Frank Luntz’s “Most Onerous Focus Group” Ever Debates Obama’s Speech

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by Steve Krakauer | 9:40 am, June 16th, 2010

» 13 comments

Pollster Frank Luntz loves his real-time dial panels, and he regularly hosts them as part of Sean Hannity‘s Fox News show.

He found a feisty group last night in Southern California, and the decidedly fair and balanced segment highlighted the deep divide among the left and right.

After the first two panelist knocked Pres. Barack Obama‘s oil disaster speech, the third panelist said, “I totally disagree, I think he did an excellent job.”

There was a lot of arguing, but when Luntz cut through to give a recap, he came to one conclusion.

I think, for most of you, we’ve now reached the point where we’ve become so divided that we’re not even listening to what our leaders are saying if we disagree with them.

Luntz said this was “the most onerous group I have ever had” – definitely different from his ‘who loves Sean Hannity‘ panel last month. Kevin Madden, Republican strategist, said on Twitter last night, “Luntz focus group on Fox is WILD.”

Toward the end, after Hannity got a nearly unanimous consensus regarding the way to clean up the mess, one panelist addressed the host directly: “Sean are you an expert at this kind of stuff? Do you understand the logistics of all this? Or were you fed this on a teleprompter?”

Luntz warned if Hannity were to visit Southern California, “make sure you bring a Flak jacket.” People criticize Hannity’s program as the most hard-lined Republican on Fox News – O’Reilly is more surprising, Beck is more libertarian. But this panel gave some strong voices from the other side a chance to be heard (and shouted down by their fellow panelists).

Check it out (via J$):

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fnc, fox news, Frank Luntz, Hannity, Polls, Sean Hannity

Bias-Media

I have the same problem with the “Bush is never wrong” crowd. For crying out loud, people!!

…no wonder California is such a mess…
http://www.libertarianism.com/ Burnnotice

Wow I can’t believe how much the people were split race-wise. What does that say America???
paulmdoro

So this panel was sort of representative of the comments section of this site.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

I wonder why?
ex political-media hack

Bias-Media that is exactly the problem -

the Obot crowd are just 180 degree mirror images of dubya’s true believers…and they dont have the brain power or integrity to even realize this.

and if you can find a difference between KO, Ed Schultz, Maddow and Rush and Co. – its only in direction, not intent…

(i only caught the last minute of this last night – tuned in when the young black woman – started yelling that somehow the spill was all Bush’s fault and the hipster with the goatee and beret (was he channeling Maynard G. Krebs?) asked if sean was reading from a prompter (hint Obots should stay away from criticizing those who use a teleprompter dont ya think?)
paulmdoro

I agree that there really is no difference between the FNC and MSNBC talking heads other than ideology. It’s why I can’t watch them. I feel like there is very little genuine attempt to begin and sustain a constructive dialogue.
Liberty Banned

Luntz makes a good point. Both partisan sides don’t listen to each other, or even attempt to concede when the other has a valid argument. Personally, as I’ve become more libertarian, I’ve felt better about such arguments because I’m free to criticize both sides. There are plenty of issues where I agree with Republicans, just as there are issues where I agree with Democrats.

I’ve made it a point here on this forum to attempt to be open minded to some extent. Although I was recently banned, I was under the name of “Liberty – Not Redistribution,” for a comment I made regarding Colby Halls now retracted claim that the NC politician that roughed up a couple “students” was a hero, many of us here, such as paul, King, and michelle, do concede points occasionally.
paulmdoro

I don’t agree with Luntz on everything but he does seem to genuinely try to create healthy discussions. I watched Poliwood recently, an incredibly one-sided but interesting documentary about celebrities and their political views. There’s a scene where Luntz meets with a group of famous people and tries to discuss how they can better communicate their views without alienating people. He can barely get a word in and the scene indicates that nothing constructive happens. It serves as a reminder of why Hollywood types annoy people when sharing their opinions. I think they’re right when they say that they are as entitled as anyone to have and share opinions. Like many they just don’t like to listen to the other side.
Liberty Banned

Another good point Paul. Celebrities appear to be consistently surround themselves with “yes men.” People kiss their butt, and willing do what they want. They are under the impression that they are always right, as they are told they are never wrong by their followers.
C0nstant

whats with the milli vanilli dude in the front? dude had his nugget on a swivel.
MichelleF

(i only caught the last minute of this last night – tuned in when the young black woman – started yelling that somehow the spill was all Bush’s fault and the hipster with the goatee and beret (was he channeling Maynard G. Krebs?) asked if sean was reading from a prompter (hint Obots should stay away from criticizing those who use a teleprompter dont ya think?)

Ok, you seriously have me laughing out loud right now. Mainly because you are SO right!
http://www.heartland.org/environmentandclimate-news.org/ClimateConference4 Just Tex

I’m surprised nobody thought to mention BP’s giving Obama nearly $1,000,000, all all of Obama’s fund raising trips, golf outing, and White House parties since this disaster began?!

But, that what’s happens when die-hard supporters deliberately and loudly obfuscate, rather than attempt to argue any truly worthwhile point of view.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anne-Gross-Beal/1116621445 Anne Gross Beal

I seriously was ROTFLOL when that young woman said Obama had inherited the oil spill from George Bush.
But in case you missed his panel of Hollywood celebutards, the most profound thing to come out of that was that “we’re artists, so we don’t like being told what to do.”
SURPRISE! I’m a gun-totin’ redneck, so I don’t like being told what to do!

The only thing that would make Luntz’s panels more interesting is if he did these things in a bar, with a lot of liquored-up patrons.