I picked up the ringing phone last night to see that the caller was “toll-free call.” After the pregnant delay, a woman began to tell me that Harry Reid’s health bill would explode the deficit and reduce the quality of care.

I thought it was a recording, so rote was this presentation. But then the woman took life and asked me if I agreed with what she’d just said — that Harry Reid’s bill was not what the country needed.

I must tell you that I became mildly profane and contentious at that point. This apparently was a cooked-up survey by cynical health reform opponents, the essence of which was to tell people Harry Reid’s bill was bad and then turn around ask them if they agreed that Harry Reid’s bill was bad. The point, I guess, is to produce some poll finding to lock down Blanche Lincoln on the public option.

It makes me sick. Beware of forthcoming polls suggesting a powerful majority of Arkansawyers don’t like Harry Reid’s bill.

I’ve heard of “push polls.” This was a knock-you-over and cram-down-your-throat poll.