A Spin Too Far

Iowa Voice takes a look at two polls out today. One, an LA Times-Bloomberg poll is being spun mightily as proof Americans back the legalization of illegal immigrants. But the poll has a single, craftily worded question on the issue that reads suspiciously like a push poll. (They lump a whole bunch of things together without giving a real alternative.) The poll result is also wildly out of whack with other polling I have seen. The other poll is from Rasmussen and is consistent with previous polls from that organization. Iowa Voice:

Two polls today on the amnesty bill, and two very different results.

First is from the LA Times, and they say (get this) that 63% of Americans support a “path to citizenship”:

A strong majority of Americans — including nearly two-thirds of Republicans — favor allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens if they pay fines, learn English and meet other requirements, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

That is a striking show of support for a primary element of an immigration overhaul bill that has stalled in the Senate amid conservative opposition.

Only 23% of adults surveyed opposed allowing undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. That finding bolsters the view, shared by President Bush, that the bill’s opponents represent a vocal minority whereas most people are more welcoming toward illegal immigrants.

Second poll is from Rasmussen, and they say that:

Just 20% of American voters want Congress to try and pass the immigration reform bill that failed in the Senate last week. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 51% would like their legislators to “take smaller steps towards reform” while 16% believe they should wait until next year.

So it’s pretty clear that someone is spinning (my polite way of saying that they’re lying through their teeth). So which is it? I’m betting the LA Times, because Rasmussen clarifies the position that these people took when asked the question by saying:

Rasmussen uses what looks to be a consistent set of questions that give real choices. The LAT-Bloomberg poll does not. Again - it looks like a push, not a real question. Rasmussen's results indicate that people want the border problem fixed first. That is the same position Iowa Voice and myself have taken all along. If the border gets fixed first, everything else can be addressed. Bloomberg's report is actually more dishonest than the LA Times, incidentally. They completely leave out the qualifiers of what people were pushed into answering. Compare the ledes:

Bloomberg: June 12 (Bloomberg) — Most Americans support central elements of the legislation overhauling U.S. immigration laws the Senate shelved last week after it failed to gain sufficient support from lawmakers.

A new Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll shows that at least a plurality of Americans backs the two most contentious provisions of the bill, a proposal to offer 12 million undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship and the creation of a guest- worker program. Of a third provision — a point system for immigrants based on professional qualifications — many say they don't have enough information to have an opinion.

LA Times: WASHINGTON — A strong majority of Americans — including nearly two-thirds of Republicans — favor allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens if they pay fines, learn English and meet other requirements, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

The LA Times also publishes the exact question that was asked (left sidebar). (I have a screenshot if the link disappears.)