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November 14, 2002
More Experts Second-Guessing Johnson And
More Experts Second-Guessing Johnson And Augusta. . . This time in a long analysis of Augusta's media straqtegy that's running on the AP wire. Funny, but I don't recall too many pieces questioning NCWO Chairman Martha Burk's strategy in attacking Augusta in the first place. Next, AP's Steve Wilstein jumps on the bash Hootie bandwagon as well: Hootie Johnson probably wouldn't kick a ball out of the rough or mark down a par after making a bogey. As the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, Johnson knows that, above all, golf is a game of integrity. So it is astonishing that Johnson would stoop to commissioning and touting a poll that is such a blatant effort to con the public as the one released Wednesday in support of his stand against opening Augusta to women members. The "Hootie Poll" is a mishmash of loaded statements and biased, leading questions that are unworthy of Johnson or Augusta. It is a poll that is slanted to get the answers they wanted, and in that it succeeded. As I said last night, I'm always glad to see reporters questioning the methodology of any poll. And, looking over the questions Augusta asked, I see where Wilstein is coming from. However, one could make the argument that Augusta's poll is simply trotting out arguments that weaken the case Burk and her confederates are making. And considering the way Burk has been dominating the debate, without her motives or background being questioned much at all in the process (unlike Johnson who has been portrayed as something like a cross between Bull Connor and a clueless Trent Lott), using the poll to advance these arguments seems like a legitimate tactic to me.
Eric
01:36 PM
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