Rasmussen: 57% Want Military Response to North Korea Missile Launch

Rasmussen Reports ^ | April 05, 2009 | by Scott Rasmussen

[MaestroLC]

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of U.S. voters nationwide favor a military response to eliminate North Korea’s missile launching capability. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 15% of voters oppose a military response while 28% are not sure. [...]

The telephone survey was conducted Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, the two days immediately prior to North Korea’s launch. The question asked about a military response if North Korea actually did launch a long-range missile.

Support for a military response comes from 66% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 54% of those not affiliated with either major political party. There is no gender gap on the issue as a military response is favored by 57% of men and 57% of women.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls.) Rasmussen Reports updates also available on Twitter.

Overall, 75% of voters say they’ve been closely following news stories about the possible launch. That figure includes 40% who’ve followed the news Very Closely.

Seventy-three percent (73%) are at least somewhat concerned that North Korea will use nuclear weapons against the United States. That’s up just a few points from 69% who held that view in October 2006. Prior to that survey, North Korea had successfully conducted an underground nuclear test.

Currently, 39% are Very Concerned about a possible nuclear attack from North Korea.

Just three percent (3%) of voters view North Korea as an ally while 46% say it’s an enemy. Surprisingly, the latter number is down 14 points from a survey in mid-February despite North Korea's belligerent talk before the missile launch.

Forty-four percent (44%) now say North Korea is somewhere between an ally and an enemy, while eight percent (8%) are not sure.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of Republicans consider North Korea an enemy of the United States. That view is shared by 50% of unaffiliateds and 28% of Democrats. Most Democrats (57%) place North Korea somewhere between ally and enemy.

Only 27% say the United States should help North Korea rebuild its economy if it is willing to abandon its missile program. Fifty-one percent (51%) are opposed to such financial aid. These findings are largely unchanged from mid-February.

[libs_kma]

Well, 57% are going to be disappointed then.

This is Obama, not Ronald Reagan.

If Obama had been elected TOTUS in 1980, Iran would STILL be holding the US hostages.

[aclusux.com]

Honestly, would you let your neighbor practice jumping motorcycles over your house?

Seems naive to place so much faith in the accuracy, quality and workmanship of a North Korean missile with unknown cargo.

[worldnet]

Agreed! Why dont we just get rid of our defense so we can lead by example so everyone else can follow suit and live in perfect peace

[R0CK3T]

He just hollered “PRESENT”, and like he suggested when the Russian’s invaded Georgia has has turned to the UN to settle the matter.

Just as he claimed he would.

[COBOL2Java]

(But you gotta love the picture of Madeline Albright sipping champagne with Kim Jong Il thinking she was the greatest Sec State ever).

Madeline pines for her glory days with the Potbellied Pinko:

---

Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days

[AmericanSphinx71]

57% wnat a military response, but I also bet 57-65% also support Obama’s reaction to the missle launch as well. These polls make no sense. They all show people are angry over spending and taxes yet, they overwhelmingly approve of Obama’s job performance, the very man that is doing the taxing and spending the hate.

I am convinced most Americans are stupid and shouldn’t be allowed to vote.

[keats5]

Here’s Obama’s plan: Negotiate a settlement. Offer N. Korea huge sums of cash to dismantle their nuclear plan.

Here’s Kim Jong Il’s plan. Take the money. Wait four months. Launch another rocket. Repeat as necessary.

[rfp1234]

Forty-four percent (44%) now say North Korea is somewhere between an ally and an enemy

WTF? How many of those can tell South from North Korea?!

[misterrob]

Oh yeah, take military action against a country closely aligned with China who has the hardware to vaporize Seoul and many of Japan's major cities.

[misterrob]

Sorry but I will lay the blame at the feet of the people in charge the past 20 years. We are a begger nation who feels an obligation to provide more in services and military than it takes in in the way of taxes.

[dandiegirl]

I can’t believe that our friends in Europe will really enjoy seeing the US become weak. I think this will eventually backfire, because unlike most young Americans, I think Europeans may know their histories better. They need the US there for them and they know it. A weak rock star in the White House will not deliver for them.

[gogogodzilla]

Very few.

Most times when I tell people that I’ve either just come back from a tour in Korea... or that I’m heading out to a tour there, they say “North or South?”

And I don’t think we ought to shed and US blood over Korea. The South Korean people have, though their actions, made it *VERY* clear that they are nearly as anti-American as the French.

This video sums up South Korea’s youth attitude toward us:

http://www.robpongi.com/pages/comboFUCKINGUSAHI.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucking_USA

(And while the video was made by the NKoreans, the song was made by a South Korean singer. Not to mention, it was quite popular with the South Korean college crowd.)

[yldstrk]

The missile “launch” was a huge hoot. The North Koreans did scare the sheet out of Japan though

[Sir Clancelot]

I think our dear leader may wish to sell him the Kwangmydongisthelonger-1.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Bwaaa! You actually READ my post!

[SunkenCiv]

[singing] say, won’t ya play, another somebody done some Kwangmyongsong...

North Korea says satellite launch coming ‘soon’
(imminent ‘Kwangmyongsong-2’ comm satellite launch)
AP on Yahoo | 4/3/09 | Kwang Tae-Kim - ap
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222007/posts

LEAD: N. Korean rocket launch imminent: report [Launched]
ap via Breitbart | April 5, 2009 | Kyodo
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222549/posts

DPRK LAUNCH —overflying Akita Prefecture, Japan
japanese news
Posted on 04/04/2009 7:39:33 PM PDT by gaijin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222555/posts

Japanese broadcaster: North Korea launches rocket
AP on Yahoo | 4/4/09 | AP
Posted on 04/04/2009 7:50:19 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222561/posts

North Korea launches rocket over Japan (UN: NO NEW sanctions)
Rueters | April 5, 2009 | Reuters
Posted on 04/04/2009 10:55:44 PM PDT by FocusNexus
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222627/posts

Kim’s Targets (North Korean missile was aimed at Obama Administration)
The Wall Street Journal | APRIL 5, 2009 | Andrei Lankov
Posted on 04/05/2009 1:44:53 PM PDT by MaestroLC
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222897/posts

‘This Week’ Transcript: Susan Rice (Rice “steamed” by Bolton)
This Week with George Stephanopoulos | April 5, 2009 | George Stephanopoulos
Posted on 04/05/2009 2:22:50 PM PDT by Syncro
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222917/posts

North Korea rocket puts Barack Obama on nuclear alert
UK Times | april 6, 2009 | Tom Baldwin and James Bone
Posted on 04/05/2009 3:58:24 PM PDT by FocusNexus
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2222955/posts

[Sir Clancelot]

I think most Europeans don’t understand history (much like our own people) and think a weak America is good, it makes them all feel bigger. But those Europeans who do understand history, the older generation who were alive during the invasion of Normandy, during the liberation of the concentration camps, KNOW that a strong America means a Free and Safe Europe. Those people know they can count on America’s innate moral goodness to protect and defend freedom. The Kuwaitees also know this.

[dandiegirl]

Good point. The older generation knows, their youth may be as ignorant as USA youth. So sad.

[Aglooka]

The fuss about the “long range Taepodong-2” is a bunch of hype.

The really provocative act is firing the missile over Japan, again.

[Aglooka]

Oh yeah, take military action against a country closely aligned with China who has the hardware to vaporize Seoul and many of Japan's major cities.

That's a good point. North Korea has an established history of kidnapping, terrorist acts and outright murder. Launching any kind of a strike into that country should not be undertaken lightly.