Fox News viewers overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals.

NDNdancer · 08-20-09, 01:28 AM

FOX News does it again! They dumbed down the public during the lead up and through the Iraq war, now they're dumbing down the rest of their viewers about health care reform. I would think Fox viewers would get embarrassed about being the dumbest Americans and quit watching them. I guess that's part of their dumbness though.

NBC Poll: Myths Endure on Health Care, Highlighting Doubts on Overhaul - Washington Wire - WSJ

First thoughts: Obama's good, bad news - First Read - msnbc.com

Quote:

Here’s another way to look at the misinformation: In our poll, 72% of self-identified FOX News viewers believe the health-care plan will give coverage to illegal immigrants, 79% of them say it will lead to a government takeover, 69% think that it will use taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions, and 75% believe that it will allow the government to make decisions about when to stop providing care for the elderly. But it would be incorrect to suggest that this is ONLY coming from conservative viewers who tune in to FOX. In fact, 41% of CNN/MSNBC viewers believe the misinformation about illegal immigrants, 39% believe the government takeover stuff, 40% believe the abortion misperception, and 30% believe the stuff about pulling the plug on grandma. What’s more, a good chunk of folks who get their news from broadcast TV (NBC, ABC, CBS) believe these things, too.

The health insurance companies have a lot to be proud of. They've managed to mislead a lot of Americans with their Rent-A-Republicans.

SouthernDemocrat · 08-20-09, 11:14 AM

The same was true a few years ago with the war in Iraq. Fox News viewers were statistically for more likely to believe that Iraq was involved in 9/11 and that WMD were found after the war began than any other demographic.

Polls like this usually find that NPR listeners and Daily Show watchers are statistically the best informed demographic while talk radio listeners and Fox News watchers are the most likely to be misinformed as to current events.

Gill · 08-20-09, 11:52 AM

You forgot to post these poll results:

41% of CNN/MSNBC viewers believe the misinformation about illegal immigrants
39% believe the government takeover stuff
40% believe the abortion misperception
30% believe the stuff about pulling the plug on grandma

I'm sure it was just an oversight.

Harshaw · 08-20-09, 01:04 PM

OK.

And as of 2007, 61% of Democrats either believed Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks ahead of time (35%) or aren't sure (26%).

Who were they watching?

(EDIT: THE POINT, in case you don't follow: you can find a poll to stroke your ego no matter what the topic.)

ScottD · 08-20-09, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harshaw

OK.

And as of 2007, 61% of Democrats either believed Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks ahead of time (35%) or aren't sure (26%).

Who were they watching?

(EDIT: THE POINT, in case you don't follow: you can find a poll to stroke your ego no matter what the topic.)

He was given a briefing about the possibility of a 9/11 style attack before 9/11, so he did in a way have warning of the attack. I would have voted he knew about it in that poll do to how the question was stated.

Harshaw · 08-20-09, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottD

He was given a briefing about the possibility of a 9/11 style attack before 9/11, so he did in a way have warning of the attack. I would have voted he knew about it in that poll do to how the question was stated.

The question specifically asked about 9/11.

theangryamerican · 08-20-09, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDNdancer

FOX News does it again! They dumbed down the public during the lead up and through the Iraq war, now they're dumbing down the rest of their viewers about health care reform. I would think Fox viewers would get embarrassed about being the dumbest Americans and quit watching them. I guess that's part of their dumbness though.

Wait...you claim Fox is responsible for media bias and cite MSNBC as your source?

*insert Vader voice* The Irony is strong with this one.

Also, thanks for the sweeping generalization, I wasn't aware I was one of the dumbest Americans. (Just because I watch a program on Fox from time to time does NOT mean I don't temper it with information from other sources.

Korimyr the Rat · 08-20-09, 02:51 PM

According to whom are these beliefs "myths"? Because as far as I am aware, the only one of those statements that is not true about the healthcare bill is that it will authorize the government to suspend medical treatment for the elderly-- and we'll see how well that goes, between the proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and the projected budget shortfalls.

Noone may be talking about a government takeover of the healthcare system, but if there is a taxpayer subsidized public option and the private insurance industry still has to deal with the unfunded mandates of the government, the private insurers will be slowly but surely driven out of business. Now, I happen to think believe this is a good thing... but there is still good reason to believe that it is exactly what will happen.

Baralis · 08-20-09, 03:07 PM

What angers me (both sides do it) is the screaming of misinformation and not informing with proof one way or the other.

Example of this is abortion. While (correct me if im wrong) the bill does not mention abortion being covered it also has nothing saying abortions are exempt from coverage. So while one side can scream one thing and the other something else how is anyone right/wrong?

talloulou · 08-20-09, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDNdancer

I would think Fox viewers would get embarrassed about being the dumbest Americans and quit watching them.

I always figured the dumbest Americans were watching Rock of Love.

08-20-09, 11:14 AM	#2
SouthernDemocrat Libertarian Left Join Date: Jun 2005 Last Seen: Yesterday 11:31 PM Location: KC Posts: 6,722 Thanks: 1,007 Thanked 1,826 Times in 1,011 Posts Lean: Independent Gender:	Re: Fox News viewers overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals. The same was true a few years ago with the war in Iraq. Fox News viewers were statistically for more likely to believe that Iraq was involved in 9/11 and that WMD were found after the war began than any other demographic. Polls like this usually find that NPR listeners and Daily Show watchers are statistically the best informed demographic while talk radio listeners and Fox News watchers are the most likely to be misinformed as to current events.
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08-20-09, 11:52 AM	#3
Gill Guru Join Date: Dec 2005 Last Seen: Yesterday 05:30 AM Location: The Derby City Posts: 4,382 Thanks: 440 Thanked 745 Times in 514 Posts Lean: Slightly Conservative Gender:	Re: Fox News viewers overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals. You forgot to post these poll results: 41% of CNN/MSNBC viewers believe the misinformation about illegal immigrants 39% believe the government takeover stuff 40% believe the abortion misperception 30% believe the stuff about pulling the plug on grandma I'm sure it was just an oversight.
	__________________ There is so much unforced variability in the system which we can’t predict — the chaotic component of the climate system — which is not predictable beyond two weeks, even theoretically. Gavin Schmidt, NASA GISS

08-20-09, 01:04 PM	#4
Harshaw Sage Join Date: Oct 2005 Last Seen: 02-01-10 01:16 PM Posts: 6,414 Thanks: 111 Thanked 2,172 Times in 1,246 Posts	Re: Fox News viewers overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals. OK. And as of 2007, 61% of Democrats either believed Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks ahead of time (35%) or aren't sure (26%). Who were they watching? (EDIT: THE POINT, in case you don't follow: you can find a poll to stroke your ego no matter what the topic.)
	__________________ 2001-2008: Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. 2009: Dissent is the highest form of racism. Last edited by Harshaw; 08-20-09 at 01:06 PM.

08-20-09, 02:51 PM	#8
Korimyr the Rat Despotism for Dummies Mod Team Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Last Seen: Yesterday 08:31 PM Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming Posts: 6,207 Thanks: 2,025 Thanked 3,886 Times in 1,922 Posts Gender: Total Awards: 1	Re: Fox News viewers overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals. According to whom are these beliefs "myths"? Because as far as I am aware, the only one of those statements that is not true about the healthcare bill is that it will authorize the government to suspend medical treatment for the elderly-- and we'll see how well that goes, between the proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and the projected budget shortfalls. Noone may be talking about a government takeover of the healthcare system, but if there is a taxpayer subsidized public option and the private insurance industry still has to deal with the unfunded mandates of the government, the private insurers will be slowly but surely driven out of business. Now, I happen to think believe this is a good thing... but there is still good reason to believe that it is exactly what will happen.
	__________________

08-20-09, 03:07 PM	#9
Baralis Educator Join Date: May 2009 Last Seen: Yesterday 10:17 PM Location: MO Posts: 733 Thanks: 297 Thanked 287 Times in 190 Posts Lean: Independent Gender:	Re: Fox News viewers overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals. What angers me (both sides do it) is the screaming of misinformation and not informing with proof one way or the other. Example of this is abortion. While (correct me if im wrong) the bill does not mention abortion being covered it also has nothing saying abortions are exempt from coverage. So while one side can scream one thing and the other something else how is anyone right/wrong?

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