I am among the panel that is regularly contacted by Zogby for his web-based surveys. Today I received a survey that clearly seemed to be from the DNC or the DLC and was looking for Democrats opinions regarding Presidential candidates in '08, and issues now.
For the Benefit of the community, I have reproduced the political questions (they layer in market research stuff) below . . .
1. If a Pro-Choice Democratic Candidate selected a running mate who was Pro-life, would you:
Choices: Vote Deomcratic, Vote Republican, Vote Third-Party, Not Vote, Not Sure
2. I am going to read to you a list of characteristics. Please tell me if you would rule out someone as President of the United States if that person were a:
Choices: Woman, African-American, Catholic, Jew, Aethiest, Gay
- If raising payroll taxes would help prevent problems with Social Security meeting its obligation, would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose an increase in payroll taxes?
- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has pursued a federal prosecution of Extreme Associates, a company that produces pornographic films, for violating obscenity laws. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree that pornographers are violating obscenity laws and should be prosecuted?
- If you knew that Extreme Associates' films depict the rape, brutalization and murder of women or women dressed as children engaging in sex acts, would you be much more likely, somewhat more likely, somewhat less likely, or much less likely to change your mind and favor prosecuting them, or would it make no difference?
- The U.S. government is building a new generation of nuclear weapons, while Iran and North Korea are both suspected of having nuclear weapons programs. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree that building new nuclear weapons while demanding that North Korea and Iran disarm makes the U.S. government hypocritical?
- With the demise of the Soviet Union, an adversary with a large nuclear stockpile is no longer a major concern. Rogue states with nuclear missiles or small "suitcase" nuclear weapons are considered a much more likely threat. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree that the U.S. nuclear arsenal has lost its deterrent value?
- Do you believe the United States should maintain its current immigration policies, encourage more legal immigration, curtail legal immigration, or seal its borders?
- If the presence of undocumented workers results in costs for various social and educational programs, who should pay any costs associated with providing services to these undocumented workers?
- Some have suggested limited work visas would solve the problem of undocumented workers by making it easier for migrant workers to come to the US to work and then pay taxes. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree such a work visa would help solve the U.S.'s immigration problem?
- President Bush has proposed sweeping cuts to some areas of the federal budget, including agriculture subsidies. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree that agricultural subsidies should be cut?
- It has been argued that US agricultural subsidies hurt people in poorer parts of the world by driving up the cost of food in their part of the world. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with this argument?
- It has been argued that tariffs on certain goods hurt people in poorer parts of the world by undermining their ability to sell to US markets. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with this argument?
- Do you watch the television show "The West Wing"?
- Of the following, which Academy Award nominated actor or actress would you like to see run for public office?
Clint Eastwood
Johnny Depp
Will Smith
Alan Alda
Paul Newman
James Earl Jones
Mel Gibson
Annette Bening
Sigourney Weaver
Drew Barrymore
Meryl Streep
Whoopi Goldberg
Denzel Washington
Halle Berry
Other/none
Not sure
No commentary really, just posted as a service. Still are the Democrats really thinking of recruiting a movie star as a candidate? Maybe just style their public personas around them?