Bloomberg‘s depiction of Benjamin Netanyahu answering the people’s call. (photo: Getty/Saul Loeb)
Poll Shows Americans Want Netanyahu to Speak
So said the headline over a column (2/17/15) by Josh Rogin, a foreign affairs columnist for Bloomberg View. Rogin’s column didn’t exactly say that; his lead read:
How do Americans feel about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing Congress next month? According to one new poll, more support it than object—despite the controversy over the way he was invited.
You can see propaganda being manufactured before your eyes: “According to one new poll” becomes “Poll Shows”; “more support it than object” becomes “Americans Want.” Any subtleties are ironed out to create an assertion that the American people are calling for Netanyahu to speak.
But what is this new poll, whose findings are “reported here for the first time”? The result singled out by the column was that 43 percent of respondents said they agreed with this statement:
Other people say Iran is getting closer to building a nuclear weapon. As one of the world’s most knowledgeable leaders on the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu should address Congress before the March 31 deadline for a political framework with Iran.
Oh—the bad guys are building a bomb, and only one man is smart enough to stop them? Forty-three percent say they want to watch that movie.
Rogin discloses that this survey was “commissioned by the Israel Project, a pro-Israel group,” and he seems to recognize that this is a poll designed to get a predetermined result: “One can debate whether the reference to Netanyahu’s credentials was relevant,” he notes in an aside. “Nonetheless,” he writes, the results should be taken at face value: “The responses make clear that more Americans than not now believe it’s a good idea to let Netanyahu make his case.”
Well, no—they make clear that it’s not hard to get many people to respond the way you want to a loaded question. And that it’s not hard to get a news service to treat your PR exercise as bona fide opinion research if you offer it as an exclusive.
You can reach Josh Rogin at joshrogin@bloomberg.net and his editor Tobin Harshaw at tharshaw@bloomberg.net (Twitter: @JoshRogin and @TobinHarshaw). Please remember that respectful communication is most effective.
Bibi & John B. are making a ‘foolish mistake’! Many Americans, plus Bibi, are biased about people of “color”. We live with this resentment/bias since Noah drank too much fermented grape juice. Fortunately, the majority of Americans respect all people, regardless of the color of a person. May “The Spirit” bless the Good; and condemn the Prejudiced!
If my representative, Barbara Lee, shows up for his speech, I will never vote for her again.
Yet another poll tax of credulity
NAURECKAS CRITIQUES MEDIA COVERAGE OF IRAN
Headline: Iran implicated in bombing of Argentinian Jewish community center.
Naureckas weighs in: “That headline is Islamophobic!!”
Headline: Iran executes poet Hashem Shaabani.
Naureckas weighs in: “That headline is Islamophobic!!”
Headline: Iran executes Gays for crime of sodomy.
Naureckas weighs in: “That headline is Islamophobic!!”
Headline: International Atomic Energy Agency accuses Iran of refusing to come clean on nuclear weapons program.
Naureckas weighs in: “That headline is Islamophobic!!”
STAY TUNED FOR MORE OF NAURECKAS’ INCISIVE MEDIA CRITIQUE
I don’t see why “Poll Shows” in the headline isn’t a fair reference to “According to one new poll” in the article. (Egad! A casual reader might think it was an old poll, and believe it because they really knew how to make polls back in the old days. Or something?)
Otherwise, good critique.
Thank you Josh for helping to make something clear: Many people are afflicted with cognitive issues. The ‘poll’, as you so effectively point out, was created to achieve a desired result. I’m afraid the Jewish lobby and pro-Jewish groups, are starting to create a situation where actual anti-semitism will start growing, based on the manipulations of right wing Jewish groups. What I mean by that is… people don’t like to be told what to think and how to act. Eventually there is negative blowback in situations like that and it may eventually result in antisemitic feelings where once there were none.
Why not let the man speak? You would let the leader of Hamas speak no doubt???
Maree: I don’t think the article is about whether Netanyahu should speak or not, but about how, at least in this one case, the media attempt to fabricate a consensus when in fact there is none. I don’t know how Naureckas feels about whether Netanyahu should speak before Congress or not, but that’s not the point.
JB, I’m pretty sure you misspoke. What you meant to say is that the left-wing media attempt to enforce an anti-Zionist consensus. This is largely accomplished by apologies for Islamic terrorism and a grotesquely-selective indictment of Israel’s alleged sins.
I’ll give you a chance to correct yourself, as a courtesy.
So, a right-wing war-mongering self-aggrandizing clown is going to come into the Congress and bad-mouth a sitting President? He’s going to go before the Congress to demand that we essentially go to war with Iran? This is somehow okay? I’ve harshly criticized the President before, but to his credit he’s actually standing up to Israel’s buffoonish leader and his insane ideas.
The press has been awful on Israel for decades now, but it’s getting harder to defend Israel’s madness–too may cellphone cameras, too much easy media access to the horror that Israel has been getting away with for too long. It’s especially disturbing to see American liberals siding with right-wingers and reactionaries in Israel and here. Israel is descending into madness–fascist Israeli punks beating up peace protesters whilst shouting “death to Arabs,” and, tellingly, “death to Leftists” as well. The bitch is, Netanyahu, as awful as he is, isn’t the craziest, most violent-minded politician in Israel. This is not going to end well for the Israelis–their determination to crush the Palestinians is destroying their democracy, their ethos, their sanity.
TimN, I think you misspoke. You meant to point out this highlight from the Hamas charter: “The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.’ (Article 7)”
If you wish to retract your comment, no one will ridicule you for your initial error.
Israel is surrounded by enemies. They need to be heard above the clamour of Hamas wanting death for all Jews.
Sounds like that poll was smoked with some proper propaganda.
Can some one take the Moron troll out side, Obviously he is full up and needs to take a dump. Really people! Letting the moron trolls in is never a good idea. And William, go take your meds. Just because you have the IQ of a grape, doesn’t actually make you funny, or clever.
Oh wait, I just realized, this must be Tush Limburger; he needs to find another news outlet since the real world is coming to realize that his eyes are brown also.
William: Thanks for your response I genuinely appreciate how you go for the jugglar. I mean that in a positive sense. There are big questions here. Does Israel have the right to defend itself? Is the Left anti-Zionist? I’m pretty sure your answer to those questions is yes. I’m also pretty sure many people would agree with you. (Why people think the way they do is also a good question.) But let’s put a box around a smaller question, viz.is the statement in the poll cited by both Naureckas and the original author Josh Rogin designed to get a desired response in favor of Netanyahu speaking before Congress. Now you are aware that there are professional poll writers whose goal is to carefully write questions or statements as neutrally as possible. Is that statement neutral, and if not, wouldn’t it follow that any statistic derived from it would be bias? So, William, I understand the big questions you raise. I understand you went straight for the jugglar and strongly feel that FAIR is manufacturing consensus on the Left. Good enough. But I’m asking you about that specific statement in the poll. And that’s what I want to hear you respond to.
Thats because the majority of Americans have no real clue regarding the reality of the situation they base thier opinion on sound bite’s from talk shows . Public ignorance does not make what the speaker did right. and the Isreal is well aware of how wrong it is and trying to find a way out.
39 congress critters aren’t going…and more on the way. I am so proud of the President these congress folks for their bravery, and courage. Standing up to Israel is normally a death bell….but not this time. Have you read the book, “they dare speak out”, if not…its about a congressman who tried to take on the Zionist lobby, and was clobbered in the next election. Many congress folk want to speak out about the blackmail by Israel….if you have a secret you don’t want your constituents to find out…leave it to AIPAC and ADL, they will uncover it and then blackmail the hell out you. I notice Chris Coons hasn’t “decided” yet, even we are calling his office nonstop…
Do us a courtesy WILLIAM, lay off the koolaid.
I notice that Maree and William never mention Fatah, the legitimate government of the Palestinian people. I suppose that invoking Hamas instead is a convenient way of sparing themselves the burden of giving the Palestinians even the suggestion of legitimacy.
A Radical Islamic victory over Israel will make the Holocaust look tame and lead to unprecedented change for the worst in the Middle East.
Besides Jews – who does Radical Islam and Iran HATE THE MOST?
AMERICANS!
The moment Israel is gone – the focus will be on YOU!
You are sealing your doom!
If Israel falls who will fill the Vacuum? Radical Islam. Who have we been at war with? Radical Islam.
Who have you been listening to and siding with? Radical Islam.
For the life of me, I cannot understand how you have allowed the Muslim Brotherhood propaganda to cloud your judgement. How you have eaten Hamas propaganda whole and thought it delicious!
You left wing liberals are supporting the very Radicals who desire your destruction over a democratic nation that is our ALLY and is the only nation standing in the way of complete destruction of the Middle East.
William – unless Americans wake up to the stench of Hamas propaganda it is doomed.
Both administrations – the Fatah government in Ramallah and the Hamas government in Gaza– regard themselves as the sole legitimate government of the Palestinian National Authority.
However, it is Hamas who won the elections in 2006. It is Hamas that is getting the funds from donations and is building the tunnels and lead the last war. Fatah? Maybe it went to sleep after losing Yasser Arafat? It was a force in my youth – but today it is all about Hamas.
As it stands Palestine has its legitimacy. Its right to govern itself. But it doesn’t have the right to wipe Israel off the map. It’s infectious hatred must stop. Even you have bought into it.
Well, someone went to sleep during recent Palestinian history.
After Hamas won 44% of the vote in 2006 (to Fatah’s 41%), it did lead to a schism and eventually fighting that resulted in Hamas controlling Gaza and Fatah controlling the West Bank. It’s impossible to tell whether Hamas would win another election after that because they haven’t had one. The West Bank is still the political center of the Palestinians, and Fatah (the internationally recognized government of the Palestinians – not even its Arab neighbors recognize the Hamas government) has been the interested party in peace talks since then. These peace talks have broken down repeatedly due to Likud’s refusal to stop building settlements. In 2009, under the George Mitchell negotiated talks, Fatah was prepared to surrender Jerusalem and the right of refugee return (see the Palestinian Papers @ The Guardian), the two most coveted concessions that Israel has sought. Unfortunately, a couple thousand more houses on existing settlements proved to be more important than accepting this peace deal at the time. It’s little wonder that the international evangelicals ignored this both then and now. They care more about a dead book than living people.
And which is the more dangerous of the two, and which is having the greatest impact via propaganda in the USA. Hamas.
The West Bank also belongs to Israel. Jordon forcibly took it, then lost it in war fair and square.
And we all know that war is nothing if not “fair and square”, right Maree? International law be damned? You are even to the fringe of Israeli opinion on this matter, where the border issue is largely one of security (the Six Day War), not of possession. But I like how you can claim on one hand that the West Bank “belongs” to Israel, while claiming with the other that the Palestinians have legitimacy and the right to self-governance.
As for propaganda impact in USA, I suppose that’s why you’re here (except you claim to not be an American), but propaganda impact is toxic by definition. Maybe these issues would be much more easily understood and dealt with without those such as yourself who continue to give credence to propaganda efforts to the detriment of fact and empathy. In fact, I believe that’s exactly what the purpose of FAIR is intended to counter.
Online comment sections seem to attract the hysterical from all sides of a given issue, and I don’t see much productivity in arguing with people who don’t have a vested interest in developing a more complex understanding of these issues.
Janson Croley if the comments were all one sided, Leftist, liberal and whitewashed, then there’d be no blog. The only thing that keeps these things going is opposed opinions.
It is all about expressing both sides of the story, and if that is not possible, then we should all pick up our bat and ball and go home and never the twain should meet and we would find better things to do.
I admit I don’t know the whole story of the Politics of the Middle East. Who does. What I do know is for all Israel’s mistakes and errors, and faults, I would rather support a democratic secular country, than one governed by radical Islamic Terrorism whatever its label and faction. To support a group of angry militants who have sworn to destroy Israel along with the West is not exactly sound judgement. You are either on one side or the other. I choose Israel. It is that simple.
And the last time I heard the man speak – Netanyahu – he made a lot of sense. So let the man speak. That is my opinion.
Maree: I had responded to you above and William answered. He extended me a courtesy. I would like to extend to you the same courtesy he offered me and give you the chance to respond to my last post. Put the Big Questions aside for the moment and address this poll statement:
“Other people say Iran is getting closer to building a nuclear weapon. As one of the world’s most knowledgeable leaders on the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu should address Congress before the March 31 deadline for a political framework with Iran.”
Be clear. I’m not asking you if you agree with the statement. But if you were a professional poll writer charged with getting a meaningful, unbiased statistic, would you write such a statement? This is the subject of Nareckas’s article. So focus on that.
“You are either on one side or the other. I choose Israel. It is that simple.”
*
Simplicity can be insidious when it flattens distinctions.
Fatah is neither a terrorist organization nor is it trying to destroy Israel. It has been working to establish a two-state solution in the best interests of the Palestinians. This is why you ignore them, because they don’t fit into your pre-fab terrorist narrative the way Hamas does. As I asked you on another article, are you interested in peace, or are you interested in the defeat of Islam? And your answer is consistent. You do not see peace as compromise, as negotiation, or as dignified discourse. You only see peace through the defeat of the perceived enemy. Either/or. As simple as a sport.
Opinions are worthless if they are not informed.
Just maybe Janson you are too young to remember the terrors of the PLO. Terror from the Palestinians has been going on forever. For one faction it has aged into a less violent old man, but its hatred remains. Do you honestly think that Hamas will ever deal peace?? Only over Israel’s dead body.
As you said Fatah is after a two-state solution in the best interests of the Palestinians. That says it all. Israel needs defensible borders. Without them she is sunk.
Bottom line is, if you side with the Palestinians – you side with the Terrorists. The exact same ones who have YOU in their sights. They hate Americans probably MORE than Jews really. You’re just lucky you live far enough away. But unfortunately the world is getting smaller and lone wolfs more cunning and daring.
You should read this book, by the Son of the founder of Hamas. He was brought up in Hamas, trained with it. He left it. Became a Christian and tells the inside story of Hamas. Where do I get my source about Hamas from – right from the inside. Can’t get closer than the founder’s son.
“Son of Hamas” x Mosab Hassan Yousef. It makes for compelling reading.
http://www.amazon.com/Son-Hamas-Mosab-Hassan-Yousef-ebook/dp/B004QOAQ7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424532313&sr=8-1&keywords=Son+of+Hamas
JB – I am not up on American politics at all – can’t follow it. Lots of teacup parties and stuff that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Sorry. You all sound like you hate each other from our point of view. Ready to get the guns out and blazing!
I am not sure I can seriously answer your question. I think perhaps that this Jim fella is loading his blog as much as he says the polsters loaded their poll. eg: “Oh–the bad guys are building a bomb, and only one man is smart enough to stop them? Forty-three percent say they want to watch that movie.” It is not about N being smart enough to stop them, but seeing as it seriously affects his country and that Israel and America are supposed to be Allies, that N should be given the right to speak, but not stopped because of some sense of Anti-Semitism.
I went over the poll word for word and it sounds pretty legit. I mean it gives you two statements to rate. And questions to answer. It is one more new poll. As all polls are pretty useless when made of only so few people, it does not give a true result. The only poll that really works is an election where voting is compulsory.
I think that Jim has a definte anti-semitic leaning, and sees stars blazing when they’re really just shiny. (instead of reds under the beds as it used to be)
To see the poll – go to:
http://go.bloomberg.com/assets/content/uploads/sites/2/TIP-BIBI-POLL.pdf
Still talking about Hamas?
I have both Palestinian and Jewish friends here in America, and they don’t tend to hate each other even when they have sharp differences of opinions on the strategies of negotiated peace. It’s amazing how human beings act when they stop essentializing their villainy.
Anyway, I think we’re done here. I don’t like responding to people who use terms like “bottom line”.
Sounds like you think I committed a thought crime, William. Your totalitarian streak is showing, and you don’t even realize it. Perfect. So, Israel can turn into a fascist state in a perpetual state of war, and you’re fine with that? There’s something wrong with you.
Note to Maree: Grab the reins, kiddo. You do have a wild imagination.
Question to you Tim – why is Israel in a perpetual state of war? On war footing all the time?
How long did she have peace right from the start?
I miserable day wasn’t it before all her neighbours 5 or 7 of them wasn’t it? declared war against her??
@Maree wrote “Israel is surrounded by enemies.”
To paraphrase Occam’s Razor, the simplest solution is usually the correct one. You suggest that 7 nations all independently and arbitrarily chose to make an enemy of Israel, but it’s far more likely that Israel played a part in the disintegration of the neighbourhood. The development of nuclear weapons was never going to be seen as passive or peaceful – how could it? That’s but one example…
Glad FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Media) is there to help us cut through the distorted coverage on how many Americans support Netanyahu’s visit. The WSJ says that less that half are not opposed to his visit, and then mentions that actually that statistic is made up of 30 percent in favor and 20 percent who say they don’t know enough to have an opinion. The media really needs to be regulated again or we will all be misinformed most of the time.