Clumsy Coverage by the Washington Post

» Frank_Monaldo - Update on Washington Post filibuster poll

A number of people complained to the Washington Post ombudsman about the article on the poll discussed in this article. Many complained about the unfairness of the question. After seeing the response of the Washington Post's polling chief in defense of the poll question, it is becoming easier to argue on behalf of incompetence rather than maliciousness.Morinrin defended his poll question by arguing:

"The debate over judicial selection currently raging is political and it is deeply partisan. It is a fact that Republicans are trying to change the rules to make it easier to get a vote on the contested Bush nominees. To withhold that information about the partisan cast of the debate would bias the result by completely removing the issue from its context..."

In essence, Morin is saying that since the issue is political it is OK to pose the question in a way consistent with a single political perspective.

Either the question should have been more neutrally worded or both sides representated in a fair way.

There is no way Morin could be competent and make the argument that he does. Therefore, it is safe to conclude this is a case of incompetence (hopefully temporary) rather than maliciousness.

-- posted by Frank_Monaldo

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