56% of Americans agree with Obama on "Bitter"

[Adelante]

A quarter of those polled say they followed the story "very closely," with 30% "somewhat closely."

First the question is posed, out of all economic or government context, as a values test:

2* Obama said that in small towns in Pennsylvania, people “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Do you agree or disagree?

25% Agree
56% Disagree
19% Not sure

Then it is posed somewhat more in context, at least in terms of government:

4* In response, Obama said, “No, I'm in touch. I know exactly what's going on. I know what's going on in Pennsylvania, I know what's going in Indiana, I know what's going in Illinois. People are fed up. They're angry and they're frustrated and they're bitter, and they want to see a change in Washington.” Do you agree or disagree?

56% Agree
32% Disagree
12% Not sure

This question was asked in between the two above:

3* Senators Clinton and McCain said Obama’s comments showed he was out of touch with hardworking Americans. Do Obama’s comments reflect an elitist view of small-town America?

45% Yes
37% No
18% Not sure

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/pt_survey_toplines/toplines_obama_comments_april_12_13_2008


It would have been interesting to know if a second question about Obama as an "elitist" - following question 4* - would have showed a reversal, as agreement flipped from question 2* (56% Disagree) to question 4* (56% Agree).

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. Or, 21% more people think Obama's comments reflect an elitist view. n/t

[scheming daemons]

3. More than 21% of Americans think Elvis is alive....

:shrug:


21% is nothing.

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. "21% is nothing"? Really?

Setting aside your misunderstanding of the point I was making (21% more people think it was reflective of an elitist view than those who do not), Nixon's margin of victory was only 23%, and this was about the biggest landslide in modern history.

[barb162]

27. Oh yeah? got a link?

Where? From some radio station polling 4 people?

[rodeodance]

4. see my post below--a few downstream

New polling data released this morning shows that 56% of voters nationwide disagree with Obama’s controversial comment that people in small towns “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

[rodeodance]

2. *****RAS: "56% of voters nationwide disagree with Obama’s controversial comment"

New polling data released this morning shows that 56% of voters nationwide disagree with Obama’s controversial comment that people in small towns “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

[barb162]

25. Doesn't sound like he's got a chance at the presidency, does it?

[Clintonista2]

5. You ummm might want to reread. It says 56% DISAGREE with his statement.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. What backwards world are you reading the article from?

In response, Obama said, “No, I'm in touch. I know exactly what's going on. I know what's going on in Pennsylvania, I know what's going in Indiana, I know what's going in Illinois. People are fed up. They're angry and they're frustrated and they're bitter, and they want to see a change in Washington.”

Do you agree or disagree?

56% Agree

32% Disagree
12% Not sure

What part of "56% agree" are you missing? :eyes:

[Clintonista2]

8. I'm wondering the same about you

2* Obama said that in small towns in Pennsylvania, people “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Do you agree or disagree?

25% Agree
56% Disagree
19% Not sure

[barb162]

33. Point 2 , look at it again 56% disagree with his orignal statement

2* Obama said that in small towns in Pennsylvania, people “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Do you agree or disagree?

25% Agree
56% Disagree
19% Not sure

[BumRushDaShow]

6. ***** 56% agree that they are fed up, angry, frustrated, and bitter.

[susankh4]

9. Looks like very poor internal reliability if you ask me.

The poll says that 56% agree, and 56% disagree with Obama.

At any rate, 45% seem to think it's an elitist attitude.... whether they agree or not.

Strange poll.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Obama said two things:

paraphrased:
"Rural blue collar folks are victimized by powers outside their control..."

56% agree.

"... which explains why they are bitter and cling to their guns, religion and dislike free trade and people unlike them."

56% disagree.

45% consider the two statments, in their context, reflective of an elitist view. Count me in that 45%.

[susankh4]

13. I'm with ya in the 45%

I'll agree on that much.

[anonymous171]

11. According to Hillary, this type of thing isn't "relevant" anymore.

:rofl:

[Cali_Democrat]

12. That means 44% of Americans are clueless

nt

[Bill McBlueState]

15. A question I'd like to see asked:

What percentage of Americans think a single comment should dominate the news cycle for two weeks?

[susankh4]

16. This may be the real story here:

"Partisan and ideological differences suggest that the comments are more likely to be a factor in the General Election than in the Primaries. A plurality of politically liberal voters—46%--agree with Obama’s statement while 33% disagree. ***Moderate voters take the opposite view and disagree by a 51% to 27% margin.**** Seventy-four percent (74%) of conservatives disagree with Obama’s statement, only 12% agree."

[barb162]

32. That spells he loses big in the general election.

[EnviroBat]

17. I agree 100%

When faced with the possibilities of losing everything I have in a shitty economy, I lay awake at night. In my troubled thoughts I "cling" to the following:

1) Religion: "Please God keep me from harm in these troubled times". I am a spiritual person and belong to no organized religion.
2) Immigration/Free trade: I get pissed that our jobs are being jerked out from under us so corporate elitists, (see "Hillary Clinton") can inflate their gross profit through trade deals and the like.
3) Right to Bear arms: I think about a gun to protect myself if the economy totally collapses, and people start mugging each other to survive.

I completely agree with Obama's sentiment. I also feel that he is the ONLY candidate capable of changing things enough, that I may get a little sleep...

[GoldieAZ49]

18. 56% Disagree with Obama’s Comments on Small Town America

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/56_disagree_with_obama_s_comments_on_small_town_america


Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters nationwide disagree with Barack Obama’s statement that people in small towns “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 25% agree with the Democratic frontrunner while 19% are not sure.

Partisan and ideological differences suggest that the comments are more likely to be a factor in the General Election than in the Primaries. A plurality of politically liberal voters—46%--agree with Obama’s statement while 33% disagree. Moderate voters take the opposite view and disagree by a 51% to 27% margin. Seventy-four percent (74%) of conservatives disagree with Obama’s statement, only 12% agree.
Democrats are fairly evenly divided—34% agree with Obama and 43% disagree. Generally, Obama supporters agree with him while Hillary Clinton’s supporters disagree.
Republicans overwhelmingly disagree with the statement and unaffiliated voters disagree by a two-to-one margin.

[rodeodance]

19. Thanks--i also posted that upstream.

[GoldieAZ49]

22. yeah, saw that after I posted, sorry!

worth repeating here tho

[barb162]

31. This spells a pretty dismal picture for Obama as expected.

[TahitiNut]

20. Rasmussen betrays its conservative leanings with the poll question construction and sequencing.

Rather than achieve clarity, they add to the obfuscation and it becomes just more political Rorschach.

[Kber]

21. Context.

Comments out of context - people think Obama's wrong.

Comments in context - people think he's right.

which side of the debate would you like to be on?

Bill Clinton has said that when people think, Democrats win.

[raffaello]

23. They disagree with the "religion" and "gun" part n/t

[barb162]

24. Your topic line is incorrect: 56% DISAGREE with him

on his original statement. Your item 2 from the article.

[Adelante]

36. Question 2 did not say "bitter"

Question 4 did say "bitter"

[smiley_glad_hands]

26. Looks like only mostly republicans agree with clinton. eom

[barb162]

29. Is that why his staff was frantically calling DEMOCRATIC superdelegates

telling them he was still electable? The superdelegates are Republicans now? Ohhhhhh.

[barb162]

34. Moderates and independents are against Obama also

according to this poll

[Leftist Agitator]

28. It'd be interesting to see responses if the poll were conducted...

By a reputable pollster, and not a right-wing water-carrier like Rasmussen.

[1776Forever]

30. Please check my post - this was 1st reported as being said to a bunch of elite people was NOT!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5496362&mesg_id=5496362

[wowimthere]

35. Everyone who has a brain KNOWS this was a poltical Stunt by Clinton Camp

If you believer Obama was badmouthing people then I have a ranch in Alaska I'd like to sell you. I wish people would stop being so gullible to candidates like Clinton. She and her husband are Washington insiders. They will keep things the same for you... Bush talked the same way. Compassion. That "I know you're hurting, but you're happy and you are a hard worker" crap. Who in their right mind buys this crap? I am frankly surprised at how little it takes to get us off of talking about jobs and education and healthcare.

Clinton's entire campaign has been about "Obama"! Who wants a candidate who talks about her opponent 24/7 istead of talking about the issues? Her campaign doesn't have a kitchen sink or a toilet. She is now using the outhouse.

[lumberjack_jeff]

37. The fact that he was speaking his mind in an informal private setting...

... does not make it better, it makes it worse.

In which venue is candor more likely?

[1776Forever]

38. Your post is respected but I think he didn't say anything wrong ... There are many wedge issues used

now and in the past and this is an example of one! I know I am bitter at this government and where the middle class finds itself in 2008!

[knixphan]

40. yep.

[tishaLA]

39. I think the questions are terribly constructed

it's proof that you can get a poll to say almost anything if you ask the question in the right way. I am specifically referring to question #2, which takes a phrase to represent the entire sentiment.