Silver: Ignore Poll Showing Docs Opposed to Reform

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 16, 2009 3:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – A new Investors’ Business Daily poll showing doctors opposed to President Obama’s health care reform is generating some buzz today, but it's so flawed that Nate Silver has only this advice: “Completely ignore” it, he writes on FiveThirtyEight. Here’s why:

It's conducted by mail: Hardly anyone does this because it strains credibility.
Bias: Here's one question: "Do you believe the government can cover 47 million more people and it will cost less money and the quality of care will be better?" Says Silver: "Holy run-on-sentence, Batman"—a pollster who does this "is not intending to be objective."

Ineptitude: "The IBD/TIPP polling operation has literally no idea what they're doing," Silver writes. They're the ones who had McCain up 74-22 with young voters.
Responses still arriving: "Professional pollsters," Silver notes, "generally do not report results before the survey period is compete."
No disclosure: "IBD doesn't bother to define the term 'practicing physician,' which could mean almost anything. Nor do they explain how their randomization procedure worked, provide the entire question battery, or anything like that."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Michael Ramirez, editorial cartoonist for Investor's Business Daily, holds a copy of the newspaper. (AP Photo)

People cheer as President Barack Obama makes a point during a health care reform rally. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

There are pollsters out there that have an agenda but are highly competent, and there are pollsters that are nonpartisan but not particularly skilled. Rarely, however, do you find the whole package. - Nate Silver

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Now All the Polls Love Mitt

Tally of polling data gives Romney 9% lead in Florida: Nate Silver

(NEWSER) - Not only does a recent Quinnipiac Poll give Mitt Romney the lead in the Florida primary. There are also automated polls, check-box polls, house-call polls, mouse-click polls, partisan polls, academic polls... Nate Silver has added them up in the New York Times and tallied a 9-point overall lead for Romney over Newt Gingrich in Tuesday's primary. Polls can be wrong, Silver admits, but it looks like Newt has missed his chance in Florida. More»

US to Big Pharma: Disclose What You Pay Docs

New rules aim to increase transparency

(NEWSER) - Studies have found that when doctors accept payments from drug companies, it can influence their treatment decisions—so the Obama administration will soon require drug companies to disclose those payments. The New York Times reports that around 25% of doctors receive cash from drug companies for consulting, speaking engagements, and more; in addition, almost two-thirds accept staff lunches or dinners out. The new requirements, part of the new health care law, will ensure that such payments and gifts, even small ones, are disclosed on a website; drug companies will be subject to fines for any omissions. More»

Record 81% Unhappy With Way US Is Governed

And the record numbers don't stop there

(NEWSER) - We are not a very content bunch. Majorities of Democrats and Republicans alike are unhappy with the US government, leading to a record high of 81% who are dissatisfied with the way America is bring governed, the latest Gallup poll shows. A whopping 92% of Republicans are dissatisfied, as are 65% of Democrats. The poll results feature a laundry list of specific areas of unhappiness, from Congress and other elected officials to how the government spends tax revenue (on average, Americans believe the feds waste 51 cents of every dollar). More»

Obama's Economic Approval Sinks to New Low of 26%

Numbers are lower in nearly every area since 2010

(NEWSER) - More data from the latest Gallup poll is trickling out, and—surprise, surprise!—it's not good news for President Obama. When it comes to handling the economy, his approval rating has sunk to a new low of 26%. That's down 11 percentage points since mid-May; his previous low was 35% in November 2010. A whopping 71% disapprove of his handling of the economy—a new high, ABC News notes. Not to mention, just 24% approve of his handling of the federal budget deficit, and 29% approve of his job creation tactics. More»

Democrats Pick Up Steam in Senate Races

Reid and Angle a tossup, Manchin and Murray now favored

(NEWSER) - After a several straight losing weeks, the Democrats gained ground in the battle for the Senate this week, according to New York Times polling guru Nate Silver. Based on 100,000 simulations, Silver’s FiveThirtyEight prediction model now gives the GOP just an 18% chance to take the Senate, down from 24% last week. Democrats are projected to emerge with 52 Senators. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website