For some time, I have believed that the Jan. 6 hearings are irrelevant — that is, totally divorced from the reality of today’s political situation.
I’d love to know if I’m right. So why, then, won’t anyone just ask the question straight up?
The latest New York Times/Siena College poll asked voters about their priorities, but it studiously avoided the question, unfortunately.
When asked, “What do you think is the MOST important problem facing the country today,” respondents were not specifically given the chance to weigh in on what cable news is trying to portray as the worst calamity in the history of the nation. I refer, of course, to the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021.
Instead, the best option they were given was: “the state of democracy/political division.” Unfortunately, that could mean anything. Even so, only 11% of respondents believed this to be the most important problem.
Another option as the biggest problem America faces was “Trump/Republicans,” which I interpret as an answer suggesting that Republican and Trumpist fascism is a serious threat to the body politic. A pathetic 2% of the electorate offered that as an answer. That’s within the margin of error of 0%.
Also, 0% said that “domestic terrorism” was the main problem. Aside from those three answers, I can’t find any others that would encompass Jan. 6.
Is there any polling out there showing that anyone outside the Beltway can remember Cassidy what’s her name’s surname — Richardson, right? No, wait— it’s Hutchinson! That’s it.
Of course, I’d be very interested in seeing this question asked straightforwardly: Is the Jan. 6 riot your most pressing issue? Is it even an important issue? Are you familiar with what it refers to? Maybe, sometime soon, this will be asked. But I think the answer, if we ever get it, will embarrass a lot of self-important Beltway journalists who have spent the last few weeks covering nothing else.
