National (US) Poll * April 1, 2009 * U.S. Should Limit Pay At Baile - Quinnipiac University

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April 1, 2009 - U.S. Should Limit Pay At Bailed-Out Firms, Voters Say 5-1, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; GOP Anti-Obama, Anti-Budget Message Falls Flat

Word format American voters say 81 - 16 percent that the government should limit executive compensation at companies receiving federal help, and say 47 - 44 percent that boards of directors and top managers at these companies should be forced to resign, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
Support for income limits is strong among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters and in all income groups, but the call for forced resignations drops as income rises.
And voters oppose 64 - 30 percent trying to limit compensation at firms which do not receive federal bail-out funds. Low-income voters oppose such a move 56 - 35 percent.
American voters say 51 - 45 percent that President Barack Obama's new budget, which doubles the national debt in 10 years, is needed to fix the economy and address issues such as education and health care, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. President Obama's budget wins 80 - 16 percent support from Democrats and 50 - 46 percent support from independent voters, while Republicans say 76 - 20 percent it is too costly.
Executives at failing companies are victims of circumstances, 14 percent of voters say, but 39 percent say these executives are incompetent and 35 percent say they are guilty of fraud.
"President Barack Obama may be trying to dampen the populist rhetoric, but the American people are mad as hell and aren't taking it anymore. They want to vent their anger on the wealthy and on business. They think the folks who got the country into the financial mess are both stupid and crooked and want the government to burn them at the stake," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"They want to limit pay for executives whose company takes federal money and almost one in three want to limit executive pay even for companies that don't take bailout money."
Only 10 percent of American voters say executives who received bonuses from companies helped by the government should keep the bonuses. Other choices are:
22 percent want the government to ask the executives to voluntarily give the money back; 30 percent want the government to cut off funding until the bonuses are repaid; 16 percent say tax the bonuses at 90 percent; 2 percent say sue the executives to get the money back; 13 percent say launch criminal investigations to get the money back.
President Obama's Approval and Budget
American voters approve 58 - 31 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, compared to 59 - 25 percent in a March 4 Quinnipiac University poll. Support is strongest, 69 - 26 percent, among voters 18 to 29 years old and declines with age. Voters approve 55 - 37 percent of the way President Obama is handling the economy and approve 56 - 25 percent of the way he is handling foreign policy.
Voters disapprove 59 - 30 percent of the job Republicans in Congress are doing and disapprove 49 - 40 percent of the job Democrats in Congress are doing.
Obama is trying to do too much, too soon, 35 percent of voters say, but 59 percent say the issues need swift action. Even voters over 65 say 46 - 44 percent that swift action is needed.
Voters say 47 - 28 percent, with 21 percent undecided, that Obama's call for higher taxes on those making more than $250,000 a year is good for the economy. Voters in that higher income bracket disagree 41 - 29 percent, with 27 percent undecided.
By a 50 - 43 percent margin, voters oppose the plan to spend $1 trillion to buy up bad loans from banks, but voters split 37 - 35 percent, with 28 percent undecided, in their approval of the job Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is doing.
"About the only Obama initiative voters don't support is his $1 trillion plan to buy bad loans from banks - because they view it as taking their hard-earned money to help rich bankers," Brown said. "Republican efforts to convince the American people that President Obama is going too far are not working. Voters don't seem to be upset by the huge dollars that the President wants to spend, even when told that his budget would double the national debt in a decade."
From March 24 - 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,326 American voters with a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 58% 25% 90% 56% 53% 62% 51% 94% 73% Disapprove 31 60 4 32 35 27 36 3 16 DK/NA 11 15 6 12 12 11 12 2 11 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 60% 58% 59% 69% 69% 62% 58% 48% Disapprove 27 33 32 27 26 30 30 36 DK/NA 13 8 8 4 6 8 12 16 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Approve 15% 95% 79% 57% 61% 66% 53% 39% Disapprove 71 2 7 31 31 26 33 48 DK/NA 14 3 15 13 7 7 14 13
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 Approve 58 59 Disapprove 31 25 DK/NA 11 16
2. Would you say that Barack Obama is doing a better job as president than you expected, a worse job, or about what you expected?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Better 18% 8% 30% 16% 17% 19% 15% 35% 24% Worse 13 23 2 15 13 13 16 2 5 About expected 62 61 65 61 62 62 63 61 64 DK/NA 6 7 3 8 7 6 6 1 7 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Better 22% 16% 16% 18% 17% 18% 20% 19% Worse 13 11 14 15 10 13 12 17 About expected 57 68 68 63 65 66 61 58 DK/NA 8 5 2 3 9 4 7 7 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Better 5% 31% 26% 18% 18% 19% 16% 12% Worse 27 1 7 13 14 12 15 19 About expected 61 66 60 61 65 64 62 63 DK/NA 7 2 6 8 3 5 8 5 PRES VOTE 08 PRES APPROVAL Q1 Obama McCain App Dis Better 28% 6% 29% 2% Worse 2 26 1 39 About expected 66 60 67 55 DK/NA 5 7 4 3
TREND: Would you say that Barack Obama is doing a better job as president than you expected, a worse job, or about what you expected?
Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 Better 18 19 Worse 13 9 About expected 62 64 DK/NA 6 8
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 40% 19% 67% 34% 35% 44% 33% 69% 62% Disapprove 49 75 21 53 56 43 55 21 28 DK/NA 11 6 12 13 9 13 11 10 9 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 46% 40% 33% 33% 54% 44% 38% 30% Disapprove 42 50 58 65 35 48 51 57 DK/NA 12 10 9 1 11 8 11 13 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Approve 14% 65% 48% 40% 39% 51% 37% 28% Disapprove 80 23 33 48 53 42 54 63 DK/NA 6 11 19 12 8 7 9 9
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?
Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 Approve 40 45 Disapprove 49 45 DK/NA 11 10
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 30% 49% 21% 24% 29% 30% 30% 26% 37% Disapprove 59 41 69 63 61 57 59 64 49 DK/NA 11 10 10 13 9 13 11 10 14 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 32% 29% 26% 33% 37% 35% 28% 24% Disapprove 55 64 65 65 55 56 60 63 DK/NA 13 7 9 2 9 9 12 14 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Approve 42% 17% 29% 32% 25% 28% 28% 38% Disapprove 49 75 56 56 67 63 61 49 DK/NA 9 8 15 13 8 9 11 12
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?
Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 Approve 30 30 Disapprove 59 58 DK/NA 11 11
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 55% 23% 87% 53% 51% 58% 49% 90% 73% Disapprove 37 68 7 38 41 33 42 6 22 DK/NA 8 9 5 10 8 8 9 5 5 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 58% 57% 52% 55% 62% 59% 55% 48% Disapprove 33 36 41 43 31 35 36 42 DK/NA 9 7 7 2 7 6 8 11 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Approve 15% 93% 79% 54% 58% 65% 51% 37% Disapprove 77 3 11 37 37 27 38 54 DK/NA 8 3 11 10 5 8 11 9
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 Approve 55 57 Disapprove 37 33 DK/NA 8 10
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 56% 32% 80% 56% 53% 59% 52% 78% 74% Disapprove 25 43 7 25 27 22 28 8 17 DK/NA 19 25 13 19 20 19 20 14 10 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 56% 59% 59% 66% 69% 59% 56% 47% Disapprove 22 25 26 25 19 25 24 29 DK/NA 22 16 14 9 12 16 19 24 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Approve 26% 89% 69% 55% 60% 58% 56% 38% Disapprove 50 4 10 24 26 23 25 37 DK/NA 25 7 21 21 14 18 19 26
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Apr 01 Mar 05 2009 2009 Approve 56 56 Disapprove 25 21 DK/NA 19 23
7. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Very satisfied 4% 2% 7% 3% 4% 4% 3% 10% 7% Smwht satisfied 26 14 39 24 25 27 24 43 25 Smwht dissatisfied 31 32 34 30 32 31 32 32 34 Very dissatisfied 37 52 19 42 37 37 41 13 33 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Very satisfied 5% 3% 2% 4% 4% 3% 3% 7% Smwht satisfied 26 26 29 35 32 28 25 24 Smwht dissatisfied 30 34 30 32 32 37 31 27 Very dissatisfied 36 36 38 28 30 30 41 40 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Very satisfied 1% 8% 4% 4% 4% 5% 1% 3% Smwht satisfied 10 38 39 25 28 25 25 19 Smwht dissatisfied 29 36 33 31 34 31 34 30 Very dissatisfied 60 17 22 39 33 37 40 48 DK/NA 1 1 3 1 1 2 - 1
TREND: In general how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Apr 01 Nov 13 May 15 Nov 22 Jun 1 Dec 11 Nov 13 2009 2008 2008 2006 2006 2001 2008 Very satisfied 4 2 2 5 6 21 2 Smwht satisfied 26 14 15 32 32 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 31 38 37 33 33 19 38 Very dissatisfied 37 44 45 28 29 10 44 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 3 2
8. Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable 59% 25% 91% 57% 54% 63% 54% 91% 67% Unfavorable 26 54 2 26 30 23 31 2 10 Hvn't hrd enough 13 18 6 14 14 12 13 6 22 REFUSED 2 3 1 3 3 2 3 - - ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favorable 61% 60% 60% 69% 67% 63% 59% 50% Unfavorable 22 29 27 23 21 23 26 31 Hvn't hrd enough 15 10 12 9 11 12 12 16 REFUSED 3 1 1 - 1 2 3 3
TREND: Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
APPROVE....... High Low Apr 01 Nov 12 May 14 Oct 31 Aug 15 Nov 12 Feb 21 2009 2008 2008 2007 2007 2008 2007 Favorable 59 67 49 50 48 67 44 Unfavorable 26 19 33 26 22 19 14 Hvn't hrd enough 13 11 15 21 28 11 40 REFUSED 2 3 3 2 3 3 1
9. Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable 41% 12% 77% 33% 37% 45% 35% 78% 58% Unfavorable 42 77 10 44 49 36 49 10 19 Hvn't hrd enough 13 10 10 19 11 16 13 11 17 REFUSED 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 6 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favorable 44% 43% 39% 39% 47% 45% 42% 32% Unfavorable 35 44 51 51 31 41 43 48 Hvn't hrd enough 16 12 8 8 19 12 12 15 REFUSED 5 2 2 2 3 2 4 4
TREND: Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Apr 01 Nov 12 2009 2008 Favorable 41 55 Unfavorable 42 35 Hvn't hrd enough 13 6 REFUSED 3 4
10. Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable 27% 58% 8% 23% 28% 26% 30% 16% 17% Unfavorable 52 24 73 52 55 50 51 63 49 Hvn't hrd enough 17 14 16 21 14 20 15 19 29 REFUSED 4 4 2 4 3 4 4 2 4 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favorable 27% 30% 21% 32% 27% 31% 27% 23% Unfavorable 48 55 64 57 40 51 56 55 Hvn't hrd enough 21 13 12 9 30 15 14 17 REFUSED 4 2 3 1 3 4 3 5
TREND: Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Apr 01 Nov 12 2009 2008 Favorable 27 36 Unfavorable 52 52 Hvn't hrd enough 17 7 REFUSED 4 5
11. Do you think President Obama is trying to do too much too soon or do you think the issues President Obama faces need swift action?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Too much 35% 58% 15% 34% 38% 32% 38% 14% 34% Swift action 59 35 82 60 56 62 55 81 66 DK/NA 6 8 4 7 6 7 7 5 - ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Too much 34% 31% 34% 37% 30% 31% 33% 44% Swift action 57 64 62 62 62 64 63 46 DK/NA 8 4 4 1 9 5 5 9
12. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Excellent 1% - 1% - 1% - - 2% - Good 4 4 5 5 5 4 4 7 11 Not so good 39 38 42 34 39 39 38 44 33 Poor 56 57 52 61 56 56 58 46 56 DK/NA - - - - - - - - - ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Excellent 1% - - - 1% - 1% 1% Good 7 3 1 7 6 4 4 5 Not so good 38 41 40 46 40 43 38 34 Poor 54 56 59 48 53 53 58 59 DK/NA - - - - - - - 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
EXLNT+GOOD.... High Low Apr 01 Mar 04 Nov 13 May 15 May 5 Dec 10 Mar 04 2009 2009 2008 2008 2004 2003 2009 Excellent 1 - - 1 2 3 - Good 4 3 4 12 36 37 3 Not so good 39 28 37 44 40 42 28 Poor 56 68 58 43 21 16 68 DK/NA - - 1 - 1 1 -
13. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Better 19% 11% 30% 16% 21% 18% 17% 34% 26% Worse 32 42 20 35 32 32 34 19 26 The same 47 46 48 47 46 47 46 46 48 DK/NA 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 2 - ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Better 18% 20% 22% 26% 16% 19% 20% 21% Worse 32 32 23 35 30 34 31 31 The same 48 47 52 38 53 47 46 46 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Better 11% 29% 25% 18% 24% 23% 16% 12% Worse 43 18 21 34 28 16 35 41 The same 45 50 52 47 46 55 46 46 DK/NA 1 3 2 2 2 5 3 1
14. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Excellent 6% 6% 5% 8% 7% 6% 7% 6% 3% Good 47 51 47 45 49 47 49 46 39 Not so good 31 29 31 30 31 31 30 32 31 Poor 14 12 16 16 13 16 13 15 27 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 - - ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Excellent 3% 6% 15% 21% 6% 8% 6% 5% Good 36 59 65 69 37 55 46 47 Not so good 38 26 19 8 33 27 32 31 Poor 22 9 1 1 22 10 15 15 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 2 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Excellent 8% 5% 5% 5% 8% 12% 6% 6% Good 49 53 53 42 59 44 53 47 Not so good 30 31 24 33 25 29 27 31 Poor 12 10 17 18 6 10 13 15 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Apr 01 Mar 04 Nov 13 Feb 4 Nov 13 Dec 11 2009 2009 2008 2003 2002 2001 Excellent 6 5 8 8 8 10 Good 47 45 48 52 54 54 Not so good 31 32 28 28 27 26 Poor 14 17 15 11 10 8 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 2
15. Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His President Obama 55% 15% 93% 54% 51% 59% 50% 88% 69% Republicans in Con 27 63 1 23 29 25 31 6 20 DK/NA 18 22 6 23 20 15 19 6 11 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ President Obama 57% 56% 55% 55% 61% 57% 56% 51% Republicans in Con 24 28 28 35 23 29 26 29 DK/NA 19 16 17 9 16 15 18 20 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl President Obama 12% 97% 79% 54% 58% 72% 54% 35% Republicans in Con 65 - 6 27 28 18 29 42 DK/NA 23 3 15 19 15 9 17 23
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 President Obama 55 56 Republicans in Con 27 26 DK/NA 18 18
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Timothy Geithner is handling his job as Treasury Secretary?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 37% 19% 59% 34% 37% 37% 33% 67% 33% Disapprove 35 56 13 37 39 32 40 7 28 DK/NA 28 25 28 28 23 31 27 25 39 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 36% 41% 41% 51% 38% 39% 39% 33% Disapprove 31 38 37 36 31 34 33 41 DK/NA 33 20 21 13 30 27 28 27 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Approve 15% 67% 47% 34% 45% 51% 37% 25% Disapprove 65 11 18 35 36 25 38 45 DK/NA 20 23 35 32 19 23 25 30
17. President Obama has called for raising taxes on those who earn more than 250,000 dollars a year. Do you think this will be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or not affect the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Good 47% 20% 73% 45% 41% 52% 42% 79% 52% Bad 28 49 7 29 33 23 30 5 27 Not affect 21 24 16 23 22 20 22 14 16 DK/NA 5 7 4 3 3 6 5 2 5 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Good 51% 47% 42% 29% 60% 46% 47% 40% Bad 24 25 34 41 20 28 27 31 Not affect 19 25 22 27 17 21 22 22 DK/NA 5 3 2 3 2 4 4 7 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Good 16% 77% 57% 48% 45% 49% 46% 34% Bad 56 3 12 27 29 25 27 38 Not affect 22 17 25 20 22 21 24 20 DK/NA 5 3 6 5 3 5 3 8
18. President Obama has said he wants increased government regulation of business. Do you think this will be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or not affect the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Good 47% 20% 72% 46% 46% 47% 42% 77% 50% Bad 36 64 11 35 39 33 41 6 23 Not affect 9 9 8 11 8 11 8 11 15 DK/NA 8 7 9 8 7 9 8 7 12 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Good 48% 47% 50% 52% 53% 53% 47% 35% Bad 31 38 38 36 30 32 36 43 Not affect 11 9 6 7 11 9 8 10 DK/NA 11 6 6 5 6 6 9 11 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Good 16% 78% 57% 45% 51% 50% 41% 31% Bad 71 6 21 35 36 34 42 54 Not affect 6 8 12 10 7 5 10 8 DK/NA 6 8 10 10 5 11 8 7
19. The Obama administration just announced a new one trillion dollar program to buy bad loans from banks. Which comes closer to your view - it should be done because this is a necessary step to give banks the ability to lend again so that businesses and individuals can get credit needed to restart the economy, or it should not be done because the program risks too much taxpayer money and there is no guarantee the taxpayer will ever be paid back?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Should be done 43% 24% 65% 40% 44% 42% 40% 72% 38% Should not be done 50 71 27 54 51 50 54 21 55 DK/NA 7 5 8 6 5 9 7 8 6 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Should be done 43% 43% 48% 63% 52% 42% 44% 38% Should not be done 49 52 48 34 45 51 49 53 DK/NA 8 5 5 3 3 7 6 8 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Should be done 17% 73% 47% 40% 50% 57% 37% 31% Should not be done 78 20 44 53 45 33 58 64 DK/NA 4 7 9 7 6 10 6 6
20. Do you think the government should limit the amount of money that companies that are taking federal funds pay their executives?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 81% 75% 89% 80% 78% 83% 81% 86% 78% No 16 20 8 18 19 13 17 8 17 DK/NA 3 5 3 2 3 4 2 6 4 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Yes 83% 81% 83% 74% 80% 84% 83% 74% No 13 18 15 24 15 14 15 21 DK/NA 4 1 2 2 5 1 2 4 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Yes 69% 92% 85% 81% 80% 73% 82% 80% No 27 7 11 15 17 23 15 18 DK/NA 4 1 4 3 2 4 3 3
21. Do you think the government should limit the amount of money that companies NOT taking federal funds pay their executives?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 30% 22% 40% 27% 25% 34% 27% 39% 46% No 64 74 53 68 71 59 68 53 44 DK/NA 6 4 7 5 4 7 5 8 9 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Yes 35% 28% 20% 18% 37% 25% 29% 33% No 56 69 77 82 53 70 67 59 DK/NA 8 3 3 - 9 5 4 8 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Yes 20% 35% 35% 33% 22% 18% 35% 26% No 76 60 58 60 75 79 61 68 DK/NA 3 5 7 7 3 3 4 5
22. As you may know, some companies taking federal funds have given large bonuses to their executives. What do you think the government should do about this - A) Let them keep the bonuses; B) Ask the executives to voluntarily give back their bonuses; C) Cut off future government funds for these companies, until the money is returned; D) Tax the bonuses at 90 percent; E) Sue the executives to recover the money; or F) Launch a criminal investigation to get the money back?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His A) Keep bonuses 10% 16% 4% 11% 14% 7% 11% 6% 8% B) Ask to give back 22 22 24 21 23 22 23 21 26 C) Cut off funds 30 30 29 32 26 32 29 27 33 D) Tax at 90 percent 16 13 21 13 14 17 15 22 12 E) Sue executives 2 1 3 3 3 2 2 5 1 F) Criminal invest 13 11 16 14 14 13 13 15 15 DK/NA 6 7 4 6 6 7 6 4 7 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ A) Keep bonuses 8% 11% 13% 18% 9% 11% 10% 10% B) Ask to give back 22 19 25 32 17 20 21 30 C) Cut off funds 29 31 31 25 36 33 29 22 D) Tax at 90 percent 14 21 16 13 16 19 15 12 E) Sue executives 3 2 3 - 1 2 3 3 F) Criminal invest 17 12 7 5 11 11 16 14 DK/NA 6 5 4 8 10 4 5 9
23. Who do you blame most for these bonuses - A) The executives who are accepting bonuses when they are partly responsible for their companies failing; B) The companies for using taxpayer money to pay the bonuses; or C) The government for allowing loopholes that made it possible for the bonuses to be paid?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His A) Executives 24% 23% 29% 23% 22% 26% 24% 23% 33% B) Companies 28 27 33 26 25 31 27 38 23 C) Government 41 44 34 43 45 38 43 34 39 DON'T BLAME ANYONE (VOL) 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 - - DK/NA 5 5 3 6 6 4 5 4 5 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ A) Executives 26% 25% 22% 13% 16% 23% 27% 26% B) Companies 28 29 33 28 36 34 26 22 C) Government 39 41 39 55 45 39 41 42 DON'T BLAME ANYONE (VOL) 1 2 2 1 - 1 2 2 DK/NA 6 3 4 2 4 4 4 9
24. When a company takes federal money to avoid failing, do you think the board of directors and the top executives should be forced to resign or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 47% 43% 51% 47% 47% 48% 45% 56% 56% No 44 51 40 44 46 42 46 36 41 DK/NA 9 7 10 9 7 10 9 8 2 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Yes 55% 44% 37% 37% 48% 45% 47% 50% No 36 49 55 57 49 48 46 35 DK/NA 9 7 9 6 3 7 7 14 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Yes 45% 48% 41% 52% 35% 27% 46% 45% No 49 43 51 39 56 66 47 45 DK/NA 7 9 8 9 8 7 6 10
25. Do you think executives of companies that are taking federal money to avoid collapse are the victims of circumstances no one could have anticipated, or are they incompetent, or are they guilty of criminal fraud?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Victims 14% 17% 10% 15% 15% 13% 13% 14% 15% Incompetent 39 42 36 42 42 37 41 24 42 Guilty 35 30 40 33 31 38 33 47 32 DK/NA 13 11 14 11 13 12 13 15 10 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Victims 14% 14% 13% 21% 20% 14% 11% 15% Incompetent 35 43 43 43 36 40 40 36 Guilty 40 32 28 28 35 35 35 35 DK/NA 11 11 16 7 9 11 14 14 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Victims 16% 9% 20% 14% 12% 14% 12% 14% Incompetent 43 39 33 37 44 43 42 41 Guilty 30 38 33 38 28 33 36 32 DK/NA 11 14 14 11 16 10 9 13
26. Do you think federal prosecutors investigating criminal charges against the executives involved in the financial crisis are acting too aggressively, not aggressively enough, or about right?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Too aggressively 9% 11% 5% 9% 11% 7% 9% 4% 11% Not aggressively enough 44 43 44 42 45 43 43 45 47 About right 40 36 46 41 37 43 40 46 40 DK/NA 7 10 5 7 7 7 8 5 2 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Too aggressively 8% 8% 12% 15% 6% 8% 10% 10% Not aggressively enough 47 42 41 27 40 40 46 47 About right 39 44 38 54 48 46 39 32 DK/NA 6 6 9 4 6 6 5 11 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Too aggressively 14% 4% 6% 8% 12% 9% 7% 10% Not aggressively enough 45 42 38 48 33 37 43 44 About right 32 49 48 37 47 48 43 37 DK/NA 9 5 8 7 8 6 6 10
27. When elected officials criticize business during this financial crisis - it is justified or it is political grandstanding?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Justified 42% 32% 55% 39% 38% 45% 40% 54% 43% Grandstanding 49 60 35 50 54 44 50 38 47 DK/NA 10 8 10 10 9 11 10 7 10 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Justified 43% 44% 43% 35% 56% 45% 42% 31% Grandstanding 47 49 49 57 33 48 50 57 DK/NA 11 7 8 7 10 7 9 12 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Justified 27% 58% 55% 41% 45% 30% 42% 36% Grandstanding 66 32 36 49 47 53 50 54 DK/NA 7 9 9 10 8 17 8 10
28. As you may know, President Obama has just proposed his budget. Critics say his budget is too costly because it would double the national debt in ten years. Supporters say the money is necessary to fix the economic crisis and address national problems such as education and health care. Which comes closer to your point of view?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Too costly 45% 76% 16% 46% 51% 40% 50% 14% 42% Necessary 51 20 80 50 47 54 45 83 57 DK/NA 5 4 4 4 2 7 5 3 1 ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 50- 100- AGE IN YRS.............. <50k 100k 250k >250k 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Too costly 43% 45% 46% 48% 31% 45% 45% 52% Necessary 52 52 50 48 67 50 52 42 DK/NA 5 3 4 4 2 5 3 6 PRES VOTE 2004/2008 Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll Wht WtBrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Jew Cath Evnglcl Too costly 84% 11% 25% 46% 43% 31% 48% 63% Necessary 13 86 70 49 55 63 50 32 DK/NA 3 3 5 5 2 5 2 4