This just in: Bush supporters Live in Alternate Universe!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:31pm

From Salon.com

Even if they don't like to say it out loud, lots of Democrats think that George Bush's supporters are a horde of ignoramuses. Now comes evidence that they're right! A remarkable new report titled "The Separate Realities of Bush and Kerry Supporters" from PIPA, the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, suggests that rank and file Republicans are more benighted than even the most supercilious coastal elitist would imagine.

Analyzing data from a series of nationwide polls, the report finds that a majority of Bush supporters believe things about the world that are objectively untrue, while the majority of Kerry supporters dwell in the reality-based community. For example, Bush backers largely think that the president and his policies are popular internationally. Seventy-five percent believe that Iraq was providing "substantial" aid to al-Qaida, and 63 percent say clear evidence of this has been found. That, of course, would be news even to Donald Rumsfeld, who earlier this month told the Council On Foreign Relations, "To my knowledge, I have not seen any strong, hard evidence that links the two."

Though its language is dispassionate, the report lays responsibility for this epidemic of ignorance at the White House's door. "So why are Bush supporters clinging so tightly to these beliefs in the face of repeated disconfirmations?" it asks. "Apparently one key reason is that they continue to hear the Bush administration confirming these beliefs."

Indeed, it says, "an overwhelming 82% [of Bush supporters] perceive the Bush administration as saying that Iraq had WMD (63%) or a major WMD program (19%). Only 16% of Bush supporters perceive the administration as saying that Iraq had some limited activities, but not an active program (15%) or had nothing (1%). The pattern on al Qaeda is similar. Seventy-five percent of Bush supporters think the Bush administration is currently saying Iraq was providing substantial support to al Qaeda (56%) or even that it was directly involved in 9/11 (19%). Further, 55% of Bush supporters say it is their impression the Bush administration is currently saying the US has found clear evidence Saddam Hussein was working closely with al Qaeda (not saying clear evidence found: 37%)."

[Plum]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:34pm

Say certain words in sentences together enough times, and people who only follow the news casually will form a link. It's basic neurology. All you need then is a little Fox News to fill in the (made-up) details.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:43pm

I cannot understand how a thinking person can support Bush/Cheney. I try to, but I can't.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:46pm

I wonder if the fact that Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream (who are notoriously liberal and Democratic) is a major supporter of PIPA has anything to do with this research?

[Plum]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:48pm

Ooh, vast conspiracies. Let's talk about the Bush administration and corporate sponsorship, shall we? Is this really a bucket of worms you want to open, hon?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:50pm

Plum, I'm just saying that all "research" has some amount of bias to it. You have to scruitinize what that bias is in order to uncover the true results.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:52pm

In my universe, they're saying bad things about your universe... so I'm leaving. My universe is happier.

Cue DGrant to quote Blanche.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 4:52pm

True enough. But I still say that this administration has engaged in an extremely extensive system of deception using word association methods. And they did it to get people to agree to a war, the gravest of things a nation can undertake. It makes me sick.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 10/21/04 at 5:33pm

Well Blanche (CKeaton), These fingernails need to be trimmed.