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."
60% of Voters Say Most in Congress Don't Care What They Think
Wednesday, August 19, 2010
Sixty percent (60%) of U.S. voters say most members of Congress don't care what their constituents think, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Just 22% believe most congressmen do care what's on the minds of their constituents. Eighteen percent (18%) more aren't sure.
Only 37% of voters think their local congressional representative deserves reelection, and 62% say it would be better for the country if most incumbents in Congress were defeated this November.
Congress is now on its August recess, and many senators and House members are back home selling themselves for reelection. Many also are holding town hall meetings.
Seventy-one percent (71%) say it is more important at those town hall meetings for congressmen to hear the views of their constituents than it is for them to explain legislation and issues to people. Fifty-six percent (56%) felt that way a year ago when many congressional town hall meetings erupted in anger over then-proposed national health care legislation.
Nineteen percent (19%) say it's more important for the congressmen to explain legislation and issues at those meetings.
The Political Class sees these town hall meetings somewhat differently. While 78% of Mainstream voters think it's more important for congressmen to listen to voters, 36% of the Political Class put more emphasis on voters listening to what their legislators have to tell them. But then 69% of the Political Class say most members of Congress care what their constituents think. Seventy-two percent (72%) of Mainstream voters disagree.
The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on August 15-16, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology .
Fifty-one percent (51%) of all voters believe that those who are protesting at town hall meetings are citizens who are reflecting the concerns of their neighbors. But 33% say the protests are phony efforts drummed up by special interest groups and lobbyists. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure.
Just over one-out-of-three voters (35%) say they have ever attended a town hall meeting or some other event featuring their congressman or senator. Sixty-three percent (63%) have not.
However, 48% say they are at least somewhat likely to attend such a function during Congress' current August recess. Forty-nine percent (49%) are unlikely to do so. This includes 20% who are Very Likely to attend and 12% who say it's Not At All Likely.
Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans and 64% of voters not affiliated with either major party think most in Congress don't care what their constituents think. Democrats are much more narrowly divided on the question.
But 61% of Democratic voters think their representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing Democratic values over the past several years, while 72% of Republican voters continue to feel that GOP members of Congress have lost touch with the party base throughout the nation.
Democratic voters also have been much more supportive of initiatives by the Democratic-controlled Congress such as the national health care law and the bailouts of the auto and financial industries, which most voters have consistently opposed .
The majority of voters nationwide believe the Democratic congressional agenda is extreme , while a plurality describes the Republican agenda as mainstream.
While most Republicans (64%) and unaffiliated voters (55%) say protesters at town hall meetings reflect their neighbors' concerns, 51% of Democrats think they're phonies put up to it by special interest groups and lobbyists.
Republicans appear slightly more likely than the others to be attending town hall meetings this month.
These new findings confirm the generally negative view that most voters have of Congress. With mid-term elections just months away, Americans continue to view being a member of Congress as the least favorable of nine professions .
Voters overwhelmingly believe that most members of Congress are for sale, and over half think it's at least somewhat likely that their own representative has been bought with cash or a campaign contribution .
Seventy-two percent (72%) of voters say members of Congress listen to special interest lobbyists more than to voters back home . Sixty-two percent (62%) also believe that what the media thinks is more important to the average member of Congres s than what voters think.
Nearly two-out-of-three voters (65%) remain at least somewhat angry at the current policies of the federal government , including 40% who are Very Angry. Fifty-nine percent (59%) also continue to feel that neither Republican nor Democratic political leaders have a good understanding of what is needed today.
Only 23% think the U.S. government now has the consent of the governed .
Republicans hold a record 12-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot and are trusted more by voters on most key issues .