Posted on 11/04/2005 8:32:37 PM PST by Indy Pendance
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A television station apologized to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday after discovering that several Democratic activists were in its audience for a voter forum.
The forum at KNBC was intended to help voters learn more about Schwarzenegger's slate of initiatives on Tuesday's ballot.
But the Republican governor was peppered with questions with a partisan slant during Thursday's broadcast, and at one point a man in the audience tried to shout him down.
The audience of about 75 people was selected by a research company, which was directed to assemble a balanced group of voters from the Los Angeles area, said Robert Long, the station's news director.
But the station was unaware that several of those picked were actively involved in local Democratic politics, and that was never made clear in the broadcast, he said.
The company recruited the Ventura County voters from a list of "politically aware" citizens it had compiled, Long said. But survey forms submitted by prospective audience members gave no hint that some had partisan ties because they were not asked.
During the forum, the abundance of politically charged questions did not appear to unsettle the governor.
Schwarzenegger "did exactly what he should have done, which was politely listen to their not-so-polite questions and set the record straight," said Todd Harris, a spokesman for the governor's campaign.
I got a call from the same FEC Research folks last night. I scribbled down some of the questions:
Are you a registered voter -- Y/N?
Are you male -- Y/N?
Are you over 50 -- Y/N
Will you vote Y or N for Prop 73?
Will you vote Y or N for Prop 75?
Do you consider yourself Pro-Life Y/N (or Pro Choice)
Do you think marriage should be between only a man and a woman -- Y/N?
Do you approve of Governor Schwarzenegger's performance in office -- Y/N?
Do you consider yourself a Democrat -- Y/N?
Do you consider yourself a Republican -- Y/N?
Has that ... article about ... been posted on FR, yet??? How about the article ... about ... ??? How about the articles ... about ...??? Hey! I want some answers here!!! Git back to me, will ya???
I haven't seen any of those posted. I've been out of town and haven't been following too close. Rumor has it that NR was last seen celebrating winning a big jackpot at a microbrewery in Las Vegas, so we can't rely on him either! LOL. Go ahead and post 'em!
These sort of accidents happen far too often, and the "apology" is worthless because the damage is done.
Are you sure it wasn't NBC Research?
This was no accident. This was 100% intentional.
There has to be a way to make the station pay a price.
You would think that if the TV station mentioned in post 13 could identify plants by name and location off of the video, then the organizers of such a political event would know the Big Players as well.
-PJ
The call I got was definitely from "FEC Research".
Based on reverse phone look up (571-522-1180), it tracks back to this group: http://www.fecresearch.com
...which automatically redirects you to: http://www.electionresearch.com/nav.asp
... which is the site for:
ccAdvertising
13800 Coppermine Road Herndon, Virginia 20171
Phone: 703.234.2200
One of the links shows a list of political surveys performed:
http://www.electionresearch.com/listenPolitical.asp
ccAdvertising has been active in many campaigns and political initiative under our Election Research division. Below is a sampling of how ccAdvertising has been used to gather valuable information from constituents and voters that has proved very valuable to our clients.
Click on the speaker icon next to the advertisement you'd like to hear.
MP3 Format
• Iowa Caucus Survey - ATR - Grover Norquist - January 2004
• Virginia Speaker Bill Howell Constituent Survey - January 2004
• Nevada Senator Vote Survey
• Wichita Issues Survey
• Alabama Anti-Tax Campaign
• Missouri Political Issues / President Bush Reelection Survey
• Chris Braunlich for State Senate – District Wide Survey
• Iraq and Domestic Policy Survey – March 21, 2003
• Farris for Sheriff
• California Recall Survey
• Snow for Supervisor
• Senator Russ Potts Constituent Survey
• Delegate Dave Nutter Constituent Survey
• Arlington County Survey
• State of the Union Survey 2003
• Delegate Dave Albo Constituent Survey
• Delegate Gary Reese Constituent Survey
• Delegate Winsome Sears Constituent Survey
• Delegate Bill Carrico Constituent Survey
• Senator Ken Cuccinelli Constituent Survey
• New Jersey Survey
• Indiana Survey
• Minnesota Survey
• Virginia Sales Tax and Issues Survey
• Texas State House of Representatives Voter ID
• New Jersey - US Senate Survey, October 2, 2002
• Tennessee 4 – Survey
• Harrisonburg-Rockingham-Loop Survey
• Fisher, Pro-life Democrat - NY Assembly Primary
• Massachusetts Political May, 2002
• National Right To Life
• Bush State of the Union
• California Governor Republican Primary
• Missouri US Senate
• North Carolina US Senate
• NRA (Virginia US House)
FEC Research is a push-poll group. They "poll" during the 11th hour of a campaign using a patented technique designed to influence the voter they contact in a direction dictated by their client. A subtle form of advertising.
It sure has been abnormally quiet here in FR... What with the abscence of all the lock-step, kool aid drinkin Schwartzenegger Swooners blindly followin the CA Republican Party Terminator!!!
That had to be the '02 primary! Cause we're certainly not havin one for '06!!!
I was thinkin about re-registering Repub in time for the '06 Primary, but since the idiot CAGOP effectively cancelled it and already endorsed the "Donkey in an Elephant Suit," (exactly like Wilson was) I think I'll just continue to NOT identify myself as belonging to the idiot CAGOP!!!
Hey! (grinning through gritted teeth) Ya don't wanna be doin that!! Next time yer out there mowin on yer riding mower and you just happen to stop atop an underground wasper's nest... It's not nice to fool Muther Naychur and it's down right dangerous ta be teasin the Waspman!!!
By the way, them "push-polls" are intensely effective!!!
Just figured that since you hadn't hit the recorder my comment might give you room for pause ... and question those tired old ears ... and review your memories, sound bite by sound bite since the software only identified itself twice, during the greeting and again during the salutation per FCC reg.
Hey! If'n ya can hand it out, ya gots ta be able ta take it, right???
RIGHT, and you do hand it out.
Without question!!! (grin)
No work... it took less than 5 minutes.
I was teasing Wasp.
One of my favorite pastimes! :-)
...technique designed to influence the voter they contact in a direction dictated by their client.
Hmmmm... I wonder what they were tryin' to tell me? I'm not real amenable to those subtle tactics. I like black and white text, best.
Something like "Do you support Arnold". Correct answer must be NO!
#2 was "Do you support McClintock for Lt Governor". The correct answer was YES!
By answering the questions correct I wasn't "Pushed" or prompted either...
I just went to find one of those new fandangle electronic "early voting" machines as I will have to be out of the county on Tuesday. I drove 10 miles to a library, only to find that the location was closed for the duration. I just got the address off the county (L.A.) website this morning! I'm ticked! I had to come home to find another place.
Welcome to "Smell-A" Ahnold.
And the smell isn't just from the smog.
What a "bummer!" Be glad ya don't drive a "hummer!" (snort!)
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