Being a state delegate for Utah’s Republican convention is more exciting now than ever before. In fact, the political climate was entirely different only a few years ago.
In 2008, Vanessa and I were selected to be delegates to the convention from our tiny precinct in Logan. Back then, our precinct was only able to produce three people at the local caucus: Vanessa (my wife), Tom Grover, and me. Before the caucus, I remember listening to Tom Grover on “For the People” (a program I followed while doing deliveries for a local pharmacy), chastising college students for their lack of involvement in local/state politics. To be honest, I hadn’t planned on attending the caucus. Despite my interest in politics, I’d never really taken much interest in local affairs. After listening to an impassioned monologue from Tom Grover, however, I immediately decided that instead of heading home after work, I would quickly pick-up my wife and we would both go to the local caucus at Mt. Logan Middle School. When we arrived at our precinct’s meeting place, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Tom Grover was a member of my precinct. As it turned out, the three of us were the only residents of our precinct to show up, and as a result, Vanessa and I were automatically drafted to be delegates.
That year, I don’t remember ever being contacted by my neighbors, polling agencies, or even the candidates themselves. Aside from the actual conventions, there wasn’t much local attention devoted to the local/state elections. I remember wishing lived in a “battle-ground state,” or at least a place where elections were a little more competitive. In such a place I would most certainly have the opportunity to participate in polls and experience the ferocity of a close political campaign. Notwithstanding, I was a resident of a homogeneous community and a member of the dominate political party; no such luck.
This year is another story. Almost immediately after becoming a delegate, I was inundated by phone calls from political campaigns, polling agencies, and even some members of my local precinct. Each and everyday, I have some group asking me which candidate I will support at the state convention. My mailbox is always full of campaign ads, brochures, and political foldouts, all soliciting my support for various Senate candidates. And on the radio, in newspapers, and across the blogosphere, I have found myself in the center of a heated discussion of local politics. Finally, in the most appropriate culmination of my political experience, I was just recently pushed-polled by Club For Growth.
For anyone who is confused, the NCPP explains what a “push-poll” is:
A “Push Poll” is a telemarketing technique in which telephone calls are used to canvass vast numbers of potential voters, feeding them false and damaging “information” about a candidate under the guise of taking a poll to see how this “information” effects voter preferences. In fact, the intent is to “push” the voters away from one candidate and toward the opposing candidate. This is clearly political telemarketing, using innuendo and, in many cases, clearly false information to influence voters; there is no intent to conduct research.
As mentioned earlier, I have been contacted by polling agencies more than I can count, and so when I was called by Club for Growth, I assumed it was just another state delegate poll. But immediately after asking me the standard question about who I plan on voting for, I was asked whether or not I was familiar with Senator Bennett’s voting record. I said I was, and without a moment’s pause, the voice on the other line preceded to educate me about Senator Bennett’s support of TARP, Obamacare, and other controversial policies. And Bennett’s platform was compared to President Obama’s. After the brief lesson about Senator Bennett, I was asked if I would support the Senator after learning about his “unconstitutional” policies. Despite my own reservations about the Senator, I said I probably would (mainly because I didn’t want to provide any honest responses to Club for Growth). The call ended, and I triumphantly declared to my wife, “Honey, I have been push-polled!”
While I am certain that some of Senator Bennett’s opponent’s wouldn’t condone the push poll, they are sure to benefit from it. This is a classic, dirty political trick which is utilized all-too-often in this country. The sad thing is, if it didn’t work, push-polling wouldn’t exist; “dirty” political tricks are effective.
Despite the possible effectiveness of the push poll, however, I finished the phone call with a bad taste in my mouth for Club for Growth. It’s no secret that this organization has been laboring diligently to oust Senator Bennett. To be honest, I do sympathize with many of their “complaints” against the Senator. Notwithstanding, no matter how much I may agree with an organization, such behavior immediately turns me off.
In a way, that phone call made me think of the current debate over Senator Bennett’s future. While Bennett has made some decision which have frustrated me as a voter, he does represent a calm, professional, experienced politician with an admirable self-composure. On the other hand, some of his opponents and detractors have demonstrated a lack of poise which reveals their amateurism and shallowness. Therefore, when it comes time for me to choose between Senator Bennett and an opponent, I’ll not only be influenced by the candidate’s platform, but also by their character and composure.
I don’t feel that I am alone in this, either.
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