Push Polling from the Mayor's Office?

A letter to the editor in today's Standard-Examiner caught our attention this morning. Although we'd heard rumors that Mayor Godfrey had been conducting some sort of ongoing "telephone poll," this was the first time we're aware of this having been mentioned in the local print media. Until now, there had been little information about this "poll," or the manner in which it is being "conducted."

Among other things, Ogden resident James Freed provides this helpful information and commentary:

I was contacted for a phone poll concerning the land sale and gondola for Ogden. I asked who commissioned the poll and confirmed that it was the mayor.
Upon completion, I was asked to go to Lift Ogden for more information -- the pro-gondola-at-any-cost group.
I object to the mayor having a poll of registered voters only having one point of view presented.
Are taxpayers' funds used for this poll and meetings that have been set up to show off the gondola proposal?

We'll offer a hat tip to the canny Mr. Freed, who instinctively sensed that something "wasn't quite right" about this so-called "poll." What Mr. Freed describes, if we are not mistaken, has the odor of a highly disreputable form of telemarketing known as "push polling."

Broadly defined, a push poll is a political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a poll. The Center for Media and Democracy provides a slightly narrower definition: "A push poll is where, using the guise of opinion polling, disinformation about a candidate or issue is planted in the minds of those being 'surveyed'. Push-polls are designed to shape, rather than measure, public opinion." Notably, legitimate pollsters regard push polling as "unethical," at least in its more aggressive manifestations.

Regretfully, this morning's letter fails to provide detailed information about the kinds of questions that were asked, or the specific "methodology" of this so-called "poll." It's thus impossible to determine whether Blessed Matt Godfrey actually seeks to compile real data, or whether he's merely indulging in more deceitful project marketing. That this poll was concluded by a referral to the Lift Ogden group seems highly suspicious though.

We therefore thought it might be interesting this morning to kick off the discussion with a few queries. We're wondering how many of our gentle readers were similarly contacted by the mayor's "pollsters?" If so, what kinds of questions were asked? Were the questions detailed? Did the pollster ask questions about your demographics? Was the poll short in length, with "only a handful of questions," as if to allow a telemarketer to make as many calls as possible? Did it seem to you that the pollster was actually attempting to compile legitimate scientific data... or did it seem that the caller was merely trying to sell you something?

If you "participated" in this "poll," please don't hesitate to chime in. We're certain our gentle readers would be interested in your filling in the "polling details" that Mr. Freed's brief letter left out.

And for those who weren't privileged to find their names on Mayor Godfrey's calling list, Mr. Freed also asks a series of other probative questions. Mr. Freed's letter provides ample fodder for discussion, even for those who weren't "pollster-bait," we think, so please feel free to comment, if you choose.

The Weber County Forum floor is now open for new discussion, after a relaxing weekend's hiatus.

What exactly is on our gentle readers' keen minds today?