Over three days last week, four independent surveys, two sponsored by media organizations, one by a private research firm, another by Big Ten universities came to a single conclusion — as of mid-September, the presidential race in Indiana is virtually tied.
At the same time, the Cable News Network (CNN) showcased Indianapolis’ best-known political commentators to the nation and world — live on HDTV.
“We’re looking for a commentator who’s Democratic and for (Sen.) Barack Obama,” a CNN producer told me in a phone conversation on Sept. 16.
The network’s “American Morning” program has aired the perspectives of Democratic and Republican commentators from various battleground states. On Sept. 17 it was Indiana’s turn as, for the first time, WIBC-FM’s ultra-ultra conservative talkshow host, the “Goliath” Greg Garrison squared off with “David,” yours truly, live on CNN.
And CNN’s national and worldwide viewers saw the deep divide among Hoosiers in the presidential contest.
I told viewers and “American Morning” co-host Kiran Chetry about the enthusiasm and support Obama’s campaign is generating throughout Indiana.
Garrison, looking and acting like a petulant, frustrated sourpuss dismissed the Obama surge wailing that Sen. Hillary Clinton had trounced Obama in May’s primary. And that her voters wouldn’t vote for Obama.
I loved it when Garrison lost his cool when I told CNN that Obama had only lost Indiana by 0.3 percent and that the most Republican County in Indiana — Hamilton — had voted overwhelmingly for Obama.
And when I said that Obama would do well in Indiana because Indiana had lost more jobs this year than it’d gained, Garrison lost it, snarling to CNN viewers, “Amos is just using Democratic talking points from their governor candidate.” Even though Garrison would be lost if he couldn’t read his Republican right wing talking points from the cue cards.
Greg Garrison wouldn’t know the facts of this election if they ran over him in broad daylight outside his Monument Circle studio. He really showed his lack of factual understanding when he proclaimed that there’s no way the presidential election’s close in Indiana.
Six hours after our joint appearance, CNN gave Garrison his comeuppance when the CNN/Time/Opinion Research poll showed the race in Indiana close — McCain 51 percent/Obama 45 percent. Margin of error +/- 3.5 percent.
The next day, WTHR/Indianapolis Star released a poll giving Obama the edge 47 perecent-44 percent; margin of error +/- 4 percent.
Later, a group of Big Ten universities, led by University of Wisconsin researchers put McCain ahead 47 percent-43 percent; margin of error +/- 4 percent. Another poll, Rasmussen Reports, narrowly gave McCain an edge 47 percent-45 percent; margin of error +/- 4.5 percent.
I’d like to report how well these four independent polls did in surveying Black Hoosier voters. But each organization stonewalled me when I asked how many Blacks were surveyed.
Indianapolis Star Editor Dennis Ryerson brusquely refused to provide the information.
Rasmussen wanted a $30 monthly fee.
CNN didn’t return calls by this column’s deadline.
The Big Ten poll was the only one to publicly reveal that information on their Web site. Unfortunately, only 4.8 percent of respondents in their Indiana poll were Black, an egregious undersampling of nearly 50 percent. A check of the Big Ten’s other polls of Midwestern states found similar egregious Black undersampling.
Also puzzling is that this “Big Ten” poll, created by professors at seven Big Ten schools, had no involvement from Indiana or Purdue professors. I tried to get answers about the Big Ten poll’s problems, but their PR mavens refused to answer my e-mails and calls.
The election in Indiana is too close and Black voters are too critical a component for major outside polling groups to refuse to make basic information on their poll’s racial composition available to legitimate inquiries.
The silence by CNN, the Big Ten researchers, Rasmussen and the WTHR/Indianapolis Star seriously compromises the integrity and accuracy of their polling.
What I’m hearing in the streets
The release of the 2007 Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) revealed a significant development, which if confirmed by the 2010 Census, will forever change the character of Indianapolis’ African-American community.
The new Census data puts an end, once and for all, to the canard that our Black community is centered in Center Township.
According to the 2007 Census ACS, just 23.7 percent of Indianapolis/Marion County’s African-American population lives in Center Township.
Nearly half (46.5 percent) of the city/county’s Black community lives north of 38th Street. As the ACS reports that for the first time that more Blacks live in Lawrence Township than Washington Township, with 16.5 percent of our community living in Lawrence compared to 16.3 percent of our community living in Washington Township.
The new Census estimates also show that Wayne Township is home to 15.7 percent of Indianapolis’ Blacks, followed by Pike Township with 13.7 percent and Warren Township with 10.8 percent of the Black community.
The city’s three southern-most townships — Decatur, Franklin and Perry — are home to growing numbers of African-Americans, as 3.3 percent of African-Americans in Indianapolis living in those Southside townships.
Even more stunning, a minority of Indianapolis’ Black community now lives in the so-called “pre-Uni-Gov” area; also known as the IPS School District. The 2007 Census ACS indicates only 49.8 percent of Indianapolis’ Black community lives in IPS neighborhoods.
If these trends are borne out by the official 2010 Census population counts, the assumptions Indianapolis’ media, business, social service, political and civic power structure have about Indianapolis’ African-American community will be forever shattered!
Let the record show that Mayor Greg Ballard’s cry of “Public Safety is Job One” and “Peace in the Streets” is PR window dressing, now that the mayor rammed a budget through that refuses to add police officers to crime riddled neighborhoods.
Even though the mayor had the cash to add police officers, Ballard will be the first mayor in recent years to preside over a decrease in police officers, while crime is raging.
This mayor would rather spend last year’s county option income tax cash paying off officers so the Ballard Brood can have a police department where minorities and women need not apply (because they won’t be promoted).
Mayor Ballard and the Neanderthals and “no-nothing” Republicans on the City-County Council who bitterly condemned last year’s tax increase are to blame for refusing to spend money for more cops on our streets.
When crime increases, the blame is squarely on their shoulders.
See ‘ya next week.
Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. You can contact him at (317) 221-0915 or by e-mail at ACBROWN@AOL.COM.
