Sammon misrepresented poll data to assign "the lion's share of the blame" for Katrina response to "local and state officials"
SUMMARY: Author and Washington Examiner senior White House correspondent Bill Sammon, apparently citing a September 2005 Gallup poll, stated that only "[t]hirteen percent" of respondents "blamed the federal government" for the lackluster response to Hurricane Katrina and that "the lion's share of the blame falls on the local and state officials." In fact, 31 percent of those surveyed said either that "George W. Bush" or "federal agencies" were "most responsible for the problems in New Orleans after the hurricane," compared with 25 percent who assigned the most blame to "state and local officials."
Appearing on the March 3 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, author and Washington Examiner senior White House correspondent Bill Sammon misrepresented poll data to suggest that the public believes "the lion's share of the blame" for the slow response to Hurricane Katrina "falls on the local and state officials." Apparently citing a September 2005 Gallup poll (subscription required), Sammon stated that "the truth of the matter" was that only "[t]hirteen percent" of respondents "blamed the federal government" for the lackluster response. In fact, 31 percent of those surveyed said either that "George W. Bush" or "federal agencies" were "most responsible for the problems in New Orleans after the hurricane," compared with 25 percent who assigned the most blame to "state and local officials."
The Gallup poll, conducted September 5-6, 2005 -- the week after Hurricane Katrina made landfall -- asked respondents, "Who do you think is MOST responsible for the problems in New Orleans after the hurricane?" Of the choices offered, 13 percent said Bush was most to blame; 18 percent chose the federal government; 25 percent blamed state and local officials; and, a plurality, 38 percent, felt "no one was to blame." Far from showing the public assigning "the lion's share of blame" for the weak response to state and local officials, as Sammon claimed, the poll suggests that more people (31 percent ) considered either Bush himself or "federal agencies" the "most responsible" for the problems that ensued during the aftermath of Katrina than held state and local officials most responsible (25 percent). The poll surveyed 609 adults and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
Further, more recent polling data suggest that public opinion on the Katrina response has remained relatively steady. For instance, a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted February 22-26 found that 38 percent assigned the overall blame to federal officials -- FEMA, the federal government, or Bush -- while only 26 percent said they thought responsibility for the delayed response lie with state and local officials. Eleven percent blamed "the residents themselves."
From the March 3 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:
SAMMON: It's worth repeating the obvious truth here, and that is, while there was a lot of blame to go around on Katrina, the lion's share of the blame falls on the local and state officials.
In fact, there was a poll at the time -- remember this? Gallup did a poll. Thirteen percent only, blamed the federal government. That's the truth of the matter.
These guys just amaze me. Just unabashed Republican shills.
That's news to me. I never saw this guy before last Sunday. I had assumed that there was no need for such a person, as Fox just takes what issues from the Bush Administration's cloaca directly and reports it as fact (although any creative embellishments of these talking points are certainly encouraged).
He's been a serial liar for Bush from the beginning. He wrote an "investigative" book detailing how Gore tried to "steal" the 2000 election. When one of the media talking heads asked him if he saw anything questionable on the Republican side, he said "absolutely not."
The guy is on the Mooney payroll, and has ZERO credibility.
I guess I'm getting behind the times. Too Many Liesto keep track of.
When I hear that this guy's going to be on any "panel", especially one on a FOX NEWS program, I know that the lie/distortion/diversion quotient is going to be high.
Just change the first “m” in his last name to an “l” and you’d have something that’s just as wriggly, slippery and slimy as this guy.
those polled (38%) said no one was to blame. Sandman's 13% solution is a prime example of selective picking of statistics, a tactic not unknown to either side (either political or "journalistic"). When you take into account the margin of error, the actual poll is pretty evenly divided three ways (with a slight edge to "no blame." It behooves each of us to read the complete article, plus do some research on our own.
... but it's an idiotic question. There was a lot of blame to go around with regards to Katrina. To ask who is the MOST to blame is just stupid. It's a question that forces one to distort their own understanding of the issues into black and white. And that just wasn't the way it was, or is.
Will it ever sink into them neocon’s noggins about their use of “Wisdom in a Bottle”? Really guys…it don’t work and it’s worser than that greasy, kid’s stuff they also like to smear on their chests before they start a-thump’n-em. But you won’t hear them. There aren’t any sonorous, springing-from-the-bottom-of-the-well, odes to their miscreant’s joy. Besides it washes off with plain tap water, the universal solvent of simple truth. Best thing for that product is to use as it was meant to be used…to hide the scuffmarks from a nurse’s shoes. But that went the way of the nurse’s cap and the buggy whip. Of course this magic elixir has now been repackaged into a jogging, aerobics, gym rat, all-purpose athletic & comfort, fell-good/look good expensive shoe fix-all for what all. Unfortunately for them, it always smells, it don’t last for whatnot and you can see it a mile away. And it’s just as easy to remove, just dunk their heads a couple of times in cold water…the truth comes right out. Then everyone can see these guys are all wet.