Of Two Minds

25 October 2004


Bush Supporters Disagree with Themselves

Democracy is the worst form of government, observed Sir Winston Churchill, except for all the others mankind has invented. It does not guarantee wise or good government, but it does ensure that the people vote for what they want based on the facts and, therefore, the result is legitimate if not prudent. In light of a new poll of President Bush’s supporters, it is, perhaps, time for a research program to devise something new. Those voting for four more years don’t agree – with themselves.

A new PIPA-Knowledge Networks of self-professed Bush supporters shows 84 percent believe the Bush administration favors labor and environmental standards in trade agreements (it doesn’t), 72% believe that Iraq had or was developing weapons of mass destruction and 57% believe the Duelfer report concluded that Iraq had at least on WMD program (the report concluded quite the opposite.). Furthermore, 75% think Iraq aided Al Qaeda in attacking New York and Washington. 63% think there has been clear evidence of this found. Some 60% say the experts believe there was such aid. And 55% believe the 9/11Commission said the same (which it did not).

What is more disturbing is the inability of the Kerry campaign, the media, the schools and, frankly, the government in the broadest sense, to correct these misperceptions. It is important because the very same poll says that 58% of Bush supporters believe that if there was no Iraqi tie to the September 11 attacks, then the US was not justified in going to war with Iraq. Furthermore, 61% assume the president in such a case would not have gone to war.

Moreover, it is not just Iraq where the president’s fans have their facts wrong. Majorities also believe he favors the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (69%), the anti-land-mine treaty (71%) and the International Criminal Court (53%, down from 66% prior to his denunciation of the ICC during debates). A further 51% think he’s in favor of the Kyoto protocols in the environment and 74% say he favors labor and environmental standards in international trade agreements.

Being wrong, of course, is not a big deal. Imperfect information is the basic component of the human condition. However, the Bush camp has no interest in getting the facts straight. If this poll is anything like accurate, a corrected view of the world would result in a landslide defeat for Mr. Bush. The American people are in danger of giving four more years to a man whose polices they don’t understand nor with which they agree. If that is democracy, it’s time to move on to something more plausible. “Eeny, meany, miney, moe” comes to mind.

© Copyright 2004 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.

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