# Right Wing Idiocy - Poll: Majority of Republicans don't think Obama legitimately won 2008 election. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 19, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207 "2009-11-19T22:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/101 "2009-11-20T18:35:47Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > 52 percent of Republicans think that ACORN stole the election. You’re wrong if you want to say most Republicans are rational. Most are idiots. (Assuming one must be an idiot to be so willfully uninformed to think that ACORN did anything of the sort). > > If the majority of a party is irrational, it’s probably okay to describe them as such. The majority of Democrats are pro choice, so you reasonably call them the _pro-choice party_. The majority of Republicans think ACORN stole the election for Obama, so you can reasonably call them the _drooling moron party_. That’s fine. Call them whatever makes your sweet little heart happy. But do try to keep up with the discussion, if you’re capable. You can start with Post #79, or trace back from there if you like. (Again, we’re discussing the likelihood that 11% of liberals believe that ACORN stole the election.) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/102 "2009-11-20T18:38:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Not to mention the fact the George Tenant had a report about Zacharius Moussawi’s (I may have got this spelling wrong) arrest by the FBI within a week. Remember him? He’s the guy who tried to take flying lessons but didn’t need to learn how to land. > > Clearly, people within the bureaucracy understood the import of this, and pushed it up to the highest levels for action. Unfortunately, the highest levels did nothing. It’s _Zacharias Musawi_. You also misspelled George Tenet’s name. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/103 "2009-11-20T18:41:34Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > That’s fine. Call them whatever makes your sweet little heart happy. > > But do try to keep up with the discussion, if you’re capable. You can start with Post #79, or trace back from there if you like. (Again, we’re discussing the likelihood that 11% of liberals believe that ACORN stole the election.) Ten percent of \*people \*are stupid. So I see no reason that this is unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/104 "2009-11-20T18:49:51Z")
But even stupid people don’t just randomly assume things. Especially if they contradict what they would prefer to believe. So my point is that in light of the fact that there has been very little if any carrying on about ACORN stealing the election for Obama - even in drooling moron RW circles, let alone in any venue that liberals are likely to encounter - it’s highly unlikely that this idea just happened to pop into the heads of that 11% of liberals who are stupid. [Any number of other things - crazy or otherwise - that might have been said by RWers have zero bearing on this specific point.] ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/105 "2009-11-20T18:52:59Z")
To be fair to, er, lunatics and nutjobs, IIRC only about 20% of Americans still self-identify as Republicans. So if half of them believe Obama stole the election, that means only about 10% of adults who reply to polls. Ask people anything at all, and 10% of the respondents will answer in the craziest possible way. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/106 "2009-11-20T18:53:54Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > But even stupid people don’t just randomly assume things. Especially if they contradict what they would prefer to believe. No, but there’s every chance that 10% of poll respondents have never heard of ACORN and didn’t want to appear ill-informed. ETA: In any case, I posted the actual question asked and a link to the poll questionnaire itself further up this page. If you want to discount the poll results, fine, but you should probably find a flaw in its methodology first. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/107 "2009-11-20T18:56:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s _Zacharias Musawi_. It can almost anything you want it to be, but usually in US media it’s been _Zacarias Moussaoui_. Presumably that’s what his visa said. > [@](#): > > You also misspelled George Tenet’s name. 😃 He could have copied it off Tenet’s Presidential Medal of Freedom citation. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/108 "2009-11-20T19:01:48Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It can almost anything you want it to be, but usually in US media it’s been _Zacarias Moussaoui_. Presumably that’s what his visa said. It can’t be anything you want it to be. He’s a French citizen, so his name has an official transliteration into the Roman alphabet, even if it _could_ be written however you wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/109 "2009-11-20T19:05:30Z")
Psalms 109:8 From various Bibles: New International Version (©1984) May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. New American Standard Bible (©1995) Let his days be few; Let another take his office. GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995) Let his days be few [in number]. Let someone else take his position. King James Bible Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Now who is the one being disingenuous? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/110 "2009-11-20T19:10:18Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > No, but there’s every chance that 10% of poll respondents have never heard of ACORN and didn’t want to appear ill-informed. IMO that’s highly unlikely. But that’s a judgment call. > [@](#): > > ETA: In any case, I posted the actual question asked and a link to the poll questionnaire itself further up this page. If you want to discount the poll results, fine, but you should probably find a flaw in its methodology first. Automated polls are generally thought be unreliable, because there’s no way to know who answered the phone. Beyond that it’s hard to know. Knowing the wording of the question is not the sum of the methodology. The main question would probably be in the population, both in ensuring a random sample upfront, and in how the pollsters weighted, sliced & diced the groups afterwords. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/111 "2009-11-20T19:22:19Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > So my point is that in light of the fact that there has been very little if any carrying on about ACORN stealing the election for Obama - even in drooling moron RW circles,… This is not true. Remember Hoffman, the cross-eyed simpleton heralded as Mr. Smith going to Washington by the conservatives, including Dick Armey, Sarah Palin and the Becktard? He just sent out a fundraising letter saying: > [@](#): > > That is why I am writing you today. Recent developments leave me to wonder who is scheming behind closed doors, twisting arms and stealing elections from the voters of NY-23. > > I’m sure you are as dismayed as I am to learn of the mischief that took place in Oswego and neighboring counties. We know this would not be the first time for the ACORN faithful to tamper with democracy. This is after the election mind you, he’s asking for money now, because ACORN stole his election from him. Do you think he’s coming from left field with this? A gift from me to you: > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=acorn+voter+fraud&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10)** ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/112 "2009-11-20T19:23:01Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > Psalms 109:8 > > From various Bibles: > … > Now who is the one being disingenuous? The one notably not quoting the following lines, which put that first one into context. :dubious: **RNATB** , the French transliteration would be the one I gave, m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/113 "2009-11-20T19:25:10Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > This is not true. Can you explain why you would say this and follow up with an assortment of links and quotes that have nothing to do with the notion of ACORN stealing the election for Obama? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/114 "2009-11-20T19:33:01Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Can you explain why you would say this and follow up with an assortment of links and quotes that have nothing to do with the notion of ACORN stealing the election for Obama? Just because you refuse to understand something doesn’t mean it wasn’t said. Look Hoffman writes a litter saying that ACORN stole the election from him. What does this tell you? Do you think he just came out of left field chose ACORN as a scapegoat? He’s tapping in to conservative conspiracy theories that are all over the fucking place. Why exactly do you think conservatives hate ACORN? Read a few stories about them. Listen to Beck, Palin, Hannity, O’Riely, and Limbaugh. They all bleat about how ACORN needs to be stopped. Because of voter fraud. Voter fraud, that actually didn’t exist, but that doesn’t stop conservatives from talking about. Just because you aren’t aware of an issue doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Believe it or not the universe continues to roll on without you when you close the living room door behind you. Srsly. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/115 "2009-11-20T19:40:10Z")
In other words, you have nothing. “I don’t know have the slightest evidence for what we’re talking about so I’ll just talk about something else, but I’ll talk about it a lot, to make it look better.” Possibly this has worked for you in the past. Who knows. Maybe find 11% of liberals and run it past them. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/116 "2009-11-20T19:44:09Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > In other words, you have nothing. > > “I don’t know have the slightest evidence for what we’re talking about so I’ll just talk about something else, but I’ll talk about it a lot, to make it look better.” In other words _I’m trying to educate a stupid fuck who can’t get his head out of his ass long enough to understand things said plain_, if I were to use other words. I can’t help you if you want to blindly pretend that my evidence isn’t compelling. All I can do is point out what a hidebound, useless, ideological shill you are to the rest of the peanut gallery. > [@](#): > > Possibly this has worked for you in the past. Who knows. Maybe find 11% of liberals and run it past them. Logic and evidence has worked in the past. But every once in awhile a stupid person like yourself bubbles to the surface, but still I go through the motions. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/117 "2009-11-20T19:46:36Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Logic and evidence has worked in the past. But every once in awhile a stupid person like yourself bubbles to the surface, but still I go through the motions. It might be helpful if you would reflect on the difference between the 2008 presidential election and the 2009 NY-23 special election. Also on the difference between “engage in voter fraud” and “stole the election for Obama”. Or not. But give it a try. Let’s see. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/118 "2009-11-20T20:07:03Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > **RNATB** , the French transliteration would be the one I gave, m’kay? Yes, that’s true. You win half the argument. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/119 "2009-11-20T20:25:23Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > It might be helpful if you would reflect on the difference between the 2008 presidential election and the 2009 NY-23 special election. Also on the difference between “engage in voter fraud” and “stole the election for Obama”. Or not. But give it a try. Let’s see. What do you think voter fraud is? ACORN didn’t do it, but the right thinks they did. Are you really this stupid? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207/120 "2009-11-20T21:04:42Z")
“Voter fraud” takes place whenever voters are traduced, induced and/or seduced into voting for the wrong candidate. Or when persons who, by any reasonable measure, are not worthy of the privilege are registered to vote by way of some legal technicality, and are thereby awarded the same voting privileges properly reserved for their betters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-wing-idiocy-poll-majority-of-republicans-dont-think-obama-legitimately-won-2008-election/518207.md?page=7)