Today's Cafferty file is about Ron Paul

[Maverick]

Sent mine off.

Hi Jack, I think you and I both know why Ron Paul doesn't seem to have any support in the polls. It's because the "official" poll data is collected, spun, and disseminated by groups that have a vested interest in seeing the big government, pro-war status quo continue. I honestly cannot understand why so much stock is put in these polls in the first place. Look around and ask yourself...when Ron Paul wins every online poll, text poll, has so many people rallying to his cause that even Rudy has to say "Gee, you sure have a LOT of supporters," and shatters every single-day fundraising record of ANY candidate in history, which do you believe? But the mainstream media has decided to create their own reality with the "official" polls.

 

[tamor]

My Comment

When I look at national poll results, I ask myself three things 1. How many people were polled? If less than 2000 people were polled, I do not give it a second look because it is not statistically significant, in my opinion. 2. Who commissioned this poll and what were the motives? Many times wording is slanted toward a specific viewpoint. Some polls have not even included Dr. Ron Paul as an option. 3. How was the data gathered? Most national polls that the main stream media has deemed as news-worthy are taken via land-line phones, elliminating many people including me. This is truly an outdated way of taking a poll.
Therefore, if there were a poll that was statistically significant, commissioned by an objective entity and utilizing secure new technologies, I feel positive that Ron Paul would win by a landslide.

 

[TheNewYorker]

My comment:

The answer is a simple one. The polls are polling only individuals that voted republican in the last election. That makes up a very small minority of real voters in this upcoming election, since after Bush, many jumped ship.

Ron Paul draws a lot of his support not only from Republicans but also from Independants and Democrats who switched over from their parties and have never voted Republican before. Those voters are not included in the polls.

Does Ron Paul have a chance though? Well, history often repeats itself. At this time in 2003, John Kerry was actually polling slightly LESS than what Ron Paul is polling now - but he still went on to win the nomination. That right there, is pretty much proof that the polls cannot be taken seriously this early into the game.

 

[Craig_R]

blimp

 

[greves]

Sent mine!

There are a thousand reasons why Ron Paul isn't higher in the polls - where to begin?

The biggest, probably, is no longer name recognition, but name association. Ron Paul is harassed by the media on a daily basis as being associated with bigots, anarchists, and all other manner of crazies. The fact is that the man is honest, straightforward, and a real academic - this doesn't leave much for the media to hype up! A friend recently told me that he didn't want a Ron Paul bumper sticker out of fear that his friends would label him an 'intellectual.'

What the media ought to be doing is digging for the truth, not the dirt. If they did their job properly, millions more would be flocking to Ron Paul as he's the only politician bearing a message that really makes sense in these times of sensationalism and inflated egos. Ron Paul's message is simple and humble, yet strong and inspiring: peace and freedom for all.

 

[ChristopherJ]

Here's my comment

Because we can't get any TV time Jack. Seems like you're the only one willing to give Ron Paul a decent chance and the Paulites love you for it!

We want everyone out there to see what a wonderfully honest and intelligent man Ron Paul is but all they get is Hillary, Obama, or Rudy McRomney 24/7. I have to be honest it's getting really frustrating Jack. What do we have to do to get some respect?

Hopefully I'll appeal to his vanity

 

[freedominnumbers]

My email:

It’s simple Jack. Millions of supporters can go online whenever they want and make their voices heard by donating. On the other hand, I don’t know a single fellow Ron Paul supporter who has ever had the opportunity to participate in these so called scientific polls.

I think Pollster Frank Luntz explains why Ron Paul is not polling higher very clearly in these excerpts from an interview made famous by Penn and Teller.

“The key in survey research is to ask questions that people care about the answers and to ask the question in a way that you get the right answer…”

“…What you will find is that virtually the same question just a single change of wording you’ll get a very different reaction in terms of how they think and how they feel.”

In short Jack, the polls tell us what the sponsor wants us to hear. It has always been that way and will always be that way. I can only hope that one day the news outlets who report these polls will grow a conscience and restore some credibility to the word “news”.

 

[texasbelle]

"Many of those who will vote in the primary for Ron Paul are first time voters and they are not being 'polled'. At 32, I finally registered to vote after years of utter disgust with politics. Ron Paul cured my apathy"

 

[Energy]

I didn't submit this but can you imagine if there was a more active free market for polls? I would trust a Google-sponsored poll (with tons of transparency and rock-solid voter authentication system) than these silly land-line polls.

 

[hillertexas]

My email:
National polls are archaic and will soon fall by the wayside like 8 track tapes, VHS tapes, and yes, landline phones. These polls absolutely do not reflect what is really on the horizon of the political landscape today. The sun is about to rise, and it's name is Ron Paul.

 

[Ridiculous]

"The polls don't mean anything at this point. In November and December of 2003, Kerry was polling around the same percentage as Al Sharpton.

Check if you don't believe me..."

 

[kjk437]

Here's mine:

Ron Paul's message is resonating with a segment of the population that doesn't usually subscribe to traditional media services and, as such, doesn't lend itself well to traditional polling methods. For example, my wife and I, both soon-to-be first time presidential voters in college, do not use a landline phone and so have never been called to give our opinion on the political landscape. Our voice is heard through forums and blogs across the internet and by our online donations to Dr. Paul's campaign.

 

[Falseflagop]

Go jack flood his comment page!

 

[dirka]

Two Simple Reasons:
1. They never test his name in the phone call polls
2. 90% of his support comes from people that have never voted before or are switching parties

I don't know how phone polls with no dedicated support can be more important than tens of thousands of people willing to give their hard earned money to a candidate during the Christmas season no less!

 

[freedominnumbers]

Doh. Cancel.

 

[DealzOnWheelz]

My comment to jack

Well Jack it can be sumed up in one phrase “Human Error”

Now let me elaborate, Polling companies have stated that when polling they are calling republicans that voted in the last primary. That was four years ago and alot of people have since turned 18 who they are not polling. Second they only call landlines which being in the automotive sales industry I know not alot of people have/answer landlines especially with the invention of caller id. These polls also do not include independats or 3rd parties or democrats like myself that registered republican just for the good Dr Money Bags.

The worst reason which really pains me to know is the fact that Ron Paul isn’t even a choice. If you go on youtube and do a search for republican phone polling you will find a video with audio of a poller calling and the only choices you have are the Media elected(ie Mitt Romney, “Tax Hike” Mike Huckaby, Rudy “9/11″ Ghouliani, and John McCain/Thompson) And then you get the option of OTHER

I didn’t know John Other was running?!?

Sadly our process for choosing a president has been reduced to a popularuty contest similar to that at a Home Coming Prom to choose the Homecoming King/Queen.

Aside from the fact that the Mainstream media promises that Dr Paul is a kook, fringe, longshot, no chance, waste of vote, 3rd party and any other disparraging titles that they want to give him.

I’m deeply discouraged in the American Way. We now disregard policy and position and in place judge a candidate based on some of the “characters” that may support his policies and positions.

What has America Become?? That should be the question of the hour.

Thank you for considering my comments
A concerned Patriot
Christopher Deal

PS- Jack I have to thank you personally as I feel you have been one of the most fair and unbiased journalists to discuss Dr. Paul on your program

 

[texasbelle]

National polls are archaic and will soon fall by the wayside like 8 track tapes, VHS tapes, and yes, landline phones. These polls absolutely do not reflect what is really on the horizon of the political landscape today. The sun is about to rise, and it's name is Ron Paul.

love this one!

 

[TheNewYorker]

when will this be on?

 

[Ridiculous]

Between 4 & 5 PM

 

[dfalken]

This is what I sent to Jack:

The main reason traditional polls are not representative of true support for Ron Paul is their focus on Republican primary voters from the last election. Ron Paul's support base goes way beyond that. My wife and I attended the New York Headquarters party on Saturday night to kick off the fund raiser at midnight and were amazed to see the diversity amongst the several hundred attendees. We are both life long Republicans but were guessing that 25% or less of the people there looked like they might have been registered as Republicans in the last primary. We informally polled many in the crowd and it seems our suspicions were correct. Fact is neither my wife nor I have cast a ballot in any election since 2000, so our names can be added to silenced majority not represented in the traditional polls. Add to that the devotion we all have to this campaign, and I think the big losers in the coming primaries are going to be the polling outfits!