Posted on 04/26/2009 10:50:29 AM PDT by MaestroLC
Barack Obama's performance in the first 100 days of his presidency draws strong public approval in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, but there is decidedly less support for his recent decision to release previously secret government memos on the interrogation of terrorism suspects, an initiative that reveals deep partisan fissures.
Overall, the public is about evenly divided on the questions of whether torture is justifiable in terrorism cases and whether there should be official inquiries into any past illegality involving the treatment of terrorism suspects. About half of all Americans, and 52 percent of independents, said there are circumstances in which the United States should consider employing torture against such suspects.
Barely more than half of all poll respondents back Obama's April 16 decision to release the memos specifying how and when to employ specific interrogation techniques. A third "strongly oppose" that decision, about as many as are solidly behind it. Three-quarters of Democrats said they approve of the action, while 74 percent of Republicans are opposed; independents split 50 to 46 percent in favor of the decision.
The release of the documents, which was fiercely debated at high levels within the government, met with quick fire from former vice president Richard B. Cheney, who said last week that companion memos showing the "success of the effort" should be declassified as well, arguing that the methods had "been enormously valuable in terms of saving lives, preventing another mass casualty attack against the United States."
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who served in the same position in George W. Bush's administration, supported the release of the documents but said it made him "quite concerned with the potential backlash in the Middle East and in the theaters where we are involved in conflict --
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The internals:
4/24/09 - Dem=35% | Rep=21% | Indy= 38% | Other=5%
And regarding why those memos were released:
WaPo: Release of torture memos political
(quote) A source familiar with White House views said Obama’s advisers are further convinced that letting the public know exactly what the past administration sanctioned will undermine what they see as former vice president Richard B. Cheney’s effort to “box Obama in” by claiming that the executive order [banning secret prisons and interrogation tactics] heightened the risk of a terrorist attack.
Looks like that Obama strategy has backfired.
if it was bush who did it to a democrat, the memo released would be treated as another scandal e.g plamegate
These polls are proof that the “dumbing down of America” gig worked for the D’RATS.
I note it is always the Post that finds and publishes the favorable figures.
I don't get it either but I believe it 100 percent after the last two elections we arrogantly ignored and laughed at polls just to take it in the ass...I totally believe that 69 percent of American believe that Obama has done a good job. If we continue to look at polls like a joke, we will continue to lose. Americans are really stupid right now. The one million Tea Party participants represent 1/2 percent of American population...If you take another 29 percent who agree with the Tea Party participants than you have your 29.5 percent who are against Obama. The rest approve and there's your 69 percent approval rate. The 1/2 percent don't know one way or the other. lol.
Indy= 38%
That alone means this poll is concocted horse$hit.
Wretch!, Barf!!
Yup.
Anyone really believe BHO is more popular amongs Indies than Dems?
WaPo must be trying to set up his Wed. speech, and make up to BHO for Ripping him a New one on the “Torture” lies last week.
Heard today BHO has been on the Cover of Time 18 Times already. The Obama Times must be the Replacement for the NY Times folding in a few months.
Hey, MSM...If you Covered the TEA PARTIES in NEWS PRINT....100,000’s of papers would have sold as participants bought copies as a Personal remembrance of their Participation.
The MSM Blew the Opportunity from Sea to Shining Sea, by Ignoring Americans in Action.
That is true. I don’t know how many they asked. I am just saying that polls have been correct for four years now.
Calling the liberal media MSM and Drive by Media is doing them a great service. Just call them liberal media because that is who they are.
Obama = smoke and mirrors.
I've often noted the tendency to laugh off any poll that showed results FReepers did not want to believe and encouraged folks to get real. However, that does not mean that the MSM never manipulates polls.
Look at the internals listed in the first post. Compare them to Ras data from late last year:
In November, 41.4% of Americans considered themselves to be Democrats, 33.8% said they were Republicans, and 24.7% were not affiliated with either major political party.
No way do I believe the WaPo data on party affiliation over Ras. Moreover the WaPo liars have been pulling this stunt for years now.
The RATS do not have nearly that big of an advantage in party affiliation, and although I have no data, I suspect that the gap has grown smaller since November as the public has become more fed up with the RATS. The generic Congressional ballot is now even, suggesting that the infatuation with RATS was short-lived.
I am more pro than con when it comes to polls but I do not believe this one. I think The One's approval among the people who matter--likely voters--is barely over 50%, and only so because Americans tend to give a new president a break during the first months of his presidency.
“Anyone really believe BHO is more popular amongs Indies than Dems?”
####
Anyone really believe “independents” make up 38% of the population?
Who are these people? As an “independent” what are their core beliefs? Do they have any?
I’m a rock-ribbed conservative, but I think I’ll start calling myself an “independent” or a “moderate”, so that both parties can start catering to me.
When you want to cheat in a poll you increase the number of independents and call most independents from blue states and blue counties.
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