[Cicero]

Yeah. I can just imagine how this “survey” was taken—if it actually WAS taken.

The General calls the Colonel and the message goes down the various ranks: “This is the answer we want.”

Then the Lieutenant walks into the barracks during inspection and says, “OK, which of you guys want gays in the military, and which of you would prefer to be on KP duty for the next couple of months?”

The answer is predictable.

[Ezekiel]

Probably one of those confidential surveys. Those participating in the survey would not know if their responses were the majority view. They'd only know what results were claimed. Kind of like election results.

Using the Delphi Technique to Achieve Consensus