The odds are very good that shortly after President Obama completes his health care address this evening, at least two television networks will release results from "instant reaction" surveys. Others will likely stage focus groups in which selected participants react to what they see and hear. The odds are almost as good that pundits and partisans will grossly misread or spin whatever those surveys and focus groups produce. Here is a primer for those hoping to make sense out of whatever new poll data we see over the next 24 hours.
1) Instant response polls measure only speech-watchers. While the methodologies vary, the most important thing to remember that these surveys aim to sample only those who watch the speech and, as such, are are not intended to represent the views of all Americans. The pollsters will hopefully provide some before-and-after comparisons of the speech audience -- showing how viewers felt about health care reform before and after the speech -- but those comparisons will involve only the sample of speech viewers. Thus, no one should take any of the numbers they see tonight and make comparisons to full-sample results from previously surveys of all adults or all "likely voters."
2) The audience is usually skewed toward the president's fans. Remember, not all Americans watch presidential addresses. Out of roughly 113 million television households in the U.S., between 52 and 63 million watched the debates last fall and roughly 53 million watched President Bush's address on the economic crisis last September. Those are huge audiences, but plenty of Americans still tune out.
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John Knefel: Predictions for Barack Obama's Health Care Speech
Whatever else may be true of the final bill that comes out of the House and the Senate, we can be sure that it will leave progressives disappointed and marginalized -- even moreso than usual.
Never ever ever give up!!! Folks, do not forget the marches on September 13th!!! http://marchforhealthcare.com/events/
If not now, when? If not us, who?
Kennedy was one of our greatest champions of health care reform. He carried the torch for a long time...and now it is up to us to continue to carry it!
Our elected officials in Congress receive health care mostly paid for by us tax payers, yet many are trying to make it impossible for us to purchase an affordable plan of our own :
While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.
While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.
While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.
Please sign these petitions - and by all means, spread the word! Thank you!
http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html
http://www.democrats.com/honor-ted-kennedy?cid=ZGVtczQ0MTA5OGRlbXM=
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4922/content.jsp?content_KEY=2763&tag=hk1_typ-e1
"Let me say this about that" J.F.K.
Congratulations President Obama! Your outline of what you propose could not have been made more clear, and can only help everyone in America. To those that still oppose this progressive approach I can only say. " Oh ye of little faith", and I'll add "little charity".
To Rush, Beck and the like who only care about their ratings, I say, "You are nothing compared to the President of the United States" who's only true goal is for the betterment, and to do right for all the American people.