Congressman wants 'raw' exit poll data

[Rose Siding]

A top House Democrat who is investigating allegations of voting irregularities on Election Day wants the media to show him the confidential, "raw" data from the exit polls of voters they did this year.


Rep. John Conyers (news, bio, voting record) of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee (news - web sites), said Wednesday that he doesn't know whether the information would answer questions about whether problems at the polls led to miscounts in the presidential election. Most polling experts who have studied exit polls doubt the data would be of use.

But, Conyers maintained, "if we can compare that data to some of the other information we have, it has the potential to be of significance" if it sheds more light on voters' intentions. He plans to ask for the information within a week.

The media organizations that paid for the information are expected to turn down such a request. Though the media publish information, "they don't have to give anybody their notes or reveal all their methods," said Jack Shafer, media critic and editor at large for Slate, an online magazine.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/usatoday/20041209/pl_usatoday/congressmanwantsrawexitpolldata

[tk2kewl]

1. Subpoena!

:bounce:

[Megahurtz]

2. KICK!

:thumbsup:

[mattclearing]

3. If they compare that to the actual polling place totals reported...

They could probably find a few where the exit poll respondents that said they voted for Kerry actually outnumber the reported totals by a significant margin.

That would be devastating.

[slackmaster]

4. That's exactly what they should be looking for

Go John Conyers!

[Quakerfriend]

6. I cannot believe

that none of the Democratic senators are speaking out about this--Kennedy, Clinton, Boxer etc. Something must be happening to stifle them! This is absolutely insane!

[barb162]

11. me too, I am despondent over real liberals like Kennedy not

saying anything

[Mandate My Ass]

7. You are CORRECT!

And that's why I believe they will never release it. :grr:

Anybody saying that a company's proprietary information should be protected, even though its release would not reveal anything detrimental to them, does not give a rat's ass about the integrity of the vote or the will of the people.

Imagine that, the media refusing to give us real news for a change.

[Ladyhawk]

5. Question: would it be hard for them to forge the raw data polls?

And could a thread from Emperor Bunnypants "encourage" them to get together and do this? Or is my tinfoil hat on too tight?

It might be that last one. I've learned Fox Mulder was right: Trust no one.

[TexasChick]

9. Oh, geez, ladyhawk. You got me thinking too. God I hope they can't do

that. (Sigh) I wouldn't put anything past these people! Rats!

[Ladyhawk]

19. Many of us are getting paranoid. But is it paranoia if you've...

...already observed them committing incredibly blatant crimes? And nothing is done about those crimes?

[mattclearing]

14. It was a conspiracy...

...involving Mitofsky, Rove, Deanie Lowe, Clint Curtis, Tom Feeney, and Katherine Blackwell!

Seriously, I doubt they could retrofit the exit poll data...especially considering that everyone already knows it was "wrong." They would have to fix it where they changed things and screw with it to make up the numbers elsewhere...either way, something wouldn't match.

[Just Me]

8. That raw data is,...confidential?

Guess they'll just have to subpoena it.

It would be very helpful in targeting.

[purduejake]

12. let's hope the records weren't destroyed...

like some of the evidence from the Nov 2nd vote.

[SoCalDem]

17. Minority party cannot subpoaena anything

That's why house seats are meaningful:(

[barb162]

10. thank you, Rep. Conyers for having the cajones to speak up

[Up2Late]

13. Ohio Vote Fraud REPLAY on CSPAN 3 coming up

Hey Everyone:hi:

If anyone missed it, CSPAN3 is about (2:30pm EST)to show the replay from yesterday on CSPAN3 :bounce:

If you don't have CSPAN3, it can be streamed LIVE at: <http://www.c-span.org/>

Isn't it great how this Democracy critical issue is being shoved down to CSPAN3 (which most cable companies DON'T carry), while "The future of Faith Based Initiatives" is Live on CSPAN2 right now? :spank:

[genieroze]

15. Hope he get's it. eom

[leftchick]

16. Go Conyers!!!

:bounce:

[Straight Shooter]

18. They can release the info as "Confidential, Attorneys' Eyes Only"

Jeebers, it happens all the time. There are patent cases, contract cases, child abuse cases, paternity cases, on and on and on, where the exchange of information requires that only a few select parties be privy to the knowledge. As officers of the court, attorneys are bound by law not to reveal the information, and the experts whom they hire to examine that confidential information are also sworn to confidentiality.

The media is bowing and scraping to its master, Little Boots. This is a ridiculous rationalization for not giving the info to Conyers. What is this, they don't trust him?

Give me an effin' break. That data needs to be released, the sooner the better. They're hiding something, you just know it. If it backed up bush, it would be in a Wall Street Journal Special Edition.

[daleo]

20. Imagine if this happened in the Ukraine

Why, they would be out in the streets. Elected officials of the opposition party would be demanding justice. The media would be demanding transparency. The Supreme Court might even weigh in on the side of an open voting process.