As politicians and government officials grapple with trying to maintain the right balance between investigating potential terrorism and protecting civil liberties, the Bush administration, the U.S. Federal Government, Republicans and Democrats in Congress all receive low marks among all U.S. adults. However, the issue splits across party lines with many Republicans thinking that the President strikes the right balance and most Democrats and Independents disagreeing. Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton top the field as to which presidential candidates are trusted most among those in their respective political parties to balance these two goals.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,335 adults surveyed online between December 4 and 12, 2007 by Harris Interactive®. This survey was designed in collaboration with Dr. Alan F. Westin, Professor of Public Law and Government Emeritus at Columbia University.
Specifically, the survey finds:
Concerning fighting terrorism, the Bush administration receives overall negative marks (59% negative, 38% positive). Among Republicans, a very large majority (73% to 24%) gives the Bush administration a positive rating. Not surprisingly, among Democrats, the opposite is true. By 84 percent to 14 percent, most Democrats are negative. Independents come closer to siding with the Democrats. By 66 percent to 32 percent most Independents give the Bush administration a negative rating;
A similar pattern also emerges on protecting civil liberties. A 57 percent to 33 percent majority of all U.S. adults feels that the White House has done either a fair or poor job on this issue. Most Republicans (by 65% positive to 28% negative) are much more supportive of the President. Conversely, by an overwhelming 80 percent to 12 percent, most Democrats are negative. Once again, Independents’ ratings (65% negative, 28% positive) are more like those of Democrats.
Striking the Right Balance
When asked if the President’s (or the U.S. Federal Government's)1 programs strike the right balance between investigation of potential terrorism and protecting civil liberties, a plurality (46 percent to 18 percent) feels that the President’s programs do not strike the right balance. A slightly closer 41 percent to 24 percent agree that the U.S. Federal Government’s programs do not strike the right balance. A significant three out of ten (31% and 32%) of U.S. adults are not sure whether the President or the U.S. Federal Government strike the right balance or not.
Republicans are much more supportive of the President than either Democrats or Independents. Most Republicans (43% to 17%) think that the President strikes the right balance. However, by 65 percent to 4 percent Democrats and by 55 percent to 16 percent Independents feel that President Bush (or the U.S. Federal Government) does not strike the right balance. The numbers are similar for the U.S. Federal Government.
Even though the President is not perceived as doing well on maintaining the right balance between fighting terrorism and protecting civil liberties, the Democrats aren’t seen as being able to do a much better job. The public is divided. When asked who in Congress would do a better job of striking the right balance, the public splits on its views with a quarter (24%) thinking the Democrats in Congress and one in five (20%) selecting the Republicans in Congress. A similar 28 percent say both equally and 27 percent are not sure.
Potential Impact on the 2008 Presidential Election
When asked which are the most important issues for government to address, the U.S. adult public does not volunteer the goal of striking the right balance between protecting civil liberties and investigations of potential terrorism. (See Harris Poll #121) However, among policy makers, the media and other the goal seems to be important.
The Harris Poll explored who among the leading contenders for the Democratic and Republican nomination for president would “you trust the most” in striking the right balance between protecting civil liberties and investigations of potential terrorism. Specifically, The Harris Poll finds that:
Among only Democrats, Hillary Clinton tops the list with a significant 39 percent, with a 15 point lead over Barack Obama at 24 percent. John Edwards is in third place with nine percent;
Among only Republicans on this issue Rudy Giuliani is ahead at 27 percent. He is followed by John McCain at 17 percent, Mike Huckabee at 12 percent and Fred Thompson also at 12 percent. Mitt Romney fairs much less well at eight percent.
Ron Paul’s numbers are interesting on this issue. While he does not do well among Republicans (4%), among Independents he does much better – at 12 percent he’s in third place behind Giuliani’s 19 percent and McCain’s 14 percent.
Dr. Alan Westin commented "The most striking result to me in this poll is the public view that Democrats in Congress are not seen as doing better than the Republicans - or the Bush Administration - in striking the right balance between fighting terrorism and protecting civil liberties. The post-2006 Democratic leadership in Congress has been emphatic in challenging key elements of the Bush Administration's anti-terrorist program, from Guantanamo Bay internments to many Patriot Act renewal provisions and in conducting terrorist trials. Why - as Rodney Dangerfield would say - "they get no respect" from a public majority for their civil liberties efforts is quite surprising, and should probably be a cause for concern by the leading Democratic presidential candidates