A reader is part of the Zogby International polling group--and tells me that he just received this list of questions from Zogby. Note that this was after the election. One possibility is that Obama's staff is trying to figure out which measures they can propose without impairing Obama's popularity. If these are actually measures that Obama is considering, then an awful lot of Americans were indeed profoundly misled about what Obama stands for during the campaign. The 75% excise tax on firearms in particular would devastate the industry, and strongly discourage new firearms purchases.
The other possibility is that Republicans are trying to figure out which issues to use against Obama--but some of these proposals are so extreme and specific that it seems to suggest the first possibility. On the other hand, some of the questions almost read like Republican push polling:
If you knew Barack Obama supported a plan to place a 75% excise tax on the sale of firearms - where a $500 rifle would now cost $875 with tax, would that have made you...UPDATE: Some readers think this is Republican push polling (where you ask questions designed to create, not measure public opinion). Yes, some of these questions seem to read that way--but Zogby is doing this polling, and I can't imagine them push polling, and certainly not for the Republicans. I'm still mystified by it, but it does look like Obama might be trying to see how far he can push his agenda without damaging his popularity.
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
If you knew about Barack Obama's support for national legislation that would overturn concealed carry handgun laws in 40 states, would that have made you...
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
If you knew about Barack Obama's support for Congressional legislation that would overturn abortion restrictions, such as parental notification, gender selection abortions and requiring doctors to have local hospital certificates when performing abortions, would that have made you..?
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
If you knew Barack Obama supports repealing legislation that currently prevents non-government organizations, which receive federal funding, from providing abortions in other nations, such as China where coercive abortions are performed based on the gender of the fetus, would that make you...
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
If you knew about Barack Obama's support for a tax plan that would raise the top tax rate on individuals to 56% when social security taxes are included, would that have made you...
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
If you knew about Barack Obama's support for a tax plan that would increase the percentage of people who pay no taxes from 32% to 44%, would that have made you...
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
If you knew about Barack Obama's support for a Congressional bill to outlaw workers' rights to a secret ballot in union elections, would that have made you...
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
If you knew that Democrat Congressional Leaders plan to cut defense spending by 25%, would that have made you...
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
Do you agree or disagree that an increase in taxes on wealthy Americans and businesses will further hurt an already shaky economy, or do you think it will make no difference?
Agree
Disagree
No difference
Not sure
Barack Obama said during a campaign stop that redistribution of wealth, taxing wealthier Americans in order to give money back to low-income Americans, was good for everybody. Do you agree or disagree with Obama when it comes to redistribution of wealth?
Agree
Disagree
Not sure
Barack Obama has said that while the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to bear arms, it also permits common-sense gun control, like gun registration, licensing and local gun bans. Others say the Second Amendment does not permit infringements such as gun registration, licensing etc. Do you agree or disagree that Second Amendment permits infringements such as those described by Obama?
Agree
Disagree
Not sure
Do you agree with Barack Obama's interpretation of the Second Amendment, where gun control is permissible, or do you think the Second Amendment is an absolute individual right that shall not be infringed?
Gun control is permissible
Second Amendment shall not be infringed
Not sure/neither
Barack Obama said he would make signing the Freedom of Choice Act one of his very first acts in office. The Freedom of Choice Act would nullify every legal limit on abortion, federal, state or otherwise. Do you support or oppose Obama's signing of the Freedom of Choice Act?
Support
Oppose
Not sure
Did you hear about the book "Audacity of Deceit," or the website, www.barackobamatest.com by author Brad O'Leary during the course of the general election, either on the Internet, talk radio or in print ads?
Yes
No
Not sure
If restrictions on abortion are taken away by Congress, would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that allowed states to enact laws such as parental notification, prevention of gender selection and third term abortions, and medical requirements for doctors to be registered at local hospitals?
Support
Oppose
Not sure
Would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that banned abortions except in cases of rape, incest and where the mother's life is endangered?
Support
Oppose
Not sure
Should Congress pass a law that takes away your right to use a firearm in the defense of your home would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment to restore that right?
Support
Oppose
Not sure
Should Congress pass a law to make a gun owner or manufacturer guilty of a criminal offense if their gun is lost or stolen and used in the commission of a crime, would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment to protect gun owners and manufacturers against such liability?
Support
Oppose
Not sure
Should Congress pass a law outlawing concealed carry laws in 40 states, would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment to allow concealed carry for individuals if approved by state law?
Support
Oppose
Not sure
Should Congress approve or defeat a law that increases the percentage of Americans who pay no taxes from 32% to 44%?
Approve
Defeat
Not sure
Should Congress pass a law outlawing secret ballots in labor union elections, would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment to guarantee that right?
Support
Oppose
Not sure
For the next Supreme Court Justice appointee, would you prefer a judge who would uphold the recent Supreme Court ruling that bans partial birth abortion, or a judge who would overturn this ruling?
A judge to uphold ruling
A judge to overturn ruling
Not sure
For the next Supreme Court Justice appointee, would you prefer a judge who would uphold a recent Supreme Court ruling that affirms the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms, or a judge who will reverse this ruling?
A judge to uphold ruling
A judge to overturn ruling
Not sure
For the next Supreme Court Justice appointee, would you prefer a judge who takes other countries laws into consideration when crafting his or her judicial opinions, or a judge who only considers American laws and precedent when crafting his or her opinions?
A judge who takes other countries' laws into consideration
A judge who only considers American laws and precedent
Not sure
Would you say you are very concerned, somewhat concerned, somewhat unconcerned or not at all concerned that President Obama and a Democratic Congress will make a serious effort to restrict the purchase and use of firearms, or does it make no difference to you?
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Somewhat unconcerned
Not at all concerned
No difference
Not sure
If you knew about Barack Obama's opposition to a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, would it have made you...
More likely to vote for Obama
Less likely to vote for Obama
No difference
Not sure
Please tell us if the following positions make you more or less likely to vote for Obama, or does it make no difference to your opinion?
More likely Less Likely No difference Not sure
Obama supported legislation making it Ok to prosecute people who live in cities with gun bans if they use a gun in their own home in self defense.
Obama supported legislation to expose the firearms industry to all lawsuits, even if they eventually bankrupt manufacturers.
Obama supported legislation that would have banned almost all ammunition used for deer hunting.
Obama has stated opposition to Right-to-carry handgun laws.
Obama has supported a ban on all semi-automatic firearms.
Obama supported increasing the federal excise tax on guns and ammunition by 500%.
Obama supported a proposal to prohibit gun sales within five miles of a school or park, a requirement that some say would eliminate almost all gun sales in the U.S.
Obama supported a proposal that would have banned single shot and double barreled shotguns.
For the last 21 years there has been no political censorship on radio. Some people now would like to limit programming on talk radio. Do you believe that Americans should be able to listen to any program they would like, or do you believe government should be allowed to censor radio programs?
All programs should be allowed
Government should be allowed to censor
Not sure/depends
Do you think the government should, or should not be allowed to censor what political opinions are heard on talk radio?
Should be allowed to censor
Should not be allowed to censor
Not sure/depends
"In God We Trust" is displayed over the Speaker's podium in the U.S. Capitol Building. In the model for the new renovations, they have taken out "In God We Trust." Should the "In God We Trust" inscription be kept or taken out?
It should be kept
It should be taken out
Not sure
Statement A - The Constitution gives us the absolute right to bear arms.
Statement B - Times have changed and it is necessary to regulate gun ownership.
Strongly Agree with Statement A
Somewhat Agree with Statement A
Somewhat Agree with Statement B
Strongly Agree with Statement B
Not sure
Do you or does anyone in your household keep a gun for personal protection or hunting at your home, place of business, or at a vacation home or club?
Yes
No
Not sure
Refused
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