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39 Comments
- Aaryn015, on 11/03/2008, -3/+14Unbelievable. Why are there so many Americans that simply believe something to be true without even taking the time to understand? Is "don't know" really not an acceptable answer?
I'm willing to bet Stern could have done the same thing with McCain supporters, but would get corrected more often (because there seem to be so many caught in Obama hype, who probably usually wouldn't even vote).
This isn't just validating complaints that Obama is more hype than substance, but is pretty offensive of the American intellect as a whole. - soulkitchen, on 11/03/2008, -1/+11Uninformed people on either side are a problem. Americans who are uninterested in the political process will always get the government they deserve. Problem is, I will also get the government they deserve.
What I really don't get is why people opt to watch reality shows and soaps when politics has all the same characteristics: Betrayal, Sex, Scandal. What's not to like? - gimmelibertee, on 11/03/2008, -5/+15THAT is scary.....
Funny,but scary. - Dancertoo, on 11/03/2008, -1/+10Actually my daughter's high school speech and debate teacher did this. She asked the students to prepare for a practice debate on the two dominant candidates in the presidential election to be held the next day in class. They were supposed to discuss the candidates with their parents in addition to going to the candidates websites for information.
Instead of having a group debate, she tested the students individually on their knowledge of the candidates policies. The students were first asked which candidate they supported and then asked why they supported a particular policy of their candidate, but the teacher stated a policy of the opposite candidate.
95% of the students that stated they supported McCain were quick to point out to the teacher that the policy she had stated was a policy of Obama's and went on to explain their candidates position and why they supported it.
100% of the student's supporting Obama, incorrectly agreed with Senator McCain's policies and went on to talk about why they supported this position. Not one of the Obama students caught on to what the teacher was doing.
Now while these were not actual voters, these students all stated that they had one or more parents that supported the same candidate they had chosen to support, and had discussed it with them.
The most interesting part about this is that when the kids actually discussed the policies of the two candidates in class they overwhelmingly supported Sen. McCain's policies, even though the class had originally started out with about half the students supporting each candidate. - Aaryn015, on 11/03/2008, -1/+7That's pretty unreal alright. I hope noone takes my comments as a shot at Americans or supporters either side of the campaign.
But what Dancertoo said is a pretty glaring issue I have noticed in this election. While I hope Obama wins over McCain, I really do see that many people are caught in something far beyond politics, and really think alot of people on the Obama side don't know exactly what they are voting for.
Republican supporters have always struck me as generally different in this department. They seem to spend much of their time enveloped in the actual politics. This is especially true in this case, as McCain is on the back foot and could be considered a flop compared to Obama. It doesn't matter that these kids aren't voters. The simple fact that the Rep kids knew their stuff, and the Dem kids didn't goes to show the differences at home as far as political education goes.
The vice pres question is the worse of all. I'm in NZ - this election is well covered here, but relatively inconsequential. Even I knew what Stern was doing at the first question.
It's actually a bit concerning. People should vote based on what they know of a candidate, not the fervour that surrounds him or her. - MarksMom, on 11/03/2008, -6/+11Howard sure made mincemeat of these uninformed people!
- RealmDown, on 11/03/2008, -0/+4Howard makes mincemeat out of everybody. That's his job.
- kristenanv, on 11/03/2008, -2/+6I have told many people this same thing over and over.... Learn the candidates before you vote! Don't just go on someone else's word. Or what the media has to say.. Wait what if your favorite celebrity has different views or ideas than you? Why follow someone else?
- inactive, on 11/03/2008, -2/+6Just, wow....
- inactive, on 11/03/2008, -1/+4If they don't know his policies, why are they all Obama supporters?
- 2Conservative, on 11/03/2008, -0/+3So, what does it mean CS? I want to see what you say before I put Obama's words next to the definition and they match.
- DV8tion2u, on 11/04/2008, -0/+3Actually no Seaweed. I wish it were so, but painfully it was not the case. This is simply an election for caucasians to shed some "white guilt" and blacks to "make history" nothing more nothing less. Sadly our nation will have to deal with an uninformed decision. Hopefully the repercussions will me minor.
- Navicerts, on 11/03/2008, -0/+3It's not surprising to me at all (also, is this selective choosing of who they air?). Compile to this the fact that even when people ARE informed who is to say that what the have been told about the candidates has been true? Both candidates promise voters the sun and moon so it invalidates everything they promise in my opinion. If you were to compile a list of what each candidate said/says they will do for our country it would be huge and laughable in terms of believability.
I think if people actually understood the issues and listened to what the candidates actually said instead of getting caught up in all the hype and rhetoric Ron Paul would have won the primary. - RealmDown, on 11/03/2008, -1/+3They have a dream ?
- DV8tion2u, on 11/04/2008, -0/+2As always the liberals accuse the Republicans of being uneducated. The funny the is the next thing they say is we are elitists. No arguing with people who have no grasp on any meaningful subject matter and are simply voting because, "You have a chance to be a part of history.", pretty pathetic really.
- RealmDown, on 11/03/2008, -1/+3Betrayal, and scandal.
- DV8tion2u, on 11/04/2008, -0/+2Oh yeah, here we go. No really we know who Obama is and what he stands for. Absolute horse pucky, no one knows the man,except maybe his wife. He has made a point of hiding his past and therefore any chance of a reasoned opinion. I personally get a laugh when people say they know a political candidate because of what they say on the campaign trail. Pure unadulterated buffoonery.
- thephuckphase, on 11/03/2008, -3/+5this is what you call an extremist. there are plenty of extremists in the southern conservative states, and there are plenty of extremists on this site. they seemingly have nothing in common, but they are all herds of extreme views.
- RealmDown, on 11/03/2008, -1/+3Oh, you mean WE get to vote too? I thought just the media voted.
( /s for the sarcasm impaired ) - Aaryn015, on 11/04/2008, -0/+2I have to agree that from what we see from the outside world, as far as individual judgement goes, America may be caught in a sensation that is not safe. I hope I'm proved wrong, I really do. Based on policies, I would vote for him.
But I can just see a dangerous precedence where voters are giving away their vote in a rather convinced manner. - Aaryn015, on 11/04/2008, -0/+1Noone said "all supporters of Obama are morons". You have twisted both the purpose of the interviews, and the comments right here to completely dismiss the fact a *great deal* of Obama supporters are behind him for sensational reason.
3 people were featured on the show. I bet there were some Obama supporters who completely called him on everything. But the fact that he was able to get any at all in such a short segment is the troubling part. - DV8tion2u, on 11/04/2008, -0/+1Actually he interviewed many more than he put on his show. Time constraints, you understand, the masses of uninformative are more plentiful than you might want to believe.
PS- It is VERY haughty to brand someone as unintelligent when your meaning is uninformed try ignorant instead. Intelligence is simply a measure of ability not knowledge. - wrzhydr, on 11/04/2008, -0/+1wouldn't it also be very haughty of you to use such a word? intelligence is the ability to apply knowledge you have learned and not just a measure.
- EcadSGO, on 11/03/2008, -0/+1And yet the "unintelligent" ones vote too.
- kp998, on 11/03/2008, -6/+7Stern supports and will vote for Obama.
- SeaweedWater, on 11/03/2008, -1/+2You should've listened to the Craptacular..
- SeaweedWater, on 11/03/2008, -1/+2The most brilliant thing Sal and Richard have ever done.
& I would like to give humans the benefit of the doubt and say for every 1 of these idiots they found, there were 35 who called Sal out on it.
Hilarious and shocking anyways. - inactive, on 11/03/2008, -3/+4We'll, I just ordered the best of Sirius on my XM because of this.
- mlob2, on 11/03/2008, -14/+14Socialists rely on keeping their public stupid.
- dabronx, on 11/03/2008, -12/+12BO and his cult followers creep me out.
- mHtt, on 11/03/2008, -3/+3This could only be perpetrated in a world where most Americans are completely unaware of current events.
- Aaryn015, on 11/04/2008, -1/+1Probably about 1/4 as many people it would take to fill the same time slot with idiot McCain supporters.
- drshorty, on 11/03/2008, -3/+2Well what I don't get is why people don't think this doesn't happen on McCain's side. Pointing this out on either side is ridiculous because both have their problems, which these people are not always representative of the general supporter. But the fact that we have so much of this going on is getting old. The election's tomorrow and thank god. It's time to get this irrelevant ***** off of the news.
- wrzhydr, on 11/03/2008, -4/+2The majority of Obama supporters are more intelligent than this. He interviewed 3 people and you guys have this crazy notion that all of his supporters are morons who are blindly following this man. I bet if I were to interview 3 people somewhere in the deep South and listen to what they had to say, they would sound just as ignorant as these 3.
Soulkitchen is right, the uninformed on either side are a problem. - drshorty, on 11/03/2008, -6/+3Sure. That's a pretty big class if you have to get into talking about percentages. Personally, I don't believe you. Secondly, there are websites that are devoted to voting solely on the issues, which show little gap in the percentages of who gets supported by the issues. With a larger sampling than just one classroom I'd say it's a little more accurate.
So while we have a larger sampling than one classroom, somehow this personal story from a McCain supporter is believable? Only to McCain supporters. - skabyss, on 11/03/2008, -4/+1How many people you think they asked before weeding out those 3 idiots?
- ConsolesSuck, on 11/03/2008, -11/+8In order to use the word "socialist", you have to know what it exactly means in order to use it. Therefor mlob2 you are the uninformed one.
- wrzhydr, on 11/03/2008, -6/+2just as loonie far-right keeps some of their followers stupid. how does it feel?
- inactive, on 11/03/2008, -7/+2Dancert00 it is unfortunate that the teacher didn't include the Libertarian, Independent, and Green candidates because there's no way any thinking American would vote for 0bama or McCain unless they love increasing federal debt, decreasing our rights, and voting for bailout bills they did not read and could not understand.
If you like undeclared wars, economic depression, increasing debt, and a President who doesn't read what he signs by all means vote for a Senator.
If you think we deserve better than these two, vote for a third party candidate. I am voting for Bob Barr this morning.
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