Hume cited "unscientific" poll in attempt to defend Wallace's Heinz Kerry ridicule

On July 28, the same day Media Matters for America noted that FOX News Sunday host Chris Wallace had ridiculed Teresa Heinz Kerry's speech by referencing Eva Duarte de Perón (the late wife of Argentinean dictator Juan Perón), FOX News managing editor and chief Washington correspondent Brit Hume reported that Ms. magazine editor in chief Elaine Lafferty called on Wallace to apologize for his remarks.

Hume said that Ms. "may not have the readership it used to but today it piped up to demand an apology" from Wallace. Then, in an apparent attempt to bolster Wallace's observations about Heinz Kerry, Hume cited an "unscientific online poll" that purportedly gauged respondents' views on Heinz Kerry's ability to help or hurt Senator John Kerry's (D-MA) chances of winning the November election.

From the July 28 edition of FOX News Channel's Special Report with Brit Hume:

HUME: That [Wallace's remark] was too much for Elaine Lafferty, the editor of the magazine [Ms.], who said, quote, "Crude name calling and comparisons with Evita Perón, the wife of an Argentinean leader who headed a fascist regime is beyond all journalistic pale." Meanwhile, [in] an unscientific online poll taken on America Online during Heinz Kerry's speech, a majority -- 61 percent of respondents -- said she will hurt John Kerry's chances of winning in November. Nearly a third that many -- 23 percent -- said she would help his chances. Fifteen percent said she wouldn't affect Kerry's chances either way.