Prime Cut

In an election season, a sure sign a voter does little to no research or discussion of the issues is when I hear the words "I wish the candidates would discuss the issues." I rarely hear those words in forums where people are sitting around the metaphorical kitchen table and are actually discussing the issues.

Of course, this past election was less about issues and more about the desire to feel like a participant in change. For most Obama supporters, Obama's suave personality was the issue of the campaign. This is purely non-scientific and based on my observation of comments heard and Brad Goodman like responses. The latest Zogby survey is scientific, and it illustrates Obama supporters are ignorant of issues that matter but know about issues that don't.

Here are the results of a Zogby survey of 512 Obama supporters around the nation.

Issues That Matter

• 57% failed to know democrats controlled both the house and senate prior to the election.
• 83% failed to know Obama won his first election by getting all his opponents removed from the ballot.
• 88% failed to associate Obama with his statement that his energy policies would bankrupt the coal industry.
• 56% failed to know Obama started his political career at the home of two former members of the Weather Underground.
• 76% failed to know Biden had to quit a previous campaign because he plagarized a speech.
• 47% failed to know Biden said Obama would be tested by an international crisis in his first six months of his presidency.
  

Issues That Don't Matter

• 94% identified Palin as the candidate with a pregnant teenager.
• 86% identitied Palin as the candidate associated with a $150,000 wardrobe purchased by the GOP.
• 81% identified McCain as the candidate who was unable to identify the number of houses he owner.
• 87% identified Palin as the candidate who said could "see Russia from their house," a quote actually attributed to Tina Fey's portrayal of Palin on SNL.

Overall, only 54% of the supporters answered 50% or more of the survey questions correctly. Only 2% score perfect or near-perfect scores.

There is clearly a divide between the informed and uninformed. The media takes an immense share of the blame, but their neglect of duty is not license for laziness or apathy or feel goodism. Time will tell if this blind vote was good or poisonous for America.