Poll: Americans, 2-1, Fear Obama's Reelection - Page 3

faithful_servant · #21 (**permalink**) 01-11-2012, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWrite

I may have been in error re: the polling sample; as Xcali points out in a previous post, the article DOES cite "Synovate eNation" as having polled 1,000 Americans nationwide as "source," but reading the article otherwise you would think they had polled their online readers ("...our New Years Washington Whispers poll..."). There was no link that I could find on the site that links to a previous article asking readers their opinion.

However, it scarcely matters, as the poll's findings are precisely the opposite of what the headline asserts (as Xcali also posted): By 2 to 1, poll respondents DO NOT fear Obama's re-election.

The thread, therefore, is based on entirely unwarranted sensationalism.

You have to be wary of headlines, especially on the web, I've found. I remember one on the Huffington Post during the Conrad Black trial: "Hung Black Jury Ordered by Judge to Reconsider."

HUH???

Quote:

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%

Source: The Synovate eNation Internet poll was conducted December 29-January 2 among a national sample of 1,000 households by global market research firm Synovate.

Comparing the results from the two related questions about Pres. Obama's re-election gives a 2:1 ratio. So please explain to me how you came to your conclusion, because my 3rd grade teacher wants to know how a 2:1 ratio is somehow the same as a 1:2 ratio as you claim. Mrs. Nelson is waiting patiently for your answer.

Coyote · #22 (**permalink**) 01-11-2012, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

HUH???

Comparing the results from the two related questions about Pres. Obama's re-election gives a 2:1 ratio. So please explain to me how you came to your conclusion, because my 3rd grade teacher wants to know how a 2:1 ratio is somehow the same as a 1:2 ratio as you claim. Mrs. Nelson is waiting patiently for your answer.

You can't compare the results to cobble together a ratio - the two are seperate.

The ratio is 33 percent fear his re-election.

That isn't 2:1 fearing his election.

GeekyGirl · #23 (**permalink**) 01-11-2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

HUH???

Comparing the results from the two related questions about Pres. Obama's re-election gives a 2:1 ratio. So please explain to me how you came to your conclusion, because my 3rd grade teacher wants to know how a 2:1 ratio is somehow the same as a 1:2 ratio as you claim. Mrs. Nelson is waiting patiently for your answer.

You can't compare two results like that... If 33% of people list his reelection as their number one fear, that mean s 77% polled said something other than his reelection was their greatest fear.

People fearing something besides Obamas reelection:People who fear Obamas reelection. 77:33 = ~ 2.33:1.

MrWrite · #24 (**permalink**) 01-11-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyGirl

You can't compare two results like that... If 33% of people list his reelection as their number one fear, that mean s 77% polled said something other than his reelection was their greatest fear.

Actually, 67%.

MrWrite · #25 (**permalink**) 01-11-2012, 10:33 PM

Here's the text of the original article:

Quote:

When it comes to how Americans view President Obama going into the new year, there appears to be very little spirit of Auld Lang Syne. Instead, according to the new Washington Whispers poll, many voters aren't forgetting what they dislike about Obama and want him out of office.

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. [Check out the top political events of 2011]

Next to Obama's reelection, 31 percent of Americans said they feared higher taxes, which may be proof that the president's focus on the payroll tax cut has hit paydirt.

The poll, however, held out some hope for Obama. Some 38 percent of younger Americans, 18-24, said their biggest fear was higher taxes. Just 28 percent of those same voters said they feared Obama winning in November.

But in results backed up by other polls, older Americans and those earning $75,000 or more are especially worried about the president getting a second term, according to the poll done by Synovate eNation.

Nearly half of Americans 65 and older said Obama's reelection was their top fear, 39 percent of those making $75,000 or more agreed.

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%

Source: The Synovate eNation Internet poll was conducted December 29-January 2 among a national sample of 1,000 households by global market research firm Synovate.

The 2:1 ratio is derived from "people who fear Obama WILL be re-elected" (33%) as compared to "people who fear Obama will NOT be re-elected" (16%).

Wildly misleading headline, which the article itself does little to clarify.

Xcali · #26 (**permalink**) 01-11-2012, 11:05 PM

and lets not forget erroneous statements such as this, from the poll..

Nearly half of Americans 65 and older said Obama's reelection was their top fear, 39 percent of those making $75,000 or more agreed.

They already said the poll was about 1000 people so claiming that nearly half of Americans 65 and older said anything is misleading and dishonest....

MrWrite · #27 (**permalink**) 01-11-2012, 11:19 PM

Agreed. A shoddy piece of work all round.

faithful_servant · #28 (**permalink**) 01-12-2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coyote

You can't compare the results to cobble together a ratio - the two are seperate.

The ratio is 33 percent fear his re-election.

That isn't 2:1 fearing his election.

THE TWO ARE SEPARATE???? What are smoking?? The two are DIRECTLY connected. The ratio of people who fear his re-election to those who fear he won't be re-elected has a CLEAR connection. How can you possibly say that they aren't connected?? Lose the partisan crap and try engaging in a little honest and objective critical thinking. The poll is solid, the question straight-forward and the results clear. Denying the truth is a dumb thing to do.

saltwn · #29 (**permalink**) 01-12-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

Does anyone here want to discuss why it is that this poll shows the results that it does or does everyone just want to divert the disucussion away from a issue critical of the President????

The "poll"

was done in some neo-con's bathroom. So..uh ...yeah may be a bit slanted.

Coyote · #30 (**permalink**) 01-12-2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

THE TWO ARE SEPARATE???? What are smoking?? The two are DIRECTLY connected. The ratio of people who fear his re-election to those who fear he won't be re-elected has a CLEAR connection. How can you possibly say that they aren't connected?? Lose the partisan crap and try engaging in a little honest and objective critical thinking. The poll is solid, the question straight-forward and the results clear. Denying the truth is a dumb thing to do.

You are putting together 2+2=5 or in this case, 100 percent.

The OP title: Americans, 2-1, Fear Obama's Reelection -- the OP did NOT say "The ratio of people who fear his re-election to those who fear he won't be re-elected " The OP made it sound like 2-1 of all the respondents feared his re-election. That simply isn't accurate.

The actual survey:

100% - total respondants.

Of those, 33% said they feared Obama would be reelected. (67 percent did not).

The ratio is 2-1 do NOT fear his re-election, or are ambivalent or think it's a stupid thing to be afraid of - it's not on their radar of important fears.

16% feared he would not be reelected. 84 percent did not have that fear, or are ambivalent or think it's a stupid thing to be afraid of - it's not on their radar of important fears.

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