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An Interesting Poll
By Hermene D. Hartman
Recently, The Associated Press/Yahoo, in partnership with Stanford University, conducted a poll via the Internet. They interviewed 2,227 adults; 1,728 were registered voters and more than 1,000 were Democrats and fewer than 1,000 were Republicans.
The poll was widely quoted in the press; however, they quoted some of it and not all of it. I want to share with you their findings on America and the next election. The poll appears somewhat bias. However, what this poll concludes is that feelings about race in this country have improved somewhat but that in this upcoming election, there will be a 6 percent racist vote. That is, 6 percent of the American population will not vote for Barack Obama because he is black.
Demographics
The Demographics of the poll are: 28 percent of the people were between the ages of 45-59; 52 percent of the people were female; 31 percent had some college and 69 percent were white. Fifty-seven percent were married and 38 percent had households of two. Of those who had children, there were 14 percent with children between the age of 6-12 and 36 percent were from the southern region in metropolitan area. The majority was employed with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000.
Most of those polled had a very favorable impression of Barack Obama with a 23 percent very favorable impression of the Democratic Party. Seventy-eight percent were registered voters. The majority of the people said they were certain to vote and had given a lot of thought to the candidates running for president in 2008.
Voting Tips
This Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, could be the most important in your life. We will vote for change and we can actually take a revolution to the polls. We have a choice with two distinctive and radically different candidates. They will lead the country quite differently. One, old; one, new. One, a traditionalist; one, poised for change.
Here are some voting tips.
- You don’t have to wait until November 4 to vote.
- Illinois voters can cast their ballots before Election Day. Early voting is taking place now until October 30. Be wise and avoid the crowds--vote early.
- To find your voting place call David Orr, the Cook County Clerk, The Board of Election or your local alderman’s office. Or check out the Internet: www.voterinfonet.com.
- Early voting is by touch screens and you can vote at any early voting location in the county.
- State law says that you have to bring a picture ID to vote
Here are some tips that you may not be aware of
You absolutely cannot go to the polls wearing any political attire. That includes T-shirts, pins, hats, etc. It is against the law and the polling officials can turn you away. This is considered campaigning and this law will be enforced this year.
So leave your campaign gear at home.
This is the big one. Make sure you are ready to vote on November 4. Tell everybody at church, work, school and on your block.
Vote early and avoid the crowd. But November 4, you have a date at the polls to turn the country around. There is a revolution on November 4. Every vote counts.
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What the Mass Media Did Not Report
Forty percent of the people said if the election were held today, they would vote for Barack Obama, the Democrat; 34 percent were undecided.
The top traits and ideas that characterized Barack Obama were: intelligence, popular, will bring about change, inexperienced and honest. John McCain’s highest-rated traits were: patriotic, strong military leader, intelligent, courageous and out of touch. Forty-two percent of those polled strongly disapproved of the Bush Administration. Fifty-four percent agreed that the economy has gotten much worse. The interviewees said that 36 percent liked whites a great deal, 40 percent neither liked nor disliked blacks and Hispanics.
They said they knew a moderate amount about both candidates. Seventy-five percent said that religion would not be a voting factor. Specifically they were asked if the relationship Barack Obama had with Rev. Jeremiah Wright would influence his presidency, 61 percent said no. Forty-five percent said they would prefer Barack Obama as president and Democrats controlling the Congress. Forty-seven percent of the people said they would prefer a moderate in the White House, and the majority labeled Obama as “extremely liberal” and John McCain as “moderately conservative.”
Key Question
As for the real question of the study … Does the fact that Barack Obama would be the first black president of the United States make you more likely or less likely to vote for him? Eighty-two percent of everyone polled said this would not affect their vote either way, and interestingly, among white voters, 84 percent said it would have no effect. Further, a key question reveals that 77 percent of the people thought wealthy people had too much influence in politics.
People were asked how often they felt sympathy for blacks. 33 percent said moderately often and 32 percent said rarely. This was the same response as answered by whites only.
The respondents described the top five black characteristics as: intelligent at school, smart at everyday things, good neighbors, dependable, keep up their property and law abiding. Thirty-nine percent said that over the past few years, blacks have gotten less that they deserved, but they also said by 42 percent the over the past few years, blacks have gotten more, economically, than they deserve.
Here is an interesting response: 62 percent said that they thought black leaders have been pushing at about the right speed. Whites thought that blacks created some of the racial tension created in the U.S., and 45 percent believed that discrimination had limited blacks’ chances to get ahead.
Most of the people interviewed said that they were moderate and strong Democrats.
This interesting study, I hope, is truly reflective of the country.
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