National (US) Poll * January 14, 2010 * U.S. Voters Say Sacrifice Mode - Quinnipiac University

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January 14, 2010 - U.S. Voters Say Sacrifice Modesty, Rights For Security, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For Health Reform At 34 Percent

Word format American voters say 63 - 25 percent that the government's anti-terror policies lean too far toward protecting civil rights rather than national security and by 84 - 13 percent back greater use of airport body scanners opposed by privacy advocates because the machines scan a person's body through their clothing, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Support for the war in Afghanistan is up, at 59 - 35 percent, compared to 51 - 41 percent in a December 23 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. But voters disagree with President Obama's plan to try suspected terrorists in civilian courts, saying 59 - 34 percent they should be tried in military courts. Voters approve 48 - 44 percent of Obama's handling of terror.
Public support for health care reform continues to decline, as 34 percent mostly approve, while 54 percent mostly disapprove, compared to 53 - 36 percent disapproval December 22.
While 44 percent think the proposed health care changes "go too far," 29 percent say they do not go "far enough" and 17 percent think the health care changes are "about right." The "not far enough" and "about right" total 46 percent. For the first time, voters trust congressional Republicans as much as President Obama on health care, 42 - 41 percent, compared to a 45 - 40 percent Obama edge December 22. Obama's "trust" margin July 1 was 53 - 33 percent.
"Support for President Barack Obama's health care reform continues to decline marginally and now only about one in three voters say they mostly approve of the pending legislation. Opposition seems mostly driven by those who think the plan under consideration is too ambitious. The whole health care issue showcases the Grand Canyon-like divide opened up among the electorate," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Consider this disparity; 68 percent of Democrats say they back the pending legislation, compared to 9 percent of Republicans and 26 percent of independents," Brown added.
Voters say 52 - 44 percent that law enforcement should be able to single out people who look Middle-Eastern for screening and questions, and by 79 - 16 percent they back the recent decision to subject air travelers from 14 designated countries - most of them nations with large Muslim populations - to extra screening.
"The failed Christmas Day attempt to blow up a flight into Detroit has the American people security conscious. They are more supportive of the Afghan war; they think the government is worrying too much about civil liberties and not enough about security, and they overwhelmingly favor the use of body scanners on air travelers. Apparently, personal safety overrides concerns about modesty," said Brown. "In addition voters don't want Guantanamo closed; they don't want terrorists tried in civilian courts and they back singling out those who look Middle Eastern or travelers from some heavily Muslim nations for extra scrutiny."
On the question about whether the government was leaning too far toward civil liberties or national security in its policies, there was relatively small difference by political party: 72 percent of Republicans, 57 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of independent voters say government hasn't done enough to safeguard the country.
Yet on questions that involve decisions made by the Obama administration, the partisan split was much more noticeable. Only 12 percent of Republicans and 24 percent of independents want Guantanamo closed compared to 51 percent of Democrats. Similarly, 20 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of independents want terrorists tried in civilian courts, compared to 50 percent of Democrats.
On other terrorism-related questions:
More than three out of four say it is very likely (35 percent) or somewhat likely (43 percent) that in the near future there will be a terrorist attack in the United States with a large number of casualties; Americans say 86 - 11 percent they would support new airport security measures even if it means longer delays in air travel.
From January 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,767 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 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, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.
10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling terrorism?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 48% 24% 74% 47% 46% 49% 43% 73% Disapprove 44 69 17 45 47 41 49 20 DK/NA 8 6 9 8 6 10 7 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 58% 44% 44% 49% 46% 48% 73% 58% 24% Disapprove 34 50 45 40 48 47 17 34 70 DK/NA 8 6 10 11 6 5 9 9 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 48% 48% 33% 39% 38% Disapprove 43 46 58 54 55 DK/NA 9 6 9 7 7
25. Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 42% 10% 81% 37% 40% 43% 33% 84% Reps in Congress 41 75 12 39 42 40 48 9 DK/NA 18 15 7 25 18 17 19 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Obama 50% 39% 39% 44% 39% 42% 74% 48% 18% Reps in Congress 38 44 39 38 46 43 17 29 67 DK/NA 12 17 22 18 15 15 9 22 15 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Obama 41% 44% 19% 25% 33% Reps in Congress 41 41 60 54 49 DK/NA 19 14 22 21 18
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Jan 14 Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 1 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 President Obama 42 45 44 45 47 46 53 Reps in Congress 41 40 37 36 31 37 33 DK/NA 18 16 19 19 21 16 14
26. From what you've heard or read, do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Mostly approve 34% 9% 68% 26% 31% 36% 26% 70% Mostly disapprove 54 84 19 59 58 51 63 19 DK/NA 12 7 13 15 11 13 12 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Mostly approve 39% 33% 31% 36% 31% 33% 56% 38% 16% Mostly disapprove 47 58 55 48 64 59 28 49 77 DK/NA 14 9 15 16 5 8 16 13 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Mostly approve 32% 38% 15% 20% 29% Mostly disapprove 54 55 73 67 62 DK/NA 14 7 11 13 8
TREND: From what you've heard or read, do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress?
Jan 14 Dec 22 Dec 9 2010 2009 2009 Mostly approve 34 36 38 Mostly disapprove 54 53 52 DK/NA 12 11 10
27. Generally speaking, do you think the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress go too far, not far enough, or are they about right?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too far 44% 69% 16% 44% 45% 42% 50% 20% Not far enough 29 14 41 33 31 27 25 38 About right 17 6 33 14 15 19 14 37 DK/NA 10 10 10 9 9 11 10 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Too far 38% 47% 44% 39% 50% 51% 19% 37% 65% Not far enough 33 28 28 30 30 25 44 33 17 About right 22 15 17 19 12 17 28 20 9 DK/NA 7 10 12 12 7 6 9 10 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn STAND ON HC PLAN Q26 Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath App Dis Too far 42% 48% 62% 56% 51% 7% 74% Not far enough 28 31 18 22 21 45 19 About right 18 15 11 12 20 43 2 DK/NA 11 6 9 10 8 5 5
28. Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 59% 34% 82% 61% 56% 62% 54% 78% Oppose 35 59 12 34 40 31 41 15 DK/NA 6 7 5 5 4 7 5 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 68% 59% 53% 62% 57% 57% 85% 69% 35% Oppose 31 36 39 32 38 41 11 26 59 DK/NA 1 5 8 5 5 2 4 5 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Support 59% 59% 45% 49% 53% Oppose 35 37 51 46 40 DK/NA 6 4 4 6 7
TREND: Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?
Jan 14 Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 1 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Support 59 56 56 57 61 62 69 Oppose 35 38 38 35 34 32 26 DK/NA 6 6 6 8 6 6 5
29. Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Legal all cases 18% 8% 25% 20% 15% 21% 17% 24% Legal most cases 34 25 45 36 36 33 33 37 Illegal most cases 24 34 15 23 26 22 26 21 Illegal all cases 18 29 11 15 17 20 19 17 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 5 4 5 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Legal all cases 19% 21% 14% 17% 19% 21% 32% 21% 8% Legal most cases 34 38 30 32 37 43 45 42 23 Illegal most cases 24 23 27 25 25 23 13 22 33 Illegal all cases 20 14 22 22 14 11 7 9 33 DK/NA 3 4 6 4 5 2 3 6 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Legal all cases 17% 22% 8% 13% 15% Legal most cases 35 34 18 29 35 Illegal most cases 23 27 36 30 27 Illegal all cases 20 13 34 23 20 DK/NA 5 4 3 6 4
TREND: Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? (Combined high also 57% Aug 2007, Dec 2005, Jul 2005, & Dec 2004 /*Combined low also 52% May 2009)
COMBINED LEGAL ALL & MOST CASES High Low Jan 14 May 14 Jul 17 Aug 16 May 3 Jul 17 Jan 14 2010 2009 2008 2007 2007 2008* 2010** Legal all cases 18 15 19 21 17 19 18 Legal most cases 34 37 38 36 37 38 34 Illegal most cases 24 27 24 24 26 24 24 Illegal all cases 18 14 14 13 13 14 18 DK/NA 5 7 5 6 7 5 5
30. Do you support or oppose allowing abortions to be paid for by public funds under a health care reform bill?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 27% 10% 47% 26% 29% 26% 24% 41% Oppose 67 87 47 67 65 68 70 52 DK/NA 6 3 7 7 6 6 6 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 30% 26% 26% 26% 28% 33% 53% 30% 12% Oppose 64 69 67 68 68 64 40 64 85 DK/NA 5 5 7 6 4 3 7 7 3 WHITE............. STAND ON ABORTION Q29 NoColl Coll BrnAgn COMBINED ALL&MOST CASES Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Legal Illegal Support 25% 34% 11% 19% 23% 45% 7% Oppose 69 61 86 75 71 49 90 DK/NA 6 4 3 5 6 6 3
TREND: Do you support or oppose allowing abortions to be paid for by public funds under a health care reform bill?
Jan 14 Dec 22 2010 2009 Support 27 23 Oppose 67 72 DK/NA 6 5
31. Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Right thing 59% 74% 49% 58% 67% 52% 63% 42% Shouldn't be inv 35 20 43 37 29 40 31 56 DK/NA 6 6 8 6 5 8 7 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Right thing 57% 59% 59% 52% 67% 69% 48% 60% 66% Shouldn't be inv 40 35 32 42 27 27 47 34 28 DK/NA 3 5 9 6 5 4 5 6 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Right thing 57% 65% 65% 67% 60% Shouldn't be inv 37 29 27 25 35 DK/NA 7 6 8 7 5
TREND: Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now?
Jan 14 Dec 23 Dec 8 Nov 18 Oct 7 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 Right thing 59 51 57 48 52 Shouldn't be inv 35 41 35 41 37 DK/NA 6 8 8 11 11
32. How likely do you think it is that in the near future there will be a terrorist attack in the United States causing large numbers of lives to be lost? Very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very likely 35% 44% 23% 36% 35% 35% 36% 29% Smwht likely 43 42 43 46 39 47 44 43 Not very likely 16 11 25 12 19 12 15 18 Not likely at all 4 2 6 3 4 3 3 5 DK/NA 2 2 3 3 2 3 2 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Very likely 23% 37% 42% 34% 36% 32% 18% 31% 49% Smwht likely 43 45 42 44 44 45 46 46 40 Not very likely 27 13 11 16 17 19 30 17 7 Not likely at all 5 3 3 4 2 3 5 4 2 DK/NA 2 1 3 2 2 1 2 2 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Very likely 38% 28% 43% 39% 38% Smwht likely 43 45 42 47 38 Not very likely 14 21 11 10 19 Not likely at all 3 4 2 2 2 DK/NA 3 2 2 1 3
TREND: How likely do you think it is that in the near future there will be a terrorist attack in the United States causing large numbers of lives to be lost? Very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all?
Jan 14 Jul 28 May 5 Feb 21 Dec 10 2010 2005 2004 2002 2001 Very likely 35 40 26 31 31 Somewhat likely 43 45 50 49 43 Not very likely 16 10 16 14 17 Not likely at all 4 4 5 3 7 DK/NA 2 1 3 4 3
33. When it comes to dealing with people suspected of involvement in terrorist attacks against the United States, which would you prefer: trying them in open criminal court with a jury and a civilian judge or trying them in a closed military court with a military judge?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Criminal court 34% 20% 50% 31% 31% 37% 32% 39% Military court 59 76 42 62 64 55 62 53 DK/NA 7 4 8 7 5 8 6 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Criminal court 36% 36% 31% 39% 31% 31% 53% 35% 21% Military court 58 59 61 54 65 63 36 58 75 DK/NA 6 6 8 7 5 6 10 6 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Criminal court 35% 32% 25% 25% 30% Military court 58 62 70 68 65 DK/NA 7 7 6 7 5
34. Should president Obama close the Guantanamo Bay prison?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 28% 12% 51% 24% 27% 29% 25% 46% No 60 81 35 64 68 54 65 39 DK/NA 11 7 14 12 5 17 10 14 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 32% 26% 29% 30% 27% 30% 52% 30% 13% No 55 64 61 56 67 62 36 59 78 DK/NA 12 10 11 14 6 8 12 11 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 26% 36% 13% 19% 26% No 62 57 76 69 68 DK/NA 12 8 11 12 6
TREND: Should President Obama close the Guantanamo Bay prison?
Jan 14 Nov 12 2010 2008 Yes 28 29 No 60 44 DK/NA 11 27
35. What concerns you more about the government's anti-terrorism policies - that they have gone too far in restricting the average person's civil liberties or that they have not gone far enough to adequately protect the country?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Gone too far 25% 17% 29% 28% 28% 22% 23% 34% Not gone far enough 63 72 57 60 61 64 65 59 DK/NA 12 10 14 12 11 13 12 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Gone too far 35% 25% 17% 28% 23% 25% 35% 22% 21% Not gone far enough 53 64 70 60 67 65 50 65 69 DK/NA 13 11 12 13 10 10 15 12 10 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Gone too far 25% 25% 20% 18% 19% Not gone far enough 64 61 69 70 71 DK/NA 11 14 11 12 11
36. In order to prevent terrorism, would you support or oppose new airport security measures, even if they might cause longer delays in air travel?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 86% 92% 86% 83% 83% 89% 86% 85% Oppose 11 6 11 13 14 8 11 13 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 3 3 3 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 80% 88% 88% 87% 87% 84% 86% 89% 86% Oppose 18 9 8 11 11 14 12 10 10 DK/NA 1 3 4 3 3 2 2 1 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Support 88% 82% 91% 90% 87% Oppose 10 14 7 7 11 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 2
37. In order to prevent terrorism, should there be greater use of body scanners at airports - which allows screeners to scan a person's body through their clothing?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 84% 88% 86% 80% 85% 84% 85% 81% No 13 9 13 17 13 13 12 19 DK/NA 3 3 1 3 2 3 3 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 80% 86% 87% 86% 84% 85% 81% 85% 85% No 19 12 9 11 14 14 17 13 11 DK/NA 1 2 4 3 3 1 2 2 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 86% 80% 88% 86% 86% No 12 16 9 10 10 DK/NA 2 4 3 3 4
38. In order to prevent terrorism at places like airports and subways, should authorities be able to single out people who look like they might be of Middle Eastern origin to search or question?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 52% 67% 39% 53% 57% 48% 58% 33% No 44 31 57 43 40 47 38 66 DK/NA 4 2 3 4 2 5 3 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 35% 55% 65% 48% 58% 59% 33% 49% 69% No 63 43 30 48 41 38 64 48 29 DK/NA 2 2 5 4 1 3 4 4 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 53% 51% 62% 62% 65% No 44 45 35 34 30 DK/NA 3 4 3 4 5
TREND: In order to prevent terrorism at places like airports and subways, should authorities be able to single out people who look like they might be of Middle Eastern origin to search or question?
Jan 14 Aug 29 2010 2006 Yes 52 60 No 44 37 DK/NA 4 4
39. As you may know, the Transportation Security Administration recently announced a new policy to require extra screening of all air travelers who are citizens of 14 designated countries, 13 of which are largely Muslim. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 79% 89% 71% 79% 81% 77% 83% 66% Bad idea 16 8 22 17 15 16 13 27 DK/NA 5 3 7 4 4 6 4 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Good idea 67% 83% 86% 76% 82% 87% 66% 78% 89% Bad idea 29 13 9 19 13 11 27 18 7 DK/NA 4 5 5 4 5 2 6 4 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Good idea 80% 78% 84% 86% 89% Bad idea 15 17 12 9 8 DK/NA 5 5 4 5 3