Fox News used plant inside Republican focus groups. Busted!

Frank Luntz used the same guy twice for two Republican focus groups. Not everyone from each focus group gets to speak, but Frank Luntz called on this guy to speak both times. Fox propaganda at it's best.

Frank Luntz one of the chief propagandists for Fox News who organizes these focus groups has been caught planting people in focus groups in a clear attempt to distort reality. During tonight's Fox News GOP debate, Luntz organized a focus group to provide feedback from so called random Republican voters. However, one of the people in the focus group was also used in a previous focus group Luntz organized for the September 5th, 2007 GOP presidential debate. Take a look at the two videos taken from both focus groups and you'll see that the same guy appears in two supposedly random focus groups.

•  Already diaried.

  But hell in that right-hand picture, the women on either side of the guy look like clones of each other.

  by bustacap on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 10:47:11 AM PDT

  •  Are you saying that he

    used the same woman twice in the same focus group? Now THAT is balls.

    by ThatsNotFunny on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:35:13 AM PDT

•  not only was it already diaried but

  if you read the comment thread in the other diary, a number of commenters provide less sinister explanations for why this guy might appear 2x.  

  Rather than make a charge about outright fakery, it does seem a question worth asking of Luntz and Fox.

  Other diary is here.

  by Hprof on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 10:51:37 AM PDT

•  A little restraint please

  Nobody proved that Fox News or Frank Luntz engineered this.  I think the far more likely explanation is that an over-eager NH McCain booster went looking to get into these focus groups.  

  From his responses, he seems like a dick, and a dumb one at that. He's certainly been exposed as faking the "undecided Republican primary voter" schtick.  Afterall, how undecided could he be 4 months after that first performance.

  But the fact remains, this is probably only the work of that one man. It's not like Fox News really needs to pay republicans to go on TV and say stupid things in support of McCain.

  by IntertubeGuy on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 10:53:02 AM PDT

  •  there is no co-incidence

    when it comes to foxnews. I'd say...turn on recorder and youtube it.

    If it smells like Ganon moment, it is probably Ganon moment.

    by ghjiro on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 10:55:31 AM PDT

    •  Are you saying that this guy

      (or Frank Luntz) is a male prostitute?

      by mkfarkus on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:03:17 AM PDT

      •  no

        But probably a plant, link Gannon.

        by ghjiro on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:05:11 AM PDT

  •  I think

    you've proved the diarist's point!

    he seems like a dick, and a dumb one at that

    by TracieLynn on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:22:16 AM PDT

•  Olberman

  Will Olberman pick up on this and put Luntz in his "worst person in the world" segment.  

  This sucks actually because I find true focus grouping to be interesting.  I always think those Luntz focus groups are interesting to watch and at least appear to be really informative.  Sucks though that it looks like they are a total sham.

  by Nathan in MN on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 10:58:35 AM PDT

  •  I find focus groups embarrassing.

    I get red-faced embarrassed for focus group participants who try to put their thoughts into words and (most) coming across like uneducated buffoons.

    Not that it's their fault. I know for a fact that I would come across looking absurd and clumsy on TV. Which is why I stick to message boards, where at least I only come across looking absurd and clumsy about half the time.

    by jeepdad on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:17:49 AM PDT

    •  agree, sort of...

      I agree that most of the focus group participants have a hard time putting their feelings into words and that they most often sound pretty akward.  However, I also think that is almost more telling of us as viewers than it is of them as participants.  My assumption would be that you and I are pretty heavy consumers of political information.  We read and talk a ton about this stuff and, therefore, are sort of familiar with the way that politicos talk and the way politicos think.  Most "regular folks" out there are not as tuned into politics.  They go about their lives and pay attention around election time.  They seize upon a few issues they care about and listen to the candidates' overall messages and make some determination as to whether they like this person or not.  They aren't dumb or anything like that, just not as in tune with the process.  Therefore, when they are forced to articulate their feelings about a candidate, it comes out a little akward.  

      by Nathan in MN on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:34:58 AM PDT