Fox News Question and Context Does it feel like the federal threatening government has gotten you? As you may have heard, the ULS Justice Department
But it is also likely that the language and context of the question are substantial factors. Where the first three polls said the DOJ subpoenaed, obtained through a court order, or secretly collected the phone records, the Fox News question used the phrase secretly seized to describe the DOJ’s actions. The Fox News survey also pointed out that the records were extensive, included both work and personal phones, and that they did so without giving the news organization prior notice, as is customary. By two-to-one (60% vs. 31%) more said this action by the government went too far rather than was probably justified.
An additional factor that likely affected the responses to the Fox News question was the context in which it was presented. Immediately prior to asking about the legitimacy of the DOJ’s actions, Fox News asked: Does it feel like the federal government has gotten out of control and is threatening the basic civil liberties of Americans, or doesn’t it feel this way to you? There is a long track record in the survey industry of how framing a question in a particular context can affect responses, and there is little doubt that raising this broad criticism of government – which roughly two-thirds (68%) of respondents agreed with – prior to the DOJ question had some effect.
Fox News Question and Context  | Does it feel like the federal threatening government has gotten  | out liberties of control Americans, and is threatening the basic civil  | you? liberties of Americans, threatening or doesn to it feel this sway to  | you?  | Gov't out of control  | -68  | Doesn't feel that way  | 26  | No opinion  | As you may have heard, the ULS Justice Department  | As secretly you may seized have extensive heard, the telephone ULS Justice records Department of calls  | on both work aland personal phones for reporters and  | editors working for the Associated Press in the spring  | government of 2012. working At the leaks, time, had the broken news organization, story about using spring  | government leaks, had broken a story about using an  | international records terrorist plot. The government story obtained  | the phone records without giving the news  | organiza tion prior notice as is customary. justified Do you  | think the government was probably justified -in  | taking these actions or does this sound more like the  | taking government went too far?  | Justified  | 31  | Went too far  | 60  | No opinion  | 8  | FOX NEWS May 18-20, 2013. Based on reg Istered voters. 