Trivia Quiz Proves Liberals Smug, Anti-American

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Nick Denton

10/23/08 10:12AM

Filed to: the chart

US News and World Report cites research showing—pleasingly for self-satisfied liberals—that followers of the posh magazines and radio stations are smarter than Joe Sixpack and the rest of America's dumb masses. The four "best-informed" news audiences are those of the New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper's and NPR, according to the news weekly. Um, except not really.

Let's take a look at the original data from Pew Research. Only 71% of the readers of the New Yorker or The Atlantic could name the House majority party or the Secretary of State. So who scores highest? Viewers of conservative shouting head Sean Hannity on Fox News and radio host Rush Limbaugh.

The only question the liberals got right more often? The name of the leader of one of those foreign countries. So they're not only ignorant; they're anti-American.

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EasttoMidwest Nick Denton 10/23/08 01:39PM

I suspect this is because Hannity, et al., hammer on relentlessly about Pelosi, etc. Three years ago, might have been a different story. It's also interesting that if one of the NYer or NPR people knew the majority question they also knew who the Secretary of State was.

But still!

Maybe more people claim read these sources than actually do.

JinxyMcDeath Nick Denton 10/23/08 10:19AM

I'm more embarassed we know nothing about Canada or Mexico. How many people know the PM/President of the nations BORDERING us? I bet that percentage is about 1. Especially since they certainly know who we are...

Aaron Altman JinxyMcDeath 10/23/08 10:22AM

@JinxyMcDeath: Google says Canada's PM is Stephen Harper and Mexico's president is Felipe Calderon, but I knew that already*. :-)

*Or did I?

MostOffensive JinxyMcDeath 10/23/08 10:37AM

I wonder how many people were just a few years behind in all of their answers... for example: House Majority party was Republican until 2006, Secretary of State used to be Colin Powell, and British PM used to be Tony Blair. So much easier to blame republicans for the disaster in congress, Powell likes Obama more than Rice does, and no one has heard of Brown

ragold JinxyMcDeath 10/23/08 10:52AM

@JinxyMcDeath: Ha! When I thought to myself who those people might be I came up with Martin and Fox off the top of my head.

Seeräuber Jenny Aaron Altman 10/23/08 10:59AM

@Aaron Altman:

I didn't. Yes, Jinxy, it is embarrassing.

Who can I blame?

GoFish Nick Denton 10/23/08 10:53AM

The show is Hannity AND Colmes, and it makes a conscious effort to show the liberal and conservative view, so maybe the moderates are the silent majority after all.

Sproing GoFish 10/23/08 10:57AM

@GoFish: Yes, the liberal view is shown, just before it's shouted down, kicked in the ribs and called a faggot.

Iceland Spar Sproing 10/23/08 11:22AM

@Sproing: I love this show. It has also led me to believe that either (i) Colmes is a secret conveservative or (ii) Colmes is the highest paid person at FOX.

Hannity - fairly good looking guy, has a list of facts to recite, usually stays calm. Colmes - could be Skelator's brother, rarely combs his hair. The conservative guests are all also well-groomed and actual experts in the areas being discussed. The liberal guests look like they were grabbed off the street, maybe from one of Jay Leno's Jaywalking segments, and told nothing about what they would be discussing until they hear it for the first time on-air.

Once, I once even saw them cut away from Colmes while he was talking to show Hannitey laughing and pointing.

Sproing Iceland Spar 10/23/08 12:31PM

@Iceland_Spar: Yeah, it's like Colmes is the smelly kid you invited to your 11th birthday party just so you and your friends could pants him.

Carol Gardens Nick Denton 10/23/08 10:21AM

Not surprising that regular readers of the National Enquirer score low (I am an occasional reader) but why would watching the Weather Channel make you dumb? I mean, if it was your ONLY news sources, yes.

hypocriteoath Carol Gardens 10/23/08 10:45AM

@Carol Gardens: weather isn't news, it's a condition of living. so people who watch the weather channel a lot know that a tornado hit Topeka 14 minutes ago but can't tell me who Karl Rove is. THAT is dumb by definition. you would be surprised at how many people actually watch the weather channel every day for more than 2 minutes to get their weather on the 8s and actually appreciate the "programming".

DismalScientist hypocriteoath 10/23/08 02:31PM

@hypocriteoath: Apparently, they're so dumb they DO need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.