If over 80% of US citizens oppose illegal aliens in the US and open borders, where are the polls coming from?

Question

I keep seeing the same candidates in the lead when I see conflicting polls about US citizen's support on certain issues. Are the polls biased or are people that uninformed about their candidate's stance on these issues?

http://www.betterimmigration.com/index.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/

Any polls that I have taken don't even include all of the candidates to get an unbiased opionion. Is there one about Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul, Michael Savage and others who oppose amnesty for illegals and are pro-life? I would list names of Democrats in my question, but I can't find any who are against amnesty for illegals and pro-life, two issues that I think tell a lot about a person's commitment to their country and the lives of its citizens.
http://www.yournextpresident.net/thefacts.php

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_researchd74c
The general public overwhelmingly favors immigration reform. Poll after poll shows that Americans want well-enforced, sensible, and sustainable immigration laws.

89% of Americans think illegal immigration into the U.S. is a problem (30% "extremely serious," 33% "very serious," and 26% "somewhat serious." (Time Magazine, Jan. 2006)
82% think that not enough is being done along the borders to keep illegal immigrants from crossing into the country. (New York Times/CBS May 2007)
68% feel that the number of immigrants who cross the border, whether legal or illegal is “too high”. (Polling Company, Sept. 2006)
62% oppose making it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens of America. (Quinnipiac Univ., Feb. 2006)

Dirty Martini,
Thanks for the link:
http://www.npg.org/immpoll.html

Answer 1

You will always find competing polls. Special interest groups on both sides of any issue conduct their own polls--of their own membership (hardly unbaised).

Even supposedly unbiased polling firms have to be very very careful HOW they ask questions (which can skew answers) ....... and keep in mind that polling firms are hired by someone who definitely wants a predetermied answer and who signs off on the wording of the questions.

All you have to do is use common sense on this issue. Americans screamed "NO!" loudly about amnesty, now didn't they? If Americans wanted illegal aliens in the US, they wouldn't have said No to amnesty the way they did.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out............

Answer 2

I'm getting a masters in statistics ...and surveys can be very tricky to create. Survey questions can be worded so that people will agree or disagree.

See the below links for polls on the people you listed. Regarding polls on Ron Paul, it seems that most polls are done by calling former voters. Ron Paul's supporters are mostly young voters who have never voted. It seems that Paul is popular on the internet (younger voters) but not well-known otherwise.

Answer 3

People are genuinely opposed to Illegal Aliens becoming citizens ahead of those who do it the legal fashion.

Those politicians that support Amnesty are vulnerable both in a Primary and the General election.

Mark my words. Heads will roll in 2008. Challengers who use this issue will defeat the incumbents. The voters mean business on this issue.

Answer 4

Polls , like the media, is biased. There is no sure fire way to get a poll 100 % accurate. How do you really know that those polls where not made up??

Answer 5

where's the poll that says 80% of americans don't support immigration?

i mean i saw your "better immigration" poll, but if you're looking for unbiased opinion as you say--then a group that wants to "reduce the numbers" is not going to give you what you're looking for.

Answer 6

Let us just put it this way. I tend to be liberal about most issues, but I oppose amnesty for illegals because that would be rewarding breaking the law; and, I regard it as just plain crazy to think that we can just throw open the doors to anyone who wants to come here.

Answer 7

Don't believe any of the poll's. Have you ever heard this "figures don't lie, but liars will figure"? Same with polls. How many times have you been pooled? Probably not, so someone is just making up those figures.

Answer 8

The statistics are from our fearless leaders. They eat lunch write down a number from 1 - 100% put it in a hat, and then draw then number, that is the statistic for whatever it is they want to get us in a uproar about.

Answer 9

I think a lot of people in Washington will be unemployed soon over this issue.

If it doesn't cost some well known politicians their jobs, they will never take the views of the voters seriously.

Answer 10

Polls are set up with questions to favor the poller. They have questions that give them the answers they're looking for. It's a damn shame so many people put all their eggs into those baskets.