some thoughts (4.00 / 1)

Like you, one of my initial instincts upon seeing poll results like the ones you describe is to be somewhat scared that these people live among us.  What I always remember, and what lessens the initial shock, is that only 20% of the country considers themselves Republican.  Thus, while a stat like 48% of Rs not believing Obama loves America might be initially scary, remember that this is less than 10% of the US population.  As for the 25% of Rs that think Obama wasn't born in America, this is about 5% of the US population.  

As for questions to poll, and hope to spread virally to the msm, I think women's issues would be most effective.  It is clear from the likes of McDonnell in VA that the idea of the women being subservient, bare foot and pregnant, is popular among the hardcore faithful R.  I don't think the general public quite realizes the draconian views of women that most elected and base Rs possess, and I think it would shock many to learn these views.  Perhaps some questions along the lines of:

"Which of the following statements most reflects your beliefs about the moral obligations of a working woman who has just given birth?"

Answers:
• A woman is just as valued a member of the workforce as a man and the woman should feel no moral obligation to quit her job.
• A woman should feel a moral obligation to quit her job and raise the children while the husband provides for the family.  

I'm not a poll question writer (obviously), and I'm sure the question and answers could be written much more articulately - certainly an intermediate response option would be valuable.  But I think a question, or set of questions, that clearly shows how out of touch the R base is with the rest of America regarding women's issues would be very damaging.  

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by: HalLew @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 16:33:28 PM UTC

Why not cut straight to the chase? (4.00 / 4)

The Southern Baptisit Convention says that women should be obedient to their husbands in all things. This is a common view among far-right cultists.

How about a poll asking what people think of that position?

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 18:19:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Do you believe the civil rights movement improved American society?" (4.00 / 2)

Not sure what it would find, but it could have some striking findings.

Perhaps there is also a question that could be asked about Republicans' views on Rush Limbaugh's statement about wanting Obama to fail:  "In January, Rush Limbaugh stated that he hopes the Obama presidency fails.  Do you agree with this statement?"

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by: raj @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 18:39:22 PM UTC

Civil rights- GREAT question (0.00 / 0)

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by: Adam Bink @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 22:25:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There's lots of inflammatory questions (4.00 / 3)

Republicans are likely to answer in incriminating ways in Bob Altemeyer's e-book on "Right-Wing Authoritarians".

Also, though I don't know if this would help with Reps, I vaguely recall that back during the 92 campaign a poll found that lots of Perot supporters believed in flying saucers visiting the Earth.

As I recall, the Perot campaign was angry at the question.

http://attempter.wordpress.com

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by: Russ @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 18:45:35 PM UTC

Link for Altemeyer book download site (4.00 / 2)

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

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by: RandomNonviolence @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 19:16:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

PPP is willing to ask them (4.00 / 2)

They did the anti-Christ and 9/11 questions.  Just suggest questions at the blog

http://publicpolicypolling.blo...


New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

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by: Hopeful in NJ @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 20:59:26 PM UTC

Leviticus (0.00 / 0)

Do you think the US should use the book of Leviticus as the rule of law for this land?

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by: Ken in MS @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 21:49:04 PM UTC

But wingnuts would say no. (4.00 / 1)

After all they eat catfish and wear polyester.

When asked about their habit of picking and choosing, they like to say "Christ came to bring a new law," never mind the fact that Christ had nothing to say about their pet obsessions -- forced childbirth and gay bashing.

Montani semper liberi

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by: Sadie Baker @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 22:24:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Here are some that might be fun* (4.00 / 2)

Do you believe interracial couples should be allowed to marry?

Do you believe the earth is less than 10,000 years old?

Do you believe sex before marriage should be legal?

Do you believe that AIDS is God's judgment against teh gays?

Do you believe the U.S. should be willing to conduct a nuclear first strike against another country if that country is not Christian?

*by "fun," of course, I mean "horrifying."

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by: FearItself @ Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 21:56:22 PM UTC

"Get government out of Medicare" (4.00 / 1)

Seniors have screamed for government to "get out" of Medicare.  This might indicate that they don't realize that Medicare is a government program, but it could also mean that they don't want government to make any changes to Medicare.  To clear up the situation we should just straight-up ask people whether or not they think Medicare is government-run.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Thu Oct 22, 2009 at 04:27:42 AM UTC