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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Unpacking the Soucek Push-Poll
The Soucek push-poll asks voters, "Would you be more or less likely to vote for Cullie Tarleton if you knew...
"...he voted for the Home Transfer Tax?"
"...he voted against a high-risk health insurance pool?"
"...he supports wind turbines on ridge tops?"
"...he has been accused of pork barrel spending, to wit, getting money for the Ashe Airport runway extension when some guy in Raleigh says the money could be spent on other projects?"
Apparently, in Dan Soucek's world, running for public office gives you license to lie.
"...he voted for the Home Transfer Tax?"
Fact: Cullie Tarleton did no such thing. He voted for the 2007 state budget which contained a provision to allow county commissioners to put the question to county voters. Apparently, to Soucek, allowing the voters to decide this matter is a grave sin
"...he voted against a high-risk health insurance pool?"
Fact: Cullie Tarleton actually co-sponsored the bill (H 265) that established the High Risk Insurance pool
"...he supports wind turbines on ridge tops?"
Fact: Cullie Tarleton came out against wind turbines on our mountain ridges when the Utilities Commission was considering a proposal to put some 28 or 29 400-foot tall turbines in Ashe County
"...he has been accused of pork barrel spending, to wit, getting money for the Ashe Airport runway extension when some guy in Raleigh says the money could be spent on other projects?"
Fact: This question defines the sleazy in push-polling (as opposed to just blatant lying: see above). "Would you be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if you knew that someone had accused him of having an illegitimate black baby?" Gosh, you can always find a "someone" (even if you have to invent him) to accuse a faithful public servant of something awful. But Cullie Tarleton is actually proud of being able to get funding for the Ashe County airport, and if you ask around in Ashe County, you're not going to find many over there who consider it contemptible.
Apparently, in Dan Soucek's world, running for public office gives you license to lie.
Labels: Cullie Tarleton, Dan Soucek, push polling
