AP’s Report on its Own Political Corruption Poll Focuses Problem on GOP

The Associated Press/Ipsos released results of a new poll concerning the public’s opinion of political corruption. In its report about this survey, the AP categorized the public’s negative view as being almost exclusively a Republican problem. In fact, not one Democrat is specifically named in this article, while seven Republicans are. Yet, buried very deep in one of the final paragraphs is the finding that, within the poll’s margin of error, Democrats and Republicans are considered equally ethical.

Though not specifically stating the president as having been involved in scandals, the AP implied this with the following:

“Scandal has touched all politicians. President Bush’s approval rating was 42 percent, slightly better than his standing in the previous AP-Ipsos poll, due in part to improvements in the economy. Still, 57 percent of those surveyed disapproved of Bush’s handling of the presidency.”

The article then enumerated the problems facing some key Republicans:

"People questioned in the survey had no trouble reciting the names associated with offenses and inquiries:

• Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, faces money laundering charges.
• Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is under a federal investigation for a well-timed stock sale.
• I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, has been indicted on five counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI in the outing of a CIA officer."

Yet, buried down deep is the following:

“Democrats were considered more ethical by 36 percent, while 33 percent cited Republicans. That difference is within the poll’s 3 percent margin of error.”

In fact, as this survey polled 47 percent Democrats, and 44 percent Republicans, this difference becomes even more irrelevant.