While we know that conservatives do read — as evidenced by the hundreds of comments we get from them here on VL — a recent poll shows that they aren’t exactly devouring books.

The AP-Ipsos poll found 22 percent of liberals and moderates said they had not read a book within the past year, compared with 34 percent of conservatives.

Among those who had read at least one book, liberals typically read nine books in the year, with half reading more than that and half less. Conservatives typically read eight, moderates five.

By slightly wider margins, Democrats tended to read more books than Republicans and independents. There were no differences by political party in the percentage of those who said they had not read at least one book.

The president of the American Association of Publishers, a Democrat and former House member, explained the results of the poll in a way that is ruffling a few feathers in Washington:

“The Karl Roves of the world have built a generation that just wants a couple slogans: ‘No, don’t raise my taxes, no new taxes,’” Pat Schroeder, president of the American Association of Publishers, said in a recent interview. “It’s pretty hard to write a book saying, ‘No new taxes, no new taxes, no new taxes’ on every page.”

According to AP, The White House responded (because this is so important that it require a White House response) that Schroeder is “confusing volume with quality”, and spokesperson Tony Fratto showed his inability to take the high road with the following quote:

“Obfuscation usually requires a lot more words than if you simply focus on fundamental principles, so I’m not at all surprised by the loquaciousness of liberals,” he said.

Viva bipartisanism!

Via / Yahoo! Entertainment