Pro-Choice Bush?
The latest National Annenberg Election Survey reveals disturbing information that could impact the result of November's election.
According to the Washington Post, the poll revealed that although the public is following the election to an almost unprecedented degree voters fail to understand key policy distinctions between the candidates. In fact, voters were only correct 51% of the time.
Despite President Bush's strong antiabortion views, only 64 percent knew which candidate supports more restrictive laws on abortion. Barely half -- 51 percent -- knew that John F. Kerry backs allowing prescription drug imports from Canada. A third knew Bush, who has made cutting taxes part of his agenda since 2000, favors eliminating the estate tax. Forty-seven percent knew Bush supports allowing workers to direct some of their Social Security taxes into private retirement accounts. When it comes to which candidate approves of using federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, 54 percent knew it was Kerry. Less than half -- 49 percent -- knew Kerry supports eliminating tax breaks on U.S. corporations' overseas profits.
The explanation given by the Annenberg Center is that emphasis on "horse race" reporting in the press has left the population without a source of information about the candidates and their positions. Instead of discussing policy pronouncements, America's newspapers and TV news broadcasts are filled with discussions of polls and the musings of pundits.
Even this article about this poll fits the bill.
Although coverage of last night's debate was widespread and the reaction largely true to life, we will soon see if the press will use the debates as a frame around which to construct a narrative of a choice being presented to American voters.
Who is this guy?
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