Luntz Described as ‘Evil Cleaver’

Here’s a recent description of pollster Frank Luntz, courtesy of a political blog: "the boyish charlatan who’s been concocting spin for conservative candidates and causes for what seems like a century now, but who still manages to look like the evil Cleaver brother."

Not exactly a Luntz fan, huh? But love him or hate him, he’s always interesting. And he returns for the Indiana Chamber’s 2011 Legislative Reception and Dinner. A few topics likely to emerge: 2012 presidential contenders, how serious is Washington about debt reduction, state legislative battles (think Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio to begin with) and more.

Here’s a BizVoice story when we had the opportunity to sit down with Luntz in 2008. I’ve heard him a few times now; can’t say I always agree with everything he has to say. But that’s the way it’s supposed to be, isn’t it.

See and hear for yourself on March 16.

Being Frank: Join Well-Known Pollster After Legislative Reception Feb. 16

"When Frank Luntz invites you to talk to his focus group, you talk to his focus group."
–President Barack Obama, spoken on June 28, 2007, to a PBS-sponsored focus group following the Democratic presidential debate at Howard University

Luntz’s new book, What Americans Really Want … Really: The Truth About Our Hopes, Dreams, and Fears, came out last fall and is a New York Times best seller. He’s also drawn some attention regarding the surprising findings of his recent poll of gun owners.

A recent poll found that both National Rifle Association (NRA) and non-NRA gun owners are in favor of legislation designed to keep guns out of dangerous criminal and terrorist hands.

“By overwhelming numbers, they believe that [protecting] Second Amendment rights and keeping guns from criminals are complementary, not contradictory [goals],’ said Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster who conducted the survey.

Luntz asked 832 gun owners (including 401 NRA members) to give thoughts on a wide variety of issues including whether more could be done to stop criminals from getting guns while also protecting the rights of citizens to freely own them.

Of those polled, Luntz found that 82 % of NRA members supported prohibiting people on the terrorist watch lists from purchasing guns; 69% favored requiring all gun sellers at gun shows to conduct criminal background checks of the people buying guns; and 78 % backed requiring gun owners to alert police if their guns are lost or stolen. Among gun owners who did not belong to the NRA, the numbers were even higher.

Luntz will be joining us following the 2010 Legislative Reception on February 16 at the Westin in Indianapolis to discuss issues of both a federal and local nature. Register now for this exciting event. One ticket for both the Legislative Reception and the Frank Luntz Dinner is just $149.