-Caveat Lector- February 23, 2003
To Bush, the Crowd Was a Blur By TODD S. PURDUM http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/23/weekinreview/23PURD.html?ex= 1047017042&ei=1&en=3e8d573c5380529b ASHINGTON — Most politicians around the world were impressed by the scale and intensity of last weekend's global protests against a probable war with Iraq. Not President Bush. "Size of protest — it's like deciding, well, I'm going to decide policy based upon a focus group," Mr. Bush said. Not quite. A focus group is a handful of people, carefully culled to reflect diverse viewpoints, chosen to help politicians or companies figure out how to sell a policy or a product. Led by a facilitator, they are poked and prodded in a private room, asked about their likes and dislikes and encouraged to speak while strategists eavesdrop behind a one-way mirror. And while Mr. Bush may not like to acknowledge it, his administration does use focus groups, most recently to help determine how best to couch its public messages about domestic security. The technique was developed to test the effects of Army training and propaganda films in World War II, and politicians and Hollywood studios have since perfected it into a minor art. "I hate to see them maligned," Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster and focus-group maestro, said. "They're tools. They're no replacement for leadership. But they have their place. The interesting thing is that a public demonstration is actually not a representative sample, because the protesters share the same beliefs on the issue. In many ways, focus groups are more representative of public opinion." Focus groups are used to measure the whys behind the public's view of a given issue, while polls typically reflect the whats and how-muches. A moderator can test how audiences respond to even the smallest changes in wording or emphasis. What President Bush doubtless meant was that confronting Iraq is necessary, whether or not that makes him popular in Paris or Peoria. But he, too, is well aware of public opinion. "They do as much polling as the Clinton administration," said Alan K. Simpson, a former Republican senator from Wyoming. "I used to think they didn't, but they do." Mr. Luntz said what he saw of the protests "shook me up." "The fact that these were the biggest demonstrations in three decades does say something about underlying public opinion around the world," he said. "You can't ignore it. You don't have to accept it. You don't have to follow it. But you can't ignore it." Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sut <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
