In "Practice of Journalism," we recently read a chapter on polling. Here's a great example of how a politician (in this case Dick Cheney) quotes accurate details from a poll, but takes them out of context (or at least emphasizes them selectively) in order to put a favorable "spin" on the facts.
Arab NewsWhen given the choice as to whether they “would like to see the American and British forces leave Iraq in six months, one year, or two years,” 31.5 percent of Iraqis say these forces should leave in six months; 34 percent say a year, and only 25 percent say two or more years.
So while technically Cheney might say that “over 60 percent (actually it’s 59 percent) ... want the US to stay at least another year,” an equally correct observation would be that 65.5 percent want the US and Britain to leave in one year or less.
(Note: A truly skeptical reader would want to investigate THIS author's claims as well.)
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