Rasmussen Reports poll on online gambling

[91106guy]

The Rasmussen Reports is one of the most reliable polls, they find an even split on whether internet gambling should be illegal, although if it were up to Republicans, it would be. Also, only 3% of respondents said they gambled on the internet, so the "poker lobby" isn't exactly a force to be reckoned with.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/September%20Dailies/InternetGambling.htm

[MagCFO]

what does the poker lobby have to do with a poll taken by Rasmussen?

The poker lobby isn't out there convincing all americans to play poker. You post makes no sense.

[ADS]

"Overall, 40% believe online gambling should be illegal and 41% disagree."

"Forty-seven percent (47%) of Republicans say online gambling should be illegal and 33% say it should not. Democrats are evenly divided with 41% on each side of the issue."

The above two statements in the article, simply do not jive with each other, unless there are a significant number of non-partisan respondents who pushed the number to a 41/40 margin against making it illegal.

ideas?

[NickMPK]

[ QUOTE ]
"Overall, 40% believe online gambling should be illegal and 41% disagree."

"Forty-seven percent (47%) of Republicans say online gambling should be illegal and 33% say it should not. Democrats are evenly divided with 41% on each side of the issue."

The above two statements in the article, simply do not jive with each other, unless there are a significant number of non-partisan respondents who pushed the number to a 41/40 margin against making it illegal.

ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I'm sure about 30% of respondents are identified as Independents. Independents now poll much closer to Democrats than Republicans in issue surveys.

[RGL]

And Libertarians (what few there are) are overhelmingly anti-legislation.

[adios]

[ QUOTE ]
what does the poker lobby have to do with a poll taken by Rasmussen?

The poker lobby isn't out there convincing all americans to play poker. You post makes no sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok perhaps the poll isn't indicative of the strength of the online poker lobby if you will (a lobby that seems weak to me FWIW) but it does indicate something about how important the issue is to the voting public IMO.

To OP thanks for posting this.

[LuckyTxGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
they find an even split on whether internet gambling should be illegal, although if it were up to Republicans, it would be.

[/ QUOTE ]

That comment is debatable. First off, they only polled 1,000 people. Second, 47% of Republicans said it should be illegal and if you'll notice the polling data at the bottom of the page, the poll has a +/- error margin of 3%. Sooo, in a bigger sample you might find that only 44% of Republicans are for the legislation. To take that step further, you COULD, in theory, also find that the number of Democrats who are for the legislation goes up 3% to 44%, exactly equal to Republicans. Doubtful, but possible if we believe these pollsters. And you cannot say that it is not possible, because we are just using the data given to us by the pollster. If we can't believe all their data, we can't believe any of it.

My point is simply this....I'm just tired of people trying to paint all the Republicans and Conservatives as a bunch of anti-gambling nuts. Their might be a small portion of the people who are but most are not. That might have been more true 30 years ago, but the modern day Conservative is not the anti-gambling nazi that some folks on here want to believe. I'm a born again, Southern Baptist Christian living in the Bible Belt and without a doubt the majority of the people I know are NOT anti-gambling and many themselves in fact play poker or go to casinos on occasion. Just because some people are for something and a couple pet-project sentors/congressman forced something thru, it does not necessarily reflect the views of the whole constituent base.

Just throwing that out there. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Moneyline]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just tired of people trying to paint all the Republicans and Conservatives as anti-gambling. Their might be a small portion of the people who are but most are not. That might have been more true 30 years ago, but the modern day Conservative is not anti-gambling.

[/ QUOTE ]

No one is claiming all Republicans are against gambling. I think it is widely accepted that small government Republicans are strongly against this legislation. I believe it is also widely accepted that this sort of Republican has lost favor over the last 30 years. The kind of Republican that has gained stature in the party over that time period are members of the "religious Right" like yourself. So while you personally may not be anti-gambling, the leadership of the Conservative Christian moviement most certainly is. In fact, if it weren't for groups like the Southern Baptist Convention and American Family Association the online gambling ban would have certainly had far less congressional support.

FWIW, I edited the words "nuts" and "nazis" out of the original quote as these were used as a quasi- ad hominem attack.

[PairTheBoard]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"Overall, 40% believe online gambling should be illegal and 41% disagree."

"Forty-seven percent (47%) of Republicans say online gambling should be illegal and 33% say it should not. Democrats are evenly divided with 41% on each side of the issue."

The above two statements in the article, simply do not jive with each other, unless there are a significant number of non-partisan respondents who pushed the number to a 41/40 margin against making it illegal.

ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I'm sure about 30% of respondents are identified as Independents. Independents now poll much closer to Democrats than Republicans in issue surveys.

[/ QUOTE ]

The implication on this poll is that Independents must have been heavily against making online gambling illegal. That's the only way the figures can jive. Either that or there's a mistake in the reporting of the figures above.

PairTheBoard

[donkeylove]

[ QUOTE ]
"Overall, 40% believe online gambling should be illegal and 41% disagree."

"Forty-seven percent (47%) of Republicans say online gambling should be illegal and 33% say it should not. Democrats are evenly divided with 41% on each side of the issue."

The above two statements in the article, simply do not jive with each other, unless there are a significant number of non-partisan respondents who pushed the number to a 41/40 margin against making it illegal.

ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

47%......that's a mandate to some presidents /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[5thStreetHog]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm just tired of people trying to paint all the Republicans and Conservatives as anti-gambling. Their might be a small portion of the people who are but most are not. That might have been more true 30 years ago, but the modern day Conservative is not anti-gambling.

[/ QUOTE ]

No one is claiming all Republicans are against gambling. I think it is widely accepted that small government Republicans are strongly against this legislation. I believe it is also widely accepted that this sort of Republican has lost favor over the last 30 years. The kind of Republican that has gained stature in the party over that time period are members of the "religious Right" like yourself. So while you personally may not be anti-gambling, the leadership of the Conservative Christian moviement most certainly is. In fact, if it weren't for groups like the Southern Baptist Convention and American Family Association the online gambling ban would have certainly had far less congressional support.

[/ QUOTE ]Well stated.

[candyman718]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm just tired of people trying to paint all the Republicans and Conservatives as anti-gambling. Their might be a small portion of the people who are but most are not. That might have been more true 30 years ago, but the modern day Conservative is not anti-gambling.

[/ QUOTE ]

No one is claiming all Republicans are against gambling. I think it is widely accepted that small government Republicans are strongly against this legislation. I believe it is also widely accepted that this sort of Republican has lost favor over the last 30 years. The kind of Republican that has gained stature in the party over that time period are members of the "religious Right" like yourself. So while you personally may not be anti-gambling, the leadership of the Conservative Christian moviement most certainly is. In fact, if it weren't for groups like the Southern Baptist Convention and American Family Association the online gambling ban would have certainly never have even been considered .


[/ QUOTE ]

Fixed Your Otherwise Excellent Post

[Mroberts3]

[ QUOTE ]
That comment is debatable. First off, they only polled 1,000 people.

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't need many people to get a good sample. They are very good at getting a representative group. If you double or triple the number of responders the margin of error will still be roughly the same. (3% is so small that if any decision is within the margin of error it is essentially a toss up and getting more respondents won't change that fact.

Interesting find OP thanks.

[LuckyTxGuy]

[ QUOTE ]

No one is claiming all Republicans are against gambling. I think it is widely accepted that small government Republicans are strongly against this legislation. I believe it is also widely accepted that this sort of Republican has lost favor over the last 30 years. The kind of Republican that has gained stature in the party over that time period are members of the "religious Right" like yourself. So while you personally may not be anti-gambling, the leadership of the Conservative Christian moviement most certainly is. In fact, if it weren't for groups like the Southern Baptist Convention and American Family Association the online gambling ban would have certainly had far less congressional support.

FWIW, I edited the words "nuts" and "nazis" out of the original quote as these were used as a quasi- ad hominem attack.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good post and I agree and disagree. At least we can talk about it in a civil manner, unlike many on this forum currently.

The main thing I disagree with is the statement that "no one" is claiming all Republicans are against gambling. There have been countless threads on this forum in the last few weeks doing nothing but bashing Republicans and Christians over this new legislation. Look back at all the threads with people saying they will "never vote for a Republican now" or "definatly voting Democrat from now on" etc. My point is that yes, many (maybe most?) Republicans might have voted on this bill if given the chance but so would a whole lot of Democrats. It is widely accepted that this bill would have passed, even if given a full vote by itself. I find that distressing also. But either way, you and I both agree that all Republicans are not anti-gambling and that is what matters.

As for the SBC and the AFA heads being anti-gambling, I totally agree. But there are many "political" type stances these organizations might take that the every day member might disagree with. No different than me being a died in the wool conservative and being ticked off at the way the Republicans have been operating for the last several years. They are NOT operating on the small government and conservative principles that so many of us believe in. Granted I'm not about to go vote Democrat but that doesn't mean I'm happy with the Republicans. I think you know what I mean. This issue is not a "hot button" issue with Republican voters like abortion, taxes, and gun owner's rights. If you stood up in any Christian church in my city and asked everyone who knew anything about the recent online poker legislation to raise their hand I'd bet the number of hands would be very very few. Then go ask to see how many people with their hands up know about the legislation because they played poker online. I bet many people would be surprised at the results.

But again, I think if you go out and ask the people on the street level, conservatives, Republicans, Christians, Southern Baptist Christians, and you got honest answers, the average person isn't against gambling with in reason. My wife and I spent 3 nights in Shreveport, Louisina at the casinos and poker rooms last weekend and I can assure you alot of the patrons there are practicing born again Christians, like we are.

I guess I'm just saying, we aren't all "that way" so don't blame us for what some elected officals are doing, especially when the poll in question shows that the Republican base is only 3-4% more in favor of this bill than the Deomcrat base.

Again, not really arguing with you, because we agree to a certain extent and disagree on other parts but at least we can talk rationally about it.

BTW - Not really sure what you meant about editing out the "nuts" and "nazis". I do know there are people here with avatars showing Frist and maybe others wearing nazi uniforms and swastikas. However, I realize most don't think the Republicans are Nazis, many do think they are nuts and are accusing them of such.

[lfairban]

If more of the Republicans are 47:33 against, the Democrats are even at 41:41, and the overall total is 40:41 opposed, that means that the independents are in favor by something like 46:34. The independants are the most sought after demographic, especially by the Democrats. The Republicans have more of a tendency to play to their base.

This is one of the points that I expounded on when I called my Senator during the 9/12 phonethon.