Damned Lies

There's a local weekly that's so minor I won't bother to name it. I read an editorial for health care reform entitled "Town Hall Tantrums: I Can Scream Louder Than You." I only mention it to note a misuse of statistics that's all to common. The article puts it like this:

[After noting that watching the protests, you might think health care is being rammed down the throats of unwiling voters, and that the town hall protestors are stirring people from their apathy.] The numbers, however, continue to tell a different story. Only 34 percent of respondents in a recent Gallup Poll (Aug. 12) say the protests are making them more sympathetic to the views of the protestors, whle 56 percent say they are either less sympathetic, or have not changed their opinion.

This argument is silly on its face. Even if the protestors are turning people off, it doesn't mean their views are wrong or unpopular. But, in any case, the poll is being mischaracterized.

In fact--and surprising to me--while it's true 34% were made more sympathetic, only 21% were made less. 36% weren't moved in either direction and 10% had no opinion.

So we've got this poll with what I'd call remarkable results--that the protestors are moving people against health care reform--and the author of the editorial uses it to claim the opposite. It's an old trick where you take the people in the middle and include them with the group you like. But I've rarely seen it done in such a blatantly dishonest manner.