When I See That "Race" Poll . . .

. . . all over the place, the one purportedly exposing many white Democrats' negative attitudes toward black people, I wonder whether the Obama campaign commissioned it to give them cover and a scapegoat if they lose; or whether the McCain campaign commissioned it in the spirit of push polling, to let white people know they have company if they're tempted to vote that way; or whether the Obama campaign commissioned it to make white people feel guilty if they feel tempted to vote that way; or whether the McCain camp commissioned it to demoralize the Obama camp; or . . . 

And then it seems to me to be an absurd, faux authoritative piece of sociology:  what black people?  The way the question is posed forces respondents to react from the get-go as if all black people were homogeneous and identical, which is a racist assumption in itself -- a "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" construction.  If a third of white Democrats said they thought "black people" were wonderfully warm and soulful, that would be racist, too.  Any question about "black people" is so meaningless that if a pollster asked me I would want to refuse to answer it. 

That this "information" has been quarried up at this point in the presidential race does not seem to me like it can possibly be merely neutral and academic.  It strikes me as somebody's mischief, somebody's attempt to shift things.  But whose, and which way?

Comments

[Ben (The Tiger)]

Just plain mischief-making, maybe?

[Ron]

Well, I wonder who would be hurt by it more if the 'sponsor' were uncovered. I would think that would be McCain, right? I don't know; just speculating.

[David L.]

The association with Stanford University of the poll on "White attitudes toward Blacks" suggests that its creators favor Obama, even if the Obama campaign is not directly associated with the poll.

Beyond what you have described: there appears to be at least one other element of mischief in the poll: threat. The poll and the associated Ron Fournier story convey the threat that America will be held up to the shame and scorn of the world if Obama should lose.

It no longer seems beyond the realm of possibility that if Obama should lose, the Stanford poll and similar "junk statistics" might be introduced into legal proceedings aimed at transferring the electoral votes of one or more States to Obama through the action of State legislatures.

[amba]

Well, I'd think the Supreme Court would put a stop to that!

Seriously, though . . . God forbid.

[Outis]

Ah, what difference does it make? Obama and McCain both look smaller and smaller every day when compared to events - they're both running to be the next Herbert Hoover. (Except that Hoover was a formidable person despite his bad turn as President.)

The fact that both of these men actually WANT to be President now should disqualify them from office: They're either too stupid to realize how bad things it will get, or too megalomaniacal to be trusted with The Button. We'd be better off with Chance the Gardener than either of these fools.

[Melinda]

We'd be better off with Chance the Gardener than either of these fools.

And meanwhile, "I like to watch." Or more like I can't turn away from a train wreck.

[Melinda]

P.S. A commenter in the Mark Daniels post you linked to above just wrote "And, let's drop the 'racism' crap. Mr. Obama is about as threatening as Pee Wee Herman."

People in the cubicles adjoining mine are wondering why I'm squealing like a pig with lipstick. But then, they know me well enough to realize it's because I'm reading a blog.

[amba]

There's a line for the "pedophile" ad right there.

[amba]

I should explain what I mean: the ad about sex education in kindergarten shows a really greasified image of Obama looking down and smiling smarmily. The implication doesn't even merit the designation "subliminal." Fits right in with Pee Wee.

[Outis]

The Pee Wee Herman comment reminds me of the "scary" picture that was rejected for The Atlantic cover. (I believe that was the political scandal du juor about a week ago.) I saw that scary-assed looking McCain and thought, "Yeah, we WANT a President that can look scary as Hell!"

So, who would you rather have: President Sinister, or President Pee Wee? (If you want President Skeletor I'm your man.)