February 19, 2007
John Steele Gordon and the Uses of Evidence II Posted by John Steele Gordon at 10:25 AM EST 1) I would think that the smartest little boy in the world would be able to tell whether it is he or someone else who is having a temper tantrum. I wrote the mild, indeed tentative, “But it seems to me that Joshua Zeitz mischaracterizes what Rep Young said . . .” and Mr. Zeitz has been at Def-Con 5 ever since. For future reference, it’s the one who is making the most noise and hurling ad hominem insults like, oh, just to pick one at random, “Mr. Gordon’s latest temper tantrum,” who is having the temper tantrum. 2) He writes, “Nowhere has Mr. Gordon actually demonstrated . . . James Zogby’s alleged animosity toward George W. Bush.” I quoted him to that effect in his completely wrong prediction on the outcome of the 2004 election. Those are not the words of a pollster completely without a dog in the fight. 3) He writes, “Can you provide a scientific study of James Zogby’s methodology that reveals a flawed approach in his data collection or analysis?” No. But then I don’t have to. Mr. Zeitz didn’t present any evidence that the poll was valid, not even so basic a datum as the margin of error. He simply gave the poll results as though they were revealed truth to be gratefully accepted by a waiting nation. He didn’t even give the readers a link, which I did. 4) I pointed out that Mr. Zeitz failed to provide the evidence necessary to evaluate the poll and yet it is Mr. Zeitz who writes, “If you can’t [prove it false], then please, for once, spare us this nonsensical exercise you pass off as good scholarship.” Let’s see, he presents raw poll results, which are routinely and notoriously misused in politics and journalism, as proof positive; I say more is needed to prove his point; and yet I’m the lousy scholar. Scholar, heal thyself. 5) He writes, “Though John Steele Gordon forgets all too often that American Heritage is a magazine concerned with history, the rest of us haven’t.” Hmmm, I guess Mr. Zeitz thinks the editors are as stupid as he thinks I am, for allowing me space on their website and in their magazine. But then, to the smartest little boy in the world, I guess everybody is stupid.
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