Newspaper Websites Ignore or Downplay Pew Poll Showing Americans Largely Approve of Arizona Law

NewsBusters ^ | 05/13/2010 | Ken Shepherd

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yesterday the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released a poll finding "Broad Approval For New Arizona Immigration Law."

While Republicans were the most supportive, a full 45 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independents polled supported the law. When broken down to the particulars of the bill, there was even broader support. For example, 65 percent of Democrats and and 73 percent of independents favored "requiring people to produce documents verifying legal status," the portion of the bill that has been derided as allowing the police to demand, "your papers please!"

These poll numbers are absolutely astounding, especially considering the media's non-stop campaign to denounce the law and paint it in an unfavorable light. Yet true to form, the media continue to downplay the results. A search this morning of the Web pages for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today found no links to articles about the poll numbers.

The LA Times and the Washington Post did yield Arizona-related stories, but in the latter, it linked to a "discussion" page where the question was posed, "Is Ariz. the new mainstream or the lunatic fringe?"

The L.A. Times main Web site linked to a story on law professor Kris Kobach, who helped write the new Arizona law, as well as a story on how the Los Angeles city council has banned "official travel" and "contracts with Arizona." The Pew poll results was mentioned in the profile of Kobach, but in passing and with no detailed analysis:

In the last few weeks, Kobach has been contacted by legislators from around the country seeking his advice and has been interviewed on local and national radio and television programs more than 50 times. A national survey released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that 59% of adults polled supported the Arizona law.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank God for NewsBusters.

[benewton]

Boycotts work.

So, no electric power to CA through AZ!

[DoughtyOne]

Look folks, as we leaned last week, the higher the unemployment goes, the more people who are looking for work.

What is so fricken hard to understand about that?

This administration is treated so unfairly. /s

Eighteen months from now, I just pray that we have 25% unemployment. Now that would be improvement. /s

Dopes and loose change...

[Navy Patriot]

I believe that the majority of Americans are aware of the peoples attitude as reflected in the poll.

Additionally, I believe that a similar majority see deliberate bias and deception in the MSM and rely on other sources.

The MSM has risked suicide for propaganda for years now, and this illegal alien advocacy is the equivalent of detonating a suicide vest.

They might as well print only in Spanish from here on out.

[dalebert]

of course they are ignoring it...they know whats best for us...Haiti is the model.

[paudio]

I've never heard of this person before. I looked at his wikipedia entry:

In 1988, Kobach obtained an A.B., summa cum laude, in Government from Harvard College. Subsequently, the British Government awarded him a Marshall Scholarship, which allowed him to obtain an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Oxford University in 1990 and 1992, respectively. He then returned to the United States and attended the Yale Law School, where he graduated with his J.D. in 1995.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Turns out that minorities and, si amigo, Hispanics (identified as likely voters, i.e. U.S. citizens) are also in favor of immigration restrictions.

The following figures are from a poll of Hispanic, Asian-American, and African-American likely voters conducted by Zogby International; this survey was sponsored by the Center for Immigration Studies. Link: http://cis.org/Minority-Views-Immigration

1. Most members of minority groups think immigration is too high.

Hispanics: 56%
Asian-Americans: 57%
African-Americans: 68%

2. Most members of minority groups think that illegal immigration is not caused by limits on legal immigration, but by a lack of enforcement.

Hispanics: 61%
Asian-Americans: 69%
African-Americans: 70%

3. Most members of minority groups agree that there are plenty of Americans available to fill unskilled jobs.

Hispanics: 65%
Asian-Americans: 65%
African-Americans: 81%

4. As a solution to the problem of illegal immigration, most members of minority groups choose enforcement to encourage illegals to go home, rather than approving a plan for conditional legalization.

Hispanics: 52%
Asian-Americans: 57%
African-Americans: 50%

These views are in sharp contrast to the leaders of most ethnic advocacy organizations, who argue for increased immigration and legalization of illegal immigrants.

[dalebert]

great info

[HiJinx]

We can shut off their allotment of Colorado River water, too.

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[ScottinVA]

We can shut off their allotment of Colorado River water, too.

The Grand Canyon Dam. Works for me.

[benewton]

Works for me.