Poll: D.C. not listening
By MICHAEL D. BATES | Hernando Today
Published: February 25, 2010
A whopping 92.2 percent of people who responded to an e-mail poll by Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite said they do not think government is listening to them.
While Brown-Waite blames a Democrat majority in the House and Senate for that disconnect, her two challengers are putting the blame squarely on her.
"She is part of the government, and she is part of the problem," said Democrat Jim Piccillo.
Republican Jason Sager said the poll only reinforces the reason he is running against Brown-Waite.
Lawmakers, and that includes Brown-Waite, are not addressing issues important to the people, Sager said.
Only 7.8 percent responded favorably to the poll question, one of three on the survey.
The other questions:
* Do you think the plans outlined in the President's budget go far enough to get our fiscal house in order? A total of 87.1 percent said no, while 12.9 percent said yes.
* Unemployment benefits have been extended for 24 straight months. Do you think they should be extended again? A total of 55.2 percent said no, 44.8 percent said yes.
Brown-Waite said 11,645 people took part in the survey. She was not surprised at the outcome because people "are irate over the president and the Democratic leadership."
"They don't believe that government is listening," she said. "They're angry. They want jobs and a strong economy."
Her poll question specifically says, "Do you think your government is listening to you?" When asked if that means her, Brown-Waite said her constituents know she meant the Democratic majority.
"My constituents are savvy," she said. "They know that I am part of the minority in the House of Representatives and they know the other party is not listening."
The Democrats, she said, "have earmuffs on" and are not listening to the needs of the people. Brown-Waite has been collecting e-mail addresses through the years via constituent correspondence and information cards passed out at district events, according to Cassie Smedile, Brown-Waite's spokeswoman.
Smedile said this survey was approved by a bi-partisan committee and people who received it had the option of not participating.
Brown-Waite did not pay for any e-mail lists, she said. Blaise Ingoglia, chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee, downplayed the significance of the response from people who believe government is not listening to them.
"I think the question is directed more at Congress as a whole and is not reflective necessarily of Ginny, who has a very high approval rating, even among Democrats," Ingoglia said. Brown-Waite last week formally announced her intentions to run for a fifth term for Florida's 5th District.
Her election year challengers, Republican Jason Sager and Democrat Jim Piccillo, all weighed in Wednesday on Brown-Waite's electronic poll.
Jim Piccillo wasn't surprised that 92 percent of the poll respondents said government is not listening to them.
"I think she got an honest response to a question that she didn't want to have answered," Piccillo said. "I think she expected the answer to be a lot easier to spin."
Now, he said Brown-Waite is spinning the results of the poll by claiming the question of government listening to the people was meant to reflect Democrats.
"The truth is, the question doesn't mention the Democrat majority," he said. "Ginny's answer to everything is that Democrats are bad and Republicans are great," he added.
Sager said the disconnect between the people and elected officials is why he is running or Congress. Sager said he is surprised that 92 percent expressed their displeasure. He thought it would be higher than that.
"I'd like to know who the 8 percent are that said government is listening to them," Sager joked. "It's not a partisan thing, it's a Congressional thing," Sager said. "The entire Washington D.C., inside the beltway, has built a wall of separation between itself and the people. It's time for the people to rise up and tear down that wall."
Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.
