I came came across this article on the Politico website this morning. It brings new meaning to the old saying about a lie making it half-way around the world before truth has a chance to put its pants on.
At issue is the accuracy or lack thereof, of political polls. An hour doesn't go by without out poll results about this political race or issue being released with the numbers being breathlessly read on air or posted on the Internet.
They have to be accurate right? I mean it's a POLL! As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend."
One of the most watched races this political primary season was the Democratic primary campaign for Senate in Arkansas. Incumbent Blanche Lincoln was all but written off because polls said she was trailing challenger Bill Halter.
"Halter Surges!"
Turns out the poll data may not only have been bad, but deliberately manipulated. Lincoln of course, ended up winning, "surprising" the very same people who reported/wrote/blogged she was going to lose.
"DEWEY WINS!" 2.0.
As a journalist, I never liked polls. At best they were a momentary snapshot from a sample of a few hundred claiming to represent the views of thousands. There are, to be fair, solid and respected pollsters.
But in this 24-7 news environment and (mis)information spread at the speed of light on the Internet, everyone needs to take a moment, take a deep breath and do a little fact checking.
Before the advent of what we know now as the Internet, my friend, former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson told me, "Show me two people with a mimeograph machine and I'll show you a lobby group." An analog description that works just as well in today's digital world.
It's easy for any group or cause to create an official looking website, post polls or anything else and as long as one person believes it and shares it, truth might as well not even get out of bed.
It worked, almost, in Arkansas.
Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We get the conversation started about you!"
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