Most Bush supporters: Intentionally ignorant or stupid? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

OpieCunningham · 10-21-2004, 02:08 PM

Gotta love that thread title. Spare me the mock outrage. This thread is about a study which demonstrates that most Bush supporters believe things which are objectively false.

So I ask - are they dumb? Or are they attempting to validate their opinion with invalid information after they have already formed their opinion? Are they intentionally ignorant?

Quote:

Even if they don't like to say it out loud, lots of Democrats think that George Bush's supporters are a horde of ignoramuses. Now comes evidence that they're right! A remarkable new report, titled "The Separate Realities of Bush and Kerry Supporters," from PIPA, the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, suggests that rank and file Republicans are more benighted than even the most supercilious coastal elitist would imagine.

Analyzing data from a series of nationwide polls, the report finds that a majority of Bush supporters believe things about the world that are objectively untrue, while the majority of Kerry supporters dwell in the reality-based community. For example, Bush backers largely think that the president and his policies are popular internationally. Seventy-five percent believe that Iraq was providing "substantial" aid to al-Qaida, and 63 percent say clear evidence of this has been found. That, of course, would be news even to Donald Rumsfeld, who earlier this month told the Council on Foreign Relations, "To my knowledge, I have not seen any strong, hard evidence that links the two."

Though its language is dispassionate, the report lays responsibility for this epidemic of ignorance at the White House's door. "So why are Bush supporters clinging so tightly to these beliefs in the face of repeated disconfirmations?" it asks. "Apparently one key reason is that they continue to hear the Bush administration confirming these beliefs."

This summary from Salon.com http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/
Actual report PDF: http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Pr...rt10_21_04.pdf

Nobody likes to be called dumb or intentionally ignorant. So if you are a Bush supporter, please consider yourself one of those Bush supporters who do not believe in things which are simply not there and therefore, do not take offense at this thread.

Ustwo · 10-21-2004, 02:10 PM

Someone needs a time out.

OpieCunningham · 10-21-2004, 02:12 PM

The hard reality stings, I see.

Cynthetiq · 10-21-2004, 02:14 PM

sounds like a troll.. smells like a troll... sorry... too trollish.

10-21-2004, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	Someone needs a time out. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

10-21-2004, 02:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	sounds like a troll.. smells like a troll... sorry... too trollish. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

10-21-2004, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
OpieCunningham Loser	The hard reality stings, I see.