Bloomberg Article Draws Questionable Conclusions re: Republicans

In a Bloomberg article posted today by Heidi Przybyla titled Republican Battle for Party Chief Pits Leaders, Przybyla writes, "They [Republicans] also want party leaders to cooperate with President Barack Obama, according to surveys."

Republican Battle for Party Chief Pits Leaders, Base (Update1)
Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Republican leaders’ efforts to select a new national party chairman are stirring concerns among a vital constituency: Republican voters. Rank-and-file Republicans are telling their leaders they want more ethnic, gender and age diversity in a party that is dominated by white males. They also want party leaders to cooperate with President Barack Obama, according to surveys.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aN5z7TvAtZoQ&refer=us

I found that hard to swallow, especially given the amount of energy coming from all factions of the Republican Party these days. It seems to me that the majority feel that the reason we're where we are today is because our elected "leaders" compromised on Republican values and principles.

The only survey cited in the Bloomberg article (that I could find) was from a joint NBC/Wall Street Journal survey. I followed the link Przybyla provided to the article the WSJ wrote regarding the survey.

Hmmm, it seems that according to their author, the question only referred to one, 1, ONE, specific area, the stimulus proposals.

Obama, Stimulus Proposals Enjoy Broad Backing in Poll
Asked about the economic-stimulus package, now estimated to cost $850 billion over two years, ...Even Republicans and independents think GOP lawmakers should work to move the legislation forward. Asked whether Republicans in Congress should do everything to stand firm for their party's principles and oppose the legislation, or look to compromise with the Obama administration, 68% of Republicans and independents chose compromise, with 20% picking standing firm.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123196999580982953.html

Still curious, still wanting to make sure that Ms. Pzybyla hadn't found another broader based question, I took a look at the actual survey.

The actual Wall Street Survey question:

(ASK ONLY OF RESPONDENTS WHO SAY INDEPENDENT, REPUBLICAN, OTHER, OR NOT SURE IN Q.F4a.)

F4b. In thinking about the economic stimulus legislation, which of these statements comes closer to your point of view about what the Republicans in Congress should do over the course of the next several months:

Statement A: Republicans in Congress should do everything to stand firm for their party's economic positions and oppose legislation proposed by the Obama administration even if it means there may be stalemate on some elements of the legislation.

Statement B: Republicans in Congress should look to compromise with the Obama administration to ensure that legislation is passed and to avoid stalemate even if it means compromising on some of their party's economic positions.
[334]
Statement A: Should stand firm....... 20
Statement B: Should compromise... 68
Depends (VOL) ................................ 5
Not sure............................................ 7
http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/WSJ_Poll_011409.pdf

The only other question I found that vaguely related to relations between Democrats and Republicans in Congress:

15. Looking ahead, do you feel that in 2009 the country will find the Democrats and Republicans in Congress in a period of unity by working together and reaching consensus, or will it be a period of division where the parties hold fast to their positions and show little willingness to compromise? [208]

1/09** 12/08 12/04
Period of unity/working together ................................ 48 52 27
Period of division/little willingness to compromise.... 45 42 65
Depends (VOL)......................................................... 4 3 4
Not sure..................................................................... 3 3 4
** Asked of one-half the respondents (FORM B).

Ms. Przybyla seems to have over-stated her case, at a minimum. It appears we have a case of typical media twisting and shaping of facts to fit a preconceived premise. Or maybe it's just a case of simply seeing what you want and ignoring the rest. Or possibly there's an agenda behind the writing of the article and it was deliberately misleading.

I sent a very nice email to Ms. Przybyla asking her to cite her survey sources since she uses the plural rather than singular.

I'll let you know if she responds.

In the meantime, I'd toss the Bloomberg article into the trashcan where it belongs.

McCain-Palin - I can't wait to see them in the White House!

Isn't it going to be great in January when John McCain and Sarah Palin move into the White House? I can't wait for the changes we're going to see!

I know everyone keeps dumping on how minute the earmarks are, but to me they're a big thing. It speaks to the mindset of those we've elected, their ego, their need for power, their need to stay elected and their lack of concern for our hard-earned tax dollars.

I saw a thing today from the Wall Street Journal comparing the tax plans of Barack Obama and John McCain. It spelled out very clearly how much better McCain's plan will be for all, not just the few.

I'm in the process of re-reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I highly recommend it to everyone. I don't agree with everything she puts forth, but I think it is a timely read given what we're hearing from the Obama campaign.

I am hearing more and more enthusiasm for our ticket! Today while scanning through blogs and email messages I saw the news about the W.A.M. '08 group (http://www.wam08.org/ I think). This is a group of thousands and thousands and thousands of Independent, Democrat and Republican groups and individuals working together to get McCain-Palin elected.

Then I received an update from http://www.teamsarah.org/ and saw the huge increases in numbers overnight! It jumped 10,000 in just one day! Impressive don't you think?

And then I saw the post by one of my fellow bloggers about the http://www.catholicvote.org/ (or .com?) group that is over a million strong. Pro-LIFE, which should mean pro-McCain-Palin.

There are many, many people who are working hard, doing things that aren't making it into the mainstream media. We can do this friends, we can and will win on Nov. 4th! Start thinking about all the great things the future holds for us with Sarah Palin out there working to make us oil independent! She's going to be a superb advocate for our special needs children, too.

Palin and McCain are going to be able to make great strides in Washington to clean up the rabble. I think they'll probably be fighting a Democrat Congress, but in two years if we keep working we can hand them enough votes to work miracles during the last two years of this term.

I noted that Priests for Life (Catholic group) is asking members to pray every night for the right choice on Nov. 4th (or something like that). I think all Christians and those of any praying faith should be joining them in sending up prayers for wisdom for voters.

Loved the slogan I heard shouted out today at a Palin rally: Use your brain, vote McCain! Catchy.

The McCain-Palin Campaign has launched a Truth Squad! Finally....

The Left is coming up with all kinds of bogus smears against Sarah Palin. I'm glad to hear the McCain camp is finally going to start VERY actively trying to fight back. It's always hard to prove a negative, to counter half-truths and misinformation. You never know whether to give it credibility by acknowledging the idiotic garbage by trying to counter it or whether to just ignore it. In this crazy election and in our current atmosphere of mudslinging and lies using the overall cause as justification, I think it's generally best to counter each and every little thing.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, most Republicans aren't the kind of people who spend half their life on the Internet trying to counter stuff.

Here's a statement from the press release the McCain campaign sent out about the truth squad:

"We're proud of Governor Palin's leadership in Alaska and record of taking on
entrenched special interests and the good old boys network," said former
Governor Jane Swift. "Governor Palin's commitment to reform is well-known but
there are those who would seek to distort that record with vile rumors and
smears against her, her husband, her children and her friends. We will not allow
those on the left and in the media to smear a woman who has always served her
constituents with honor. We know the truth and are committed to ensuring it as
well."

Palin has an outstanding record in Alaska and it is despicable that the Dems have sent THIRTY, 30, lawyers and garbage diggers to her home state to try and make up crap about her. Truthfully, I'm surprised they didn't send more! Although, given the number of bloggers they have who follow along like zombies I don't know they really needed the 30.

Here's the official members of the "National Members Of The Palin Truth Squad" who will be speaking out for Sarah:

· Former Governor Jane Swift (R-MA)
· Governor Linda Lingle (R-HI)
· Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, (R-AK)
· Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
· Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
· Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
· Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA)
· Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK)
· Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
· Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX)
· Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
· Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI)
· Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-FL)
· Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
· Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM)
· Jo Ann Davidson, RNC Co-Chair
· Rosario Marin, Former U.S. Treasurer
· Meg Stapleton, Former Aide To Governor Palin
· Kristan Cole, Lifelong Friend Of Governor Palin

State Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:

· Former Lt. Governor Jane Norton (CO)
· State Representative Amy Stephens (CO)
· State Board of Education Member Peggy Littleton (CO)
· State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff (FL)
· County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez (FL)
· Former Iowa Senate President And Former U.S. Ambassador To The Eastern Caribbean, Mary Kramer (IA)
· State Representative Jackie Walorski (IN)
· State Representative Laura Brod (MN)
· Former GOP State Party Chairwoman And Former State Rep. Barb Sykora (MN)
· Jayne Millerick, Former NH GOP Chair (NH)
· State Senator Jennifer Beck, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, Honorary Vice Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· DA Dona Ana County Susana Martinez (NM)
· Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Bono-Hunt (NV)
· State Senator Barbara Cegavske (NV)
· State Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert (NV)
· Sue Lowden, Nevada GOP Chair (NV)
&# 183; Kay Ayres, OH GOP Vice Chair (OH)
· Betty Montgomery, Ohio Women For McCain-Palin Chair (OH)
· Mary Taylor, Ohio Auditor Of State (OH)
· Margie Hughes, Clackamas County Chair Of Women For McCain-Palin (OR)
· Linda Neace, West Linn Small Business Owner For McCain-Palin (OR)
· Deanna Smith, Women For McCain-Palin Chairwoman (OR)
· Renee Amoore, PA GOP Deputy Chair (PA)
· Joyce Haas, PA GOP Vice Chair (PA)
· State Senator Lisa Baker (PA)
· Diana Irey, Washington County Commissioner (PA)
· Christine Toretti, RNC National Committeewoman and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Co-Chair (PA)
· Kim Ward, Westmoreland County Commissioner and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Regional Chair (PA)
· Former First Lady Susan Allen (VA)
· Lori Ann Miller, Young Republican Federation Of VA Chairman (VA)
· Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow (WI)
· Peggy Oban Boze, McCain-Palin Chairwomen For King County (WA)
· Susan McCaw, Former Ambassador To Austria (WA)
· Della Newman, Former Ambassador To New Zealand (WA)

Go Sarah Palin, don't let the Dem Dogs get you down!!!