NPR: Focus Group Tests Attitude Toward Conflict with Iran

Focus Group Tests Attitude Toward Conflict with Iran

When they need to take the public's pulse, politicians and corporations often turn to focus groups. Advocacy organizations use this strategy as well, and Mother Jones reports that one of them, the Israel Project, even used a focus group to test-market language that could be used to gain support for military action against Iran.

The Israel Project, which "conducts extensive polling on American public attitudes toward Israel and the Middle East," is a nonprofit group with a board of advisers that includes 15 Democratic and Republican members of Congress.

The focus group test, held earlier this month in Alexandria, Va., was "designed" by Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican polling firm. One of the people chosen to be in the group was Laura Sonnenmark, a Democratic Party volunteer. "The whole basis of the whole thing was, 'we're going to go into Iran and what do we have to do to get you guys to along with it?'" Sonnenmark says.

After about two hours of talking about the situation in the Middle East, Sonnenmark said the focus group leader asked three questions: "How would you feel if Hillary [Clinton] bombed Iran? How would you feel if George Bush bombed Iran? And how would you feel if Israel bombed Iran?"

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi of the Israel Project told Mother Jones that the focus group test was intended to help the organization promote "our belief in pushing sanctions."

2:43 PM ET | 11-20-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Have we become a victim of Israel insecurity among Arabs going back over two thousands year? Have we replaced the Persian protection of Israel with our American might? Have we been an Israeli proxy by invading Iraq? Why Israeli Lobby urging the United States to invade Iran?

Israel has about 200 nuclear bombs. Israel is not supporting IAEA; not a member. Iran does not have a single nuclear bomb! Iran is developing a nuclear fuel cycle to make fuel cells for electrical energy production using reactor - just like Japan, Germany and many others.

Iran has not attacked any country for the last 250 years - m about the age of our country the good old USA. Is this true about Israel? Israel security is linked to stability in the region; Iran is part of this region.
Why are we so concern about Iranian potential to develop nuclear bomb some 10 or 15 years from now? How about Israel and her nuclear bombs?
We spend our precious tax money to bribe the regional nations by giving them "foreign aids", please spare me! We arm these nations, all of them. Some of the same arms have been use to kill our people. Except for Iran, not a single American has been killed by Iranian people.

Should we spend our money and expertise in our hemisphere rather than 7500 miles from home? Our national interests must be our first imperative. If you would travel in out of places, for example, in Southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, etc. you see population in dire needs, poverty similar to poverty in third world nations. If you would travel to most regions in Mexico, our neighbor to the south, you see abject poverty.

Should we spend our national resources in these areas, rather than as bribe money to some ungrateful nations? Charity starts at home, our own USA, then to the nearest neighbor Mexico.

Sent by St. Michael Traveler | 3:35 PM ET | 11-20-2007

Oil anyone? Means of production? Capitalist rhetoric to satiate the needs of over-consumption? This is not about nuclear arms. It is about attempting to sustain an economic life-style that is incompatible with a healthy environment and love of all people. Our participation in the manipulation of foreign governments to suit our short sited goals must cease. If our (US) government was really concerned with the people (and 'democracy') in the world we would actually help the populations around the globe- regardless of available resources, political affiliation religion or race.

Sent by David | 8:42 PM ET | 11-20-2007

Another story that won't see the light of day from Williams, Simon, or Morning Edition.

Sent by Ron Gordon | 11:37 PM ET | 11-20-2007

The pro-Israeli lobby has denied pushing for the Iraq war. So now let there be no doubt about their role in pushing for a US war on Iran.

Sent by hass | 9:13 AM ET | 11-21-2007

Why are they doing this? They are using focus group testing because in the battle of rhetoric over reality, unfortunately rhetoric works.

Sent by liz | 9:27 AM ET | 11-21-2007

No one should bomb Iran. Why in the world would anyone do something like that? We already did the wrong thing by invading and attacking Iraq. Are peop0le's memories really that short?

Sent by linda kutzer | 8:08 PM ET | 11-21-2007

The sad fact about the history is that the Iranian helped out the jews people multiple time in the past.In other word they prevented the complete elimination of jewish civilization. The Great Cyrus, the king of persia, saved the jews from jenocide by Babylon, and also The other persian Kings (Xerxes, an Darius) rebuilded Jeruselam and freed the jews from being slave in Babylone and moved them back to Israel 2300 years ago.Also, the Jews always had a safe haven in Iran in the past couple of centuries, and still lives in Iran safely.
Is realy sad to see the Jewish and pro-Israeli lobby is trying to push the American force for destruction of Iran.
Any move toward war with any excuse is by definition an action against civilization and will leave only shame for the responsible party. I am just amazed that in 21st century, before any adequate direct negotiation and diplomacy, we are hearing the drumbeat of the war so loudly ,....,from the socalled leading civilazed country of the earth, the USA.In the century that communication is so easy, starting a war is a crime against the world civilization and is considered as a barbaric action.

Sent by K.Shakiba | 3:32 AM ET | 11-24-2007

If we bomb Iran, Iran will shut down the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is only about 35 miles across its narrowest point & is on the Iranian coast. About 40% of the worlds exported oil flows through The Strait of Hormuz. Bombing Iran will cause hyperinflation, a dollar sell off, a run to gold & the Euro, debt collapse & finally a 1929 type depression.

The scenario pointed out by Scott Ritter is even worse than a 1929 type depression. Unlike Cheney & Bush he served during war time. Scott Ritter is a former Marine Corps intelligence officer & former UN Iraqi weapons inspector. He was right about Iraq & now he is saying it will be even worse with Iran. See for your self.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XQan1qo8T4&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiZrWIVR69s&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1sK-2LwMPU&mode=related&search=

Sent by D. Waters | 3:58 AM ET | 11-26-2007

In this focus group we see the act of assembling propaganda in order to persuade the masses. Interesting contradiction here: Sonnenmark says it's about convincing Americans to join Israel in attacking Iran. Mizrahi says it's about promoting and pushing sanctions. Clearly someone is lying. Again.

Sent by John R. Otten | 3:55 PM ET | 11-26-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.