Rasmussen poll on congressional approval under fire

by kingsbridge77, Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 04:59:01 PM EST

If you asked 100 people to choose between red and blue, 55% might answer "blue." This 55% preference for blue over red will be reinforced if several others surveys find a similar result.

But if one day a guy decides to add "green" to the questionnaire, then the numbers for "blue" as well  as "red" would doubtless decrease. Would this scenario mean that blue (or red) is losing ground as a color in terms of popularity? Absolutely not.

But this is what Rasmussen wants you to believe, only instead of colors he is stretching the truth on congressional approval numbers. Such approval rating is now in the "single digits", he claims. Matt Drudge touted the new poll in his website yesterday; but by not stressing the significant difference between this and all other congressional polls conducted by other polling firms, which place the approval in the mid-20's, the careless Drudge and the conservative Rasmussen may be leading many too believe that congress has experienced a sudden, sharp, recent drop in popularity.

The truth is, however, that although Congress' approval rating is very low, it is nowhere near single digits when the usual two-question (approve or disapprove) standard is applied. In addition to "excellent", "good", and "poor", Rasmussen adds the ambiguous "fair" option to this questionnaire, which would be the equivalent of "green" in the example above.

I recommend a new Politico piece further explaining why this just-released Rasmussen poll is highly misleading.

Maybe Rasmussen's approach is more useful than the one used by other pollsters. Who knows. But he should have made all of us aware of his extremely unusual wording.




Tags: polls (all tags)

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Re: Rasmussen poll on congressional approval under (2.00 / 1)

Thanks for posting. You might also want to include an excerpt from the Politico article, like where they explain that over 1/3 of respondents said Congress's performance was "fair."

Even I'm surprised at such blatant misrepresentation of poll results.


by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 05:04:27 PM EST

Well, there goes... (none / 0)

Whatever respect I had for Rasmussen! Remind me to NEVER trust them again. Hmmm, I wonder who Rasmussen's supporting...


No way, no how, no McCain! :-)
by atdleft on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 06:06:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

David Letterman says (none / 0)

Congress approval ratings meet Bush approval rating.

Bush approval ratings meet Congress approval rating.


He was warmly received by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called him "a leader that God has blessed us with at this time."
by roxfoxy on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 05:07:14 PM EST

Re: David Letterman says (2.00 / 1)

well, it's due in large part to Bush that Congress's ratings are so low.


by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 05:13:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Rasmussen poll on congressional approval (2.00 / 2)

A fare more useful barometer of public opinion is the percentage of people who plan to vote Democratic for Congress vs. Republican.  Even if the Democratic-controlled Congress has historically low approval ratings, it is Republicans who are going to take the worst of it in November.


by Skaje on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 05:32:01 PM EST

Re: Rasmussen poll on congressional approval under (2.00 / 2)

That's an interesting point, one I hadn't heard before.  It's worth noting, though, that there was a straight approve/disapprove poll last month with Congress at a whopping 13% approval, so the real news is not that much better than what this poll would suggest.

Democrats still look to do very well this year, but if they continue to ignore what the people want from them, there will inevitably be a reckoning.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 05:51:02 PM EST

True... (none / 0)

It's just that we're in such a tricky situation. Democrats try to pass good legislation, but Republicans soon stall it. So then, Dem leaders face a difficult choice: stand their ground and risk passing nothing, or "compromise" and risk passing something that most of us would consider reprehensible (like this "FISA compromise" bill).

It's a tough situation Dem leaders are in. And while I wouldn't completely absolve Dem leaders of all blame, I can understand it isn't easy for them.


No way, no how, no McCain! :-)
by atdleft on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 06:03:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: True... (none / 0)

I think it is very telling that the Democratic Congress has gotten lower approval in some polls from Democrats than Republicans.  That should tell you something.

Republican obstruction is a big part of the problem.  But Democrats have the obligation to get the word out, to make sure people understand that the reason things aren't getting done is because the GOP filibusters everything.  And they really haven't been doing that.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 06:58:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Meh. (none / 0)

Another day, another worthless poll.  Why is this news, again?


by semiquaver on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 06:10:08 PM EST


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