National (US) Poll * June 3, 2009 * U.S. Voters Disagree 3-1 With - Quinnipiac University

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June 3, 2009 - U.S. Voters Disagree 3-1 With Sotomayor On Key Case, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Say Abolish Affirmative Action

Word format American voters say 55 - 36 percent that affirmative action should be abolished, and disagree 71 - 19 percent with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's ruling in the New Haven firefighters' case, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
More than 70 percent of voters say diversity is not a good enough reason to give minorities preferential treatment in competition for government or private sector jobs, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey of more than 3,000 voters finds.
Looking at specifics of affirmative action, American voters:
Support 55 - 39 percent affirmative action for the disabled in hiring, promotions and college admissions. Protestants and Catholics support it, 49 - 46 percent and 49 - 47 percent, respectively. Jews also support it 59 - 25 percent; Oppose 70 - 25 percent giving some racial groups preference for government jobs to increase diversity. Black voters support it 49 - 45 percent while Hispanic voters are opposed 58 - 38 percent; Oppose 74 - 21 percent giving some racial groups preference for private sector jobs to increase diversity. Voters in every racial and religious group oppose this; Oppose 64 - 29 percent affirmative action for Hispanics in hiring, promotion and college entry. Black voters support it 59 - 30 percent while Hispanics split 47 - 48 percent; Oppose 61 - 33 percent affirmative action for blacks in hiring, promotion and college entry. Black voters support this 69 - 26 percent, as do Hispanics 51 - 46 percent; Oppose 62 - 32 percent affirmative action for white women in hiring, promotion and college entry. Women oppose this 58 - 35 percent but blacks support it 55 - 37 percent.
"Whether it's a belief that the statute of limitations on past wrongs has run out or economic pressures on workers, programs that supporters call affirmative action and opponents label racial preferences are unpopular with most American voters," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"African-Americans are the only group that favors such programs, while Hispanics are mixed. Women are more supportive than men. Younger voters and those lower on the income scale are more supportive than older and more affluent voters," Brown added.
American voters oppose 65 - 27 percent giving preference to gays and lesbians in hiring, promotions and college admissions. Among all gender, political, racial and religious groups, the only support is 54 - 38 percent among blacks and 49 - 43 percent among liberals.
"There is little difference among white Catholics and Protestants and white evangelical Christians, but Jews are generally more supportive of affirmative action," Brown said.
"Terminology is often important in the battle over such programs. By a 51 - 36 percent margin voters say 'preferences' is the better way to describe them than 'affirmative action,' even though the news media mostly use the term 'affirmative action.'
"Proponents have long argued that such programs seek out qualified minorities but don't disadvantage anyone. But by a narrow margin, voters see a zero-sum game in which someone - generally white males - loses when someone else gains.
"What is significant is that the public clearly opposes the idea that such programs are justified as a way of increasing diversity, which has become the rationale in recent years as opposed to compensating for past discrimination which was the reason when they first began."
The election of Barack Obama, the first African-American President, has not changed their views on the subject, 80 percent of voters say.
"There is very strong opposition to Judge Sonia Sotomayor's position on the New Haven firefighters' case. Even Democrats say 59 - 27 percent that New Haven was wrong to throw out the promotional exam because no black firefighters scored well enough to be promoted. It is obviously an area that those trying to block her confirmation may be able to exploit politically," said Brown. "There is clearly strong opposition from white voters about these programs."
Voters say 28 - 7 percent they are less likely to support Judge Sotomayor because of the decision, with 59 percent who say it doesn't matter.
From May 26 - June 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 3,097 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 1.8 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.
11. Do you think affirmative action programs that give preferences to blacks and other minorities in hiring, promotions and college admissions should be continued, or do you think these affirmative action programs should be abolished?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Continued 36% 18% 57% 30% 31% 39% 27% 78% 45% Abolished 55 73 33 63 62 50 64 14 46 DK/NA 9 9 10 8 7 11 10 8 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Continued 43% 34% 34% 41% 29% 35% 59% 36% 20% Abolished 51 58 54 50 64 59 33 54 73 DK/NA 7 8 12 9 7 6 8 10 6 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Continued 13% 55% 37% 34% 40% 24% 22% 26% 43% Abolished 80 34 55 57 51 67 69 67 39 DK/NA 7 11 8 9 9 9 9 7 18
12. Which comes closer to your point of view - affirmative action programs seek out qualified minorities and do not disadvantage members of other groups or affirmative action programs result in members of some minority groups being advantaged at the expense of other groups?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His No disadvantage 44% 30% 58% 39% 39% 47% 38% 70% 54% At expense of others 46 62 29 53 51 42 53 18 35 DK/NA 10 7 13 8 10 11 9 12 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con No disadvantage 47% 41% 45% 49% 41% 39% 60% 45% 32% At expense of others 50 51 38 39 53 55 32 45 60 DK/NA 4 8 16 11 6 6 8 10 8 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew No disadvantage 29% 58% 47% 43% 45% 38% 37% 35% 54% At expense of others 65 31 44 45 48 53 52 59 37 DK/NA 7 11 9 11 7 9 10 6 9
13. If affirmative action programs giving preference to blacks and other minorities do result in less opportunities for whites, do you think that's a price worth paying to help blacks and other minorities, or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 29% 15% 44% 28% 28% 30% 25% 48% 34% No 59 74 45 61 62 57 63 40 59 DK/NA 12 11 11 11 10 13 11 12 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 39% 27% 27% 31% 25% 34% 49% 30% 16% No 53 62 60 59 66 53 43 56 75 DK/NA 9 11 13 10 8 14 8 13 10 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 12% 45% 31% 25% 39% 17% 22% 24% 44% No 78 43 60 63 49 71 68 68 35 DK/NA 10 11 9 11 12 12 11 8 21
14. Which comes closer to your point of view regarding affirmative action programs in the work place - A) We should have affirmative action programs to overcome past discrimination, B) We should have affirmative action programs to increase diversity or C) We should not have affirmative action programs?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His A) Shld have for past discrimination 20% 13% 30% 16% 16% 23% 17% 33% 30% B) Shld have to increase diversity 27 18 39 24 26 29 23 45 33 C) Shld not have 47 64 27 55 54 42 55 16 32 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 4 6 5 6 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con A) Shld have for past discrimination 20% 21% 20% 27% 13% 15% 27% 20% 17% B) Shld have to increase diversity 32 26 26 27 28 31 40 32 14 C) Shld not have 45 49 46 42 56 52 29 44 66 DK/NA 3 4 7 4 4 2 4 5 3 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew A) Shld have for past discrimination 10% 25% 25% 22% 15% 19% 16% 16% 18% B) Shld have to increase diversity 14 42 32 22 39 18 20 24 34 C) Shld not have 73 29 38 49 43 57 59 57 40 DK/NA 4 5 5 6 4 5 5 4 7
15. Do you think members of some racial groups should get preference for government jobs so that the workforce has the same racial makeup as its community?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 25% 13% 39% 23% 25% 26% 19% 49% 38% No 70 84 56 73 71 69 76 45 58 DK/NA 5 3 5 5 4 5 5 6 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 33% 26% 21% 28% 23% 26% 41% 25% 16% No 64 70 73 67 75 70 53 70 81 DK/NA 3 4 6 5 3 4 5 5 3 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 9% 39% 30% 23% 32% 17% 16% 20% 32% No 88 55 66 73 63 79 80 77 55 DK/NA 3 6 3 5 5 4 4 3 13
16. Do you think members of some racial groups should get preference for jobs in private companies so that the workforce has the same racial makeup as its community?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 21% 10% 32% 19% 18% 23% 15% 43% 28% No 74 86 63 76 77 72 80 52 67 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 6 5 5 5 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 26% 19% 19% 26% 16% 15% 32% 21% 14% No 70 76 75 69 81 80 61 74 84 DK/NA 4 5 7 5 3 4 7 5 2 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 6% 30% 26% 20% 23% 14% 11% 16% 29% No 91 63 68 75 72 83 85 80 63 DK/NA 3 7 6 5 6 3 4 4 8
17. Does Barack Obama's election as president make you more likely to support continuation of affirmative action programs, less likely, or does it not change your view?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His More likely 8% 3% 15% 5% 7% 8% 4% 23% 17% Less likely 10 17 6 10 12 9 12 4 3 Doesn't change view 80 78 78 83 81 80 82 71 76 DK/NA 2 3 1 2 1 3 2 2 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con More likely 8% 7% 8% 11% 5% 4% 12% 7% 5% Less likely 6 10 13 11 10 8 7 9 14 Doesn't change view 84 81 77 76 84 87 80 83 78 DK/NA 1 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 3 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew More likely 1% 12% 10% 9% 6% 4% 4% 5% 6% Less likely 18 5 6 11 8 13 13 12 6 Doesn't change view 78 83 81 78 86 81 81 81 80 DK/NA 2 1 3 3 1 3 2 2 9
18. In order to increase diversity, do you support or oppose affirmative action programs that give preferences to - Hispanics in hiring, promotions and college admissions?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 29% 13% 45% 25% 27% 30% 21% 59% 48% Oppose 64 82 46 71 68 61 73 30 47 DK/NA 7 5 10 4 5 8 6 11 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 45% 26% 22% 32% 25% 30% 53% 27% 15% Oppose 52 67 69 62 70 64 40 65 81 DK/NA 2 7 9 6 5 6 6 8 4 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 7% 46% 31% 26% 35% 15% 16% 19% 48% Oppose 88 44 64 67 58 80 79 76 41 DK/NA 4 10 6 7 7 5 5 5 10
19. In order to increase diversity, do you support or oppose affirmative action programs that give preferences to - white women in hiring, promotions and college admissions?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 32% 19% 48% 26% 29% 35% 26% 55% 47% Oppose 62 76 43 69 66 58 68 37 49 DK/NA 6 4 9 5 6 7 6 8 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 42% 30% 29% 39% 25% 28% 52% 29% 22% Oppose 56 63 64 56 69 66 41 63 76 DK/NA 2 7 7 5 6 6 7 7 3 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 11% 45% 37% 32% 33% 22% 22% 25% 41% Oppose 84 45 59 62 61 73 73 72 49 DK/NA 4 10 4 6 6 4 5 4 10
20. In order to increase diversity, do you support or oppose affirmative action programs that give preferences to - blacks in hiring, promotions and college admissions?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 33% 17% 52% 28% 30% 36% 24% 69% 51% Oppose 61 79 40 68 65 57 69 26 46 DK/NA 6 4 8 5 5 7 6 5 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 47% 32% 27% 39% 26% 32% 57% 31% 20% Oppose 51 63 65 56 69 62 37 62 77 DK/NA 2 6 8 5 5 5 6 7 3 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 9% 52% 35% 31% 37% 20% 20% 23% 52% Oppose 87 40 61 63 57 75 76 73 39 DK/NA 4 8 4 6 6 5 5 4 9
21. In order to increase diversity, do you support or oppose affirmative action programs that give preferences to those who are - handicapped in hiring, promotions and college admissions?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 55% 44% 68% 52% 55% 55% 49% 79% 66% Oppose 39 51 25 43 40 38 44 16 31 DK/NA 6 5 8 5 5 7 6 5 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 59% 53% 55% 62% 48% 51% 68% 56% 45% Oppose 38 41 37 33 47 42 26 39 50 DK/NA 2 6 8 5 5 6 6 6 5 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 40% 66% 57% 56% 54% 51% 49% 49% 59% Oppose 55 27 39 38 40 43 46 47 25 DK/NA 5 8 4 6 6 6 6 4 16
22. In order to increase diversity, do you support or oppose affirmative action programs that give preferences to - gays and lesbians in hiring, promotions and college admissions?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 27% 12% 43% 24% 24% 30% 21% 54% 40% Oppose 65 82 47 71 70 62 72 38 56 DK/NA 8 6 10 6 6 9 7 8 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 40% 24% 23% 32% 22% 23% 49% 25% 14% Oppose 57 69 67 61 71 70 43 67 80 DK/NA 3 7 9 6 6 7 7 8 6 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 8% 42% 29% 27% 29% 15% 15% 22% 40% Oppose 88 49 65 66 65 78 79 72 42 DK/NA 5 9 7 8 7 7 7 5 18
23. Which do you think is the best term to describe these programs - affirmative action or preferences?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Affirmative action 36% 24% 51% 32% 35% 37% 30% 63% 48% Preferences 51 65 39 55 54 50 57 31 42 DK/NA 12 11 10 13 11 13 13 6 10 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Affirmative action 43% 37% 32% 37% 34% 41% 53% 35% 27% Preferences 48 55 52 50 57 52 36 54 63 DK/NA 9 9 16 13 9 7 11 11 11 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Affirmative action 17% 54% 42% 31% 48% 23% 25% 28% 50% Preferences 72 35 49 56 42 64 61 61 31 DK/NA 11 11 9 13 11 13 13 11 19
24. As you may know, the United States Supreme Court will be deciding a case involving New Haven, CT's use of promotion tests for firefighters. Because no blacks scored high enough to qualify for promotion, the city decided to throw the test out. Do you think the Supreme Court should uphold the city or order the city to promote the 14 white and one Hispanic firefighters who scored high enough for promotion?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Uphold the city 19% 12% 27% 17% 19% 19% 16% 33% 24% Promote firefighters 71 83 59 74 72 70 76 53 68 DK/NA 10 5 14 9 9 10 8 14 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Uphold the city 20% 20% 18% 20% 19% 21% 27% 18% 14% Promote firefighters 73 71 71 71 75 69 60 72 79 DK/NA 7 9 11 9 7 10 13 9 7 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Uphold the city 10% 29% 20% 18% 22% 13% 13% 15% 22% Promote firefighters 86 54 74 74 64 81 80 79 68 DK/NA 4 17 6 8 14 6 7 6 11
25. As you may know, Sonia Sotomayor voted to uphold New Haven's decision as an appellate court judge. Does this make you more likely to favor her appointment to the Supreme Court, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His More likely 7% 5% 10% 7% 7% 7% 7% 10% 11% Less likely 28 48 10 30 34 23 32 8 29 Doesn't make diff 59 43 75 57 56 62 56 76 53 DK/NA 6 4 6 6 4 7 5 6 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con More likely 5% 9% 7% 7% 9% 6% 10% 7% 6% Less likely 27 29 28 24 33 33 12 22 47 Doesn't make diff 63 58 58 63 55 58 75 66 41 DK/NA 4 4 7 6 3 3 3 5 6 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew More likely 5% 10% 9% 7% 7% 4% 7% 7% 4% Less likely 52 7 21 28 29 35 34 33 20 Doesn't make diff 39 77 68 59 61 54 54 55 73 DK/NA 4 5 3 7 3 6 6 4 3