Vexed Bermoothes is on the push poll trail.
If I may steal a link from them, you'll note that according to the American Association for Public Opinion Research, push polls are "unethical".
In Bermuda, they're not illegal though, although they are in in many US states.
One of my readers said that the push polling firm said it was called "Bermuda Opinion Survey", which is obviously a front name, but one that isn't new to me.
It appears that Dr. Brown has been involved with these guys for awhile. I was polled back in May by Bermuda Opinion Surveys, testing some Dr. Brown campaign themes back in early May.
And from another target of the push poll. Sounds like Dr. Brown's going scorched earth and blanketing the island:
Well I just (after 5 times of saying no to 5 different callers) answered that totally "brainwashing" poll....Each time was a different person calling so now that I have taken it I HOPE that they will not call back...another "fact" disguised as a question was that Harold Darrell STOLE (they said stole twice) and leaked the BHC files to get back at the PLP for not awarding him contracts. They also called us the UBP "the UPB" several times...
Well it didn't take long to uncover some info on The Parker Group of Alabama - a "telephone marketing company" (note NOT a research firm) - the US company that the PLP have hired to run negative hit pieces dressed up as polls.
Check out this court judgment where the company was found guilty of racial discrimination:
This Court affirms the District Court's finding that TPG intentionally discriminated on the basis of race in violation of § 1981.
Here's how they operated:
About 60% of TPG's overall business is pre-election "get-out-the-vote" calling. Approximately 10% of such calling is race-matched, such that black voters are called by black TPG employees who use the "black" script, while white voters are called by white TPG employees who use a different, "white" script. Race-matched calling apparently is used only when specifically requested by customers. TPG employees doing the race-matched calling in 1994 were assigned separate calling areas and separate scripts according to race. To facilitate supervision, TPG also physically segregated employees who worked at race-matched calling. Black callers were segregated into one room, and white callers segregated into another.
Ok, the dirty tricks have begun. I expect to have more info in the morning, and I'm going to work this tonight, but Dr. Brown is using a Group called The Parker Group to conduct a push poll (ie. negative campaigning disguised as a poll).
Two readers, both whom I know well sent in the following details:
Recipient 1
It was interesting that there were some of the negative polling techniques you had described in an earlier blog.Such as “the UBP has been very divisive in the past will this affect the way you vote”. Also questions were about the number of hotels being built, massive increase in tourism last year and a very high standard of living under the PLP government do you view this as favorable not so favorable etc etc.
The more leading questions where the one talking about what a great job the PLP had done, BDA GDP vs US, # of hotels being built and last years increase in tourism - who is best party to "take Bermuda to the next level" then a leading question about Ewart (fast ferries and improved bus service and number of new hotels being built). A question regarding lack of experience of UBP candidates versus experience of PLP candidates. Then they had usual questions about race age and income.
Recipient 2
We just endured a spectacularly ridiculous PLP poll (from the Parker Group in Alabama) following their 4th attempt of repetitive calling.Some of the questions were do you agree-disagree (typical spectrum of answering options)
- That the UBP is a white elitist party?
- Does the PLP look out for the average Bermudian?
- Did Harold Darrell release the documents as revenge for not receiving a government contract?
- That Bermuda has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world (50% greater than the U.S.)?
... very nasty stuff but unfortunately not unexpected from this Presidential style government.
Slimy. And Desperate.
The push polling appears to have begun.
If you get polled please write down the questions.
More to come shortly.