Critical Reasoning

ParkSpaces, a lobbying group that wants to convince Councilman X to change his mind and vote for an ordinance that will fund additional park land, is planning additional measures to pressure the Councilman to vote in its favor. ParkSpaces strategists are considering adopting as their principal new tactic the threat to withdraw all monetary support and public endorsements from any candidate in Councilman X's political party, the National Party, in the next election.

The answer to which of the following questions is LEAST directly relevant to the strategists' consideration of whether threatening to withdraw support and money will convince Councilman X to vote in favor of the bill?


(A) Would a loss of funds and endorsements from ParkSpaces have a negative effect on National Party politicians, and if so, to what degree?

(B) Does the National Party have significant influence or control over Councilman X's voting behavior?

(C) Have other lobbying groups won votes from reluctant councilmen using strategies similar to the one ParkSpaces intends to employ in this situation?

(D) Have ParkSpaces public endorsements and monetary support for the National Party been a significant contributor to that party's success in the past?

(E) What proportion of National Party leaders have changed their voting behavior in the past with regard to similar park funding ordinances?

please discuss