny interview.. Nate ,, you nailed him.

[abigail1]

Nate is great!

[bokiluis]

Nate you are brilliant! I am a huge admirer of your work. Keep moving forward!!!

[GeorgeP922]

Man that interview was Heeeelarious.

We need audio of it or something.

Looking forward of the future of Nate Silver!

[honeydiva]

aren't there still TWO senators from South Carolina or does Graham take up both positions with his hot air! lol

[mcantwell]

Nate Silver is a brilliant guy. 538 was the most reliable source throughout the elections. Ziegler's just jealous. You Go Nate!

[NickCatal]

Why would you not direct link to the fivethirtyeight.com article? C&L just lifted it from the source

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/interview-with-john-ziegler-on-zogby.html

[scorpioleidy]

Good for you, Nate - that just means he is doing something right !!!

[sueno]

Excellent interview-
Nate did a great job exposing a fraud!