As election season heats up, I’d like to get something off my chest.
No, I’m not going to go on a rant about politics. It’s something more personal to me.
Over the past forty plus years, our culture has become increasingly infused with a wet blanket cynicism about nearly anything related to politics. That cynicism extends to the people who make politics their business.
I get it; people are frustrated. There are many politicians who have shamed not only themselves but also the causes they support and, indeed, the constituents they represent.
But let’s not paint everyone with a broad brush.
I have a unique perspective here. Many, many moons ago, before I worked in the field of market research, I had the privilege of working for and learning from two of the pre-eminent pollsters in the world – Celinda Lake and Mark Mellman.
I had just come from a very heady first job out of college, as an aide to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Celinda and Mark not only taught me how to be a good researcher, but they also introduced me to a world of professionals – from political consultants to activists to government and association leaders – who generally share one common trait: they care passionately about their work.
I know that passion – and professionalism – are shared across the aisle, as I got to know people not only in the Democratic ranks but also on the Republican side.
The thing that really gets under my skin though is when I hear people suggest pollsters are dishonest, that they “cook the numbers,” so to speak, to support a political agenda.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s quite the opposite. I remember pollsters being very hard on themselves. In fact, one thing that really made an impression on me is that Mark and Celinda consulted Dr. Bob Groves about methodological issues. Dr. Groves is a legend in the field of survey methodology and is now serving as the U.S. Census Director.
So let’s take a more nuanced view – shall we?
We in the market research community should be the first to support pollsters; they’re fellow researchers, after all.
And to the general public, I say don’t bash pollsters until you get to know one.





This weekend I watched the 

