Gallup: Public Reaction to Libby Indictments Is Low Key

[Eugene]

October 31, 2005
Public Reaction to Libby Indictments Is Low Key
Majority denies that case demonstrates Bush administration has low ethics

by Lydia Saad

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- According to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted
this past weekend, less than half of the American public believes
former senior White House aide I. Lewis Libby Jr. did anything illegal
in the matter for which he was indicted; a majority says the
controversy involving him is an isolated incident rather than
symptomatic of low ethics at the White House; and there is little
shift in the already low opinion ratings of the players closely
associated with this controversy, including ratings of presidential
adviser Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney. President George W.
Bush's job approval rating has also not changed compared with polling
conducted a week ago.

Given the potential for a scandal of this magnitude to undermine
support for the administration, it is worth noting that Republicans
tend to stand by the administration when answering questions
concerning the controversy over Libby's role in leaking a CIA
operative's name to the press two years ago (while Democrats,
predictably, do not).

<snip>

Reformatted for posting

From what you have heard or read about Libby's involvement in this
matter, which of the following statements best describes your view of
his actions -- unethical but nothing illegal, or he did not do anything seriously wrong]?

National adults

Illegal 45%
Unethical 31%
Wrong 8%
OTHER 1%
No Opinion 15%

<snip>

Full article: http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=19495

Bush's overall approval: 41% Approve 56% Disapprove

[thinkingwoman]

1. oh gee, looky, another Gallup poll

that doesn't jive with other polls on the same subject. How shocking. :eyes:

[Lancer]

2. Less than half of Americans

even know who Libby is, IMO.

[babylonsister]

4. Well, that's pathetic. If they don't watch news, then

they shouldn't be solicited for political polls. :crazy:

[bluestateguy]

3. That's down 1% from last time

It's a corporate poll.

[rodeodance]

5. just another political crook.

[mmonk]

6. The American public is the least informed.

The product of a closed society and a partisan press.

[leveymg]

7. Their spin on this really defies belief.

Look at the numbers. They show that 84% believe that Libby's actions were either illegal or unethical or wrong, while only 1% thinks they were not illegal, unethical or wrong. (What's the difference between unethical and wrong?)

Gallup's polling questions can be perplexing, but their analysis is bizarre.

[xchrom]

8. all righty then -- illegal: 45%, unethical: 31%

so 86% of the country think something fucked up happened -- and this is the gallup spins it?

lol -- and they're not biased, right?

[Triana]

9. 71% believe what Libby did was illegal or unethical

71% is a huge majority. What a blatant spin on these numbers. As far as the article is concerned - the key word is "DENIAL".

1. It's spun so far to the right the way its written;
2. either Gallup and/or the people who took the poll are in DENIAL. It appears Gallup is.

(ps: WHO owns Gallup and what is their background and history?).

Consider the source.

[cantstandbush]

10. Gallop is just more of the Bush spin machine. n/t