Are you watching MSNBC with repug Luntz polling a focus group.

[LittleApple81]

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THAT EDWARDS IS "TOO YOUNG?" He is 51 years old!

[countmyvote4real]

1. Luntz is a Repuke operative.

I have to wonder about what takes place in these focus groups that we don't see. Many of the ideas expressed by some of the panelists just don't seem like they walked in with them. The ones that lean toward Kerry/Edwards that say he's too young or fake are the ones that I'm talking about. The center back row obviously walked in with their ideas.

I know focus groups and I know that various positionings are introduced and discussed. I have NEVER seen one of Luntz's segments that I ever trusted completely.

[fujiyama]

3. He actually is

a republican operative, literally. He's republican pollster. Of course they won't mention that...like the fact that Bill Schnieder of CNN worked at AEI (It might have been Heritage), a right wing "thinktank".

[K-W]

5. Yah, David Brock did a section on him in Republican Noise Machine

His record is not very good.

[Blue_Roses]

18. Chris Matthews mentioned it the other night

and actually called him a "republican" pollster. Couldn't believe he finally admitted it

[Qanisqineq]

2. I saw that too

and I was wondering... didn't I hear that Bush had as many years of experience as governor as Edwards has had as Senator? Maybe I heard wrong, but if that is true, SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT ONCE IN A WHILE!

[NewJeffCT]

9. Bush was governor for 6 years...

Abe Lincoln was a Senator for 2 years before becoming President & FDR was governor for 4 years before becoming President... I think the last 2 fared pretty well as Presidents.

By the way, the Texas governorship is considered the weakest in the country, mostly ceremonial/symbolic.

[GiovanniC]

12. Let Orrin Hatch Say Something

"My only problem with you, governor, is that you have only had four, going into your fifth year of governorship in a constitutionally weak governorship. And frankly I really believe that you need more experience before you become President of the United States. That's why I'm thinking of you as a vice presidential candidate."

Republican Primary Debate
December 7, 1999

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/gop_debate_12-7.html

[Robeson]

4. And its always amazing....

....or conveniant, of the collective amnesia that I'll bet some in that "focus" group had. I'll bet those who were in that group who were obviously for Bush, and were troubled by Edward's youth, had no problem voting for Bush Sr. and his juvenal VP, Mr. "Potatoe-head", who, in comparison, makes Edwards look like an elder statesman.

[countmyvote4real]

6. Great point, Robeson.

And welcome to DU.

[emulatorloo]

7. Given that this was conservative part of Ohio, I thought it WAS GREAT NEWS

Former bush voters were really leaning Kerry/Edwards. . .despite their reservations. . .

[59millionmorons]

11. EXACTLY

5 of the 10 who said they voted for Bush, said they wont this year. That is devistating for Bush. If this holds he's finished.

[kentuck]

8. A clever piece of Repub propaganda by the expert Orwellian...

Make a surprise statement about how many of these voters in this small group will not be voting for Bush the next election and then...
go on to lay out all the negatives on Edwards and Kerry, by letting the focus group do the bad-mouthing...balance?

[buycitgo]

10. yep; that's exactly what happened

they showed how many were probably changing their vote, then spent, IIRC, the entire time dissing Edwards

pretty amazing

[napi21]

13. I think Dems should refer to his age more often!

I was talking to a Kerry supporter on Tues. night. She kept saying how much she liked Edwards, and thought he was a very good choice, but she did mention the one draw back is that he's so young. I asked her how old she thought he was. Her guess was between 35 and 39. She was shocked when I told her 51!

This is a Dem who is 53 years old. How many other people do you think feel the same way?

I think there should be MORE reference to John's age.

[leesa]

14. WHY would you even respond to such nonsense??

Why would you take the GOP bait? It's yet another of their millions of contrived issues that are completely meaningless. Treat it that way.

[napi21]

15. I don't think so. This was a Dem I was talking to.

People are for and against candidates for a lot of stupid reasons. What's the problem with making sure that everyone, Dems & Pubs, know that this attractive candidate is 51?

We may not like it, but some voters make decisions on Hair, smile, height, what State the candidate is from, accent, and yes...age.

Hell, I've written here before, that my DIL said she won't vote for Kerry because he looks like Jay Leno! How stupid is that?

[playahata1]

16. I've got five words for you:

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY

Any questions?

[AngryAmish]

17. No

[Cocoa]

19. I've seen Luntz override his focus groups

not merely spin what they say, but completely negate it.

He had Bush supporters on one side, and Bush opposers on the other. The Bush opposers unanimously refused to utter the stereotyped comments Luntz wanted them to, so Luntz simply turned away from them, turned to Tweety back in the studio, and put words in their mouths.

You could see them all behind Luntz, shaking their heads, but Tweety said nothing, just thanked Luntz for his work.

[wishlist]

20. One guy thinks Edwards is too young to remember segregration in South

and no one bothered to remind those people that Edwards grew up in the 50's and 60's- so he clearly recalls segregation in movie theaters and other public places and the struggle to integrate schools in the South. So many young people don't realize and just take for granted how much progress has been made just in the past 40 years because of Democrats. Those of us who are 50 and older didn't have to read about the Civil Rights struggles in books, we lived it.

[Neecy]

21. the whole thing was a sham

First, Luntz introduced the group as 'swing voters'.

Next, he asked for those who had voted for Bush* in 2000 to raise their hands. Almost *all* of them did.

Then, he asked how many of those Bush* voters would vote for Bush* again in 2004. Maybe a little more than half raised their hands.

Now, THESE are swing voters? People who voted Bush* in 2000 and will vote for him again this year? And it was these particular 'swing' voters who then went on to gut Edwards. from his age to his speech.

He also held his little focus groups in a very pro-Bush*, wingnut city. Are any of us surprised by the outcome? I've been annoyed by this segment since it aired last night. Just total media manipulation of our election process.