There is a very popular diary right now suggesting that republicans in California like a nazi.
I understand the authors reason for writing this diary and posting it and people’s reasons for sharing it. It is super distressing information.
I want to let you know that it is likely not true. Despite the inflammatory stories, polling in California does NOT suggest that a nazi is preferred by the majority of Republicans.
I saw the diary on DailyKos. I saw the article in Newsweek. They are both based on one poorly done, outlier poll.
Bad science is worthless, folks. If you go to the link above and actually read through the available good polls (polls worthy of being listed by realclealpolitics), you will see that this guy isn’t even a blip in any other poll. He doesn’t even get to the 1% necessary for them to list his name in the results.
The garbage poll only listed two Rs in the poll even though there are over a dozen running and the other guy had an unusual name. This was a case of Rs picking the guy who had the more traditional name because they didn’t know either name and wanted to pick an R. That is it. That is all. NO OTHER POLL SHOWS THIS!
We have enough real things to worry about without worrying that the state of California is suddenly turning into the third reich.
I am not trashing the diarist for writing that diary. I get that it is super distressing to read about that poll. It distressed me. But then I read the methodology behind the poll and I read every other poll that has been done. And I realized that it is not good science, not accurate, and should not be pushed.
Here is the thing: there are enough bad things going on right now. it is bad enough that people like this man are running. We don’t need to add imaginary outrage.
In particular because pushing this narrative is not without harm. First, if gives this man the attention he so deeply wants. Second, for those of us who are the children of holocaust refugees and the grandchildren of those who died in camps, these kind of headlines are terrifying. They are the stories that keep us up at night. They are the stories that lead to panic and terror and despair.
These are tough enough times for minority group members when we stick to the truth. So please, stop sharing that diary.
Thanks.