Here are some poll numbers released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
75% Oppose Release of Guantanamo Inmates in the United States
Friday, April 3, 2009
President Obama's intelligence chief said last week that some inmates at the Guantanamo terrorist prison camp may be released in the United States, but just 13% of U.S. voters think that should be allowed.
Seventy-five percent (75%) say Guantanamo inmates should not be released in this country, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
For 75% of voters, safety is more important than fairness in determining where terrorist suspects are released. Only 17% say fairness is more important.
National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair also said some of these inmates may receive financial assistance from the government to ease their transition into society. Seventy-four percent (74%) oppose giving taxpayer money to former Guantanamo prisoners to help them return to society.
Sixteen percent (16%) think taxpayers should provide money to the inmates.
Just 36% now agree with the president's decision to close the prison camp for suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. Forty-six percent (46%) oppose closing the prison camp, and 18% are undecided.
This marks an eight-point drop in support for Obama's decision since he announced it in late January when voters were almost evenly divided on the issue. Last November , only 32% thought the prison should be closed.
The president has ordered the prison camp closed within a year, but the administration is having difficult determining what to do with the 200 or more inmates, a number of whom are regarded as highly dangerous Islamic terrorists.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows that the President's job approval has remained steady for most of the past month.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Democrats agree with Oabama's decision to shut the Guantanamo prison camp, while 68% of Republicans - and 54% of voters not affiliated with either party - are opposed to it.
But 64% of Democrats agree with 88% of Republicans and 76% of unaffiliateds that Guantanamo inmates should not be released in the United States.
Similarly, 83% of Republicans, 66% of Democrats and 79% of unaffiliated voters say safety is more important than fairness in determining where the terrorist suspects are released.
Seventy-six percent (76%) of all voters say they have followed recent news stories about the closing of the Guantanamo prison camp at least somewhat closely.
The number of voters who say the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror dropped five percentage points to 46% at the end of March, the lowest finding since mid-December.
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To view a copy of the original report, please use this link: Ship Them to France!