These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
40% Say Obama Not Aggressive Enough in Supporting Iranian Reformers, 42% Say His Response Has Been Just Right
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Forty percent (40%) of U.S. voters now say President Obama has not been aggressive enough in supporting the reformers in Iran protesting the results of the presidential election. That's a five-point increase from a week ago .
But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% say the president's response has been about right, a figure that has changed little since the protests escalated.
Just five percent (5%) now believe the president has been too aggressive and 13% are not sure.
Republicans have become more critical of the president, while the response of Democrats and voters not affiliated with either party are largely unchanged from the earlier survey. Sixty percent (60%) of GOP voters now say Obama has not been aggressive enough, while the identical percentage of Democrats (60%) say his response has been about right. Unaffiliated voters are closely divided over whether Obama's response has been about right or not aggressive enough.
Massive protests broke out in Iran after the government declared on June 13 that hardline incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had defeated his more moderate challenger, Mir Hussein Moussavi. Obama's response was limited at first to avoid the appearance of America trying to "meddle" in the Iranian election, but under pressure from Senator John McCain and others, the president in the past week has been openly critical of the Iranian government's crackdown on the protestors.
Forty-nine percent (49%) of U.S. voters believe there is no way of knowing who actually won the Iranian election and another 26% are not sure who won. However, just six percent (6%) believe Ahmadinejad won, while 26% think Moussavi really picked up the most votes.
Thirty-two percent (32%) think it is at least somewhat likely that Iran will become a free, democratic and peaceful nation over the next few years, although only seven percent (7%) say it is very likely. Forty-six percent (46%) say it's not very likely, and another 16% say it's not at all likely.
Republicans and unaffiliated voters are much less confident than Democrats that Iran will become free, democratic and peaceful in the next few years.
Just 20 percent (20%) of all voters say America's relationship with Iran will be better a year from now. Thirty-two percent (32%) say that relationship will be worse, and 35% expect it to be about the same as it is today. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. Democrats are far more confident than Republicans and unaffiliated voters that the relationship will get better in the next 12 months.
Eighty percent (80%) of voters nationwide say they have been following recent news reports and the Iranian election, with 42% who have been following very closely. Only six percent (6%) say they are not following news about the election in Iran at all.
Fifty-four percent (54%) of voters say it makes a significant difference in terms of U.S. national security which candidate is elected president of Iran .
However, voters now regard North Korea as a bigger threat to the United States than Iran .
Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters say Iran should be required to stop developing its nuclear weapons capabilities before a meeting is allowed between the Iranian president and the president of the United States.
After Obama's outreach speech to Muslims in Egypt earlier this month, 32% of voters say America's relationship with the Muslim world will get better in the next year , but 28% say will get worse.
Eighty-one percent (81%) agree with Israeli President Benjamin Netanhyahu that Palestinian leaders must recognize Israel's right to exist as part of a Middle Eastern peace agreement. Thirty-five percent (35%) say Obama is not supporting Israel enough .
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To view the original report, please use this link: What Are You Made Of, Mr. President?