Poll: White Evangelicals Trust Obama To Get It Right With Muslim World
This is striking: Not only do a majority trust Obama to get it right in repairing relations with the Muslim world, but a plurality of white evangelicals do, too — even though they have an overwhelmingly unfavorable view of Islam.
The Washington Post’s polling director sends over a detailed breakdown by religion of that particular question, which asks: “In trying to improve U.S. relations with Muslim nations, do you think Obama will (go too far), (not go far enough) or handle it about right?”
Forty-seven percent of “white evangelical Protestants” say Obama will “handle it about right,” while only 39% say he’ll “go too far.”
What makes this interesting is that white evangelicals have been the most inclined to believe the myth that Obama is a Muslim: Nearly one in five evangelicals recently said they hold this view. And yet they’re still willing to trust this guy to get it right in repairing relations with the Muslim world.
Special thanks to our reporter, Amanda Erickson, for tracking down these numbers.
Update: WaPo’s polling team sends over more detail that makes this even more interesting: It turns out that white evangelical protestants trust Obama to get it right, even though they have an overwhelmingly negative view of Islam, with 25% saying they view it favorably and 65% saying they view it unfavorably.
I’ve edited above to add that.
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On another note your boy Rasmussen was at it again this weekend with a poll that 57 percent of Americans would want a military response to North Korea’s missle launch. But here is the thing. Check out the order of the questions.
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How many people do you think conflated the 2nd question about a nuclear attack with North Korea launching a missle? I will bet more than half thought the question was asking what we should do in response to an attack on America.
yeah, that was a bad one. no question.
The question asks if respondents trust Obama to ‘improve’ relations with the Muslim world. Twice now Greg characterizes the respondents as saying that they trust Obama to ‘repair’ relations with the Muslim world. Greg is implying that Bush gave Muslims the impression that we were at war with Islam when, of course, he did nothing of the sort and there are many examples of him going to pains to say exactly the opposite. If the relationship is broken then it is because of war with Iraq and blame should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the congress that declared it. It’s quite possible to believe that Obama can improve our relation with the Muslim world and at the same time believe that the relation is broken through no fault of our own.
sbj — you really gonna try to build an argument on the difference between “improve” and “repair”? wow!
Damn you – I pulled this page up while I was eating a protein and fiber bar and I just about died choking on it.
WTF??? Is this a great country or what? We are nuts! LOL!
“Greg is implying that Bush gave Muslims the impression that we were at war with Islam when, of course, he did nothing of the sort and there are many examples of him going to pains to say exactly the opposite.”
Dude, Bush could and did say all kinds of **** that his actions directly contradicted.
@ sgwhiteinfla
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That is similar to the lines of questioning Sean Hannity will do.
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1) Would you be friends with someone who bombed the Pentagon?
2) How can you trust a President that would be friends with a terrorist that bombed the Pentagon?
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3) Do you hate America?
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I wish Nate Silver would take on Rasmussen a bit more. Silver did well during the primaries and GE, taking on polling people regarding polling trying to build a narrative. Rats likeRasmussen need to have the flashlights put on them and make them scurry away when people become aware of what they are trying to accomplish.
sbj is forgetting all that rounding up of muslims and waterboarding and torturing we did of them after 9-11. He is also obviously forgetting the fact that we invaded a muslim country over bullsh*t and never acknowledged that it was over bullsh*t. I could also point to the shoe throwing incident which d@mn near all of the Muslim world cheered on as proof that the relationship needed repairing but that would be too much like overkill.
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sbj; fighting the losing fight, one comment at a time.
@sbj: Bush may not have ever uttered the words “we are at war with islam” but his administrations’ every act and every deed cemented that sentiment for 7 years. And for you to suggest otherwise seems to me to be just willful ignorance. Just like Bush never said Iraq was behind 9/11, but he used every phrase he could think of to link the two.
I think Rasmussen pools more republican/ older white not to skew their results so much as they are more interested in what older, white, republican people think. I mentally shave a few points off of any Rasmussen poll and then they are usually about right.
Hey Greg, somebody beat you to the mashup.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxzNQXM-tsk
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How pathetic is it that Hannity is still flogging Rev Wright and Bill Ayers?
By the way I have figured out why conservatives are so pissed that Obama said Americans have been derisive towards Europe. Its because he was talking about conservatives and Republicans who have been leading the charge in anti European sentiment since we dived headlong into the Iraq War and they wouldnt’ be a part of our foolishness.
sbj~
“If the relationship is broken then it is because of war with Iraq and blame should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the congress that declared it.”
Interesting statement – I wonder why if it is all up to Congress to handle the responsibility of the Iraq war…where in the world was Congress on that aircraft carrier with the “Mission Accomplished” banner – you know as well as I do that this was “Bush’s War” and your alternative reality arguments to deflect that are so transparent. Also, is there anything that Bush/Cheney should take responsibility for? Is there any mistake that lies on their watch? I mean, so many conservative people are making the case that President Obama is responsible for all of the negative – Obama’s Recession (yea, that’s a good one), Obama’s War (trying to fix what Bush/Cheney screwed up), Obama’s Bailout (started under Bush)…yet when conservative’s are pushed on taking responsibility for their own parties actions over the last eight years…they deflect to “it’s someone else’s fault or even better, it’s the Democrats fault” – For a Grand Old Party that says it puts so much emphasis on “personal responsibility”…it sure is hysterical to watch them blame EVERYONE but themselves…too bad for them – the MAJORITY of American’s see right through this…
LauraNo
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Did you post on Politico during the presidential campaign?
The same bozo’s feigning outrage about the arrogance comment from Obama are the same goons that thought the freedom fries in the Pentagon cafeteria were a cool thing I’m sure.
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These are the same lunatics that give American’s a bad name with their loud arrogance when they go oversees. They are like the bullies that are emboldened by having a big brother standing behind them. Confidence is one thing. Arrogance is another and America is in a position to be confident but imho, should never be arrogant.
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It’s going to take a bit of time to get rid of that anti-Americanism Obama spoke of, which is very real.
The difference between “improve” and “repair”?
Greg – Wow! Do you believe that “improve” and “repair” mean the same thing? If not, then you have mischaracterized what poll respondents have said. Am I wrong?
Tena: Are you honestly claiming that Bush conducted a war against Islam for the last 7 years? I spit up my Dannon Light and Fit.
sgwhite: Are you honestly claiming that capturing combatants on the battlefield is “rounding up Muslims?” Do you NOT hold the congress responsible, your Secretary of State responsible, for invading a Muslim country “over bullshit?” Do you misread me to say that the relationship is not in need of repair? My claim is that repair is necessary – but that it is not “our” fault and further, that such repair was necessary long before Bush came along and started the Iraq war.
DJ: Bush never said Iraq was behind 9/11 and he never declared war on Islam – these are indisputable facts. Do you think that the Muslim world “hates” us only because of Bush and Iraq? Does history prior to 9/11 not exist for you?
Jenn: If the war in Iraq is to blame for all that readers here claim, then surely Congress and Democrats who voted to authorize war, and those “innocent” citizens who voted for them (and continue to support them!) must assume their fair share of responsibility. I DO reject the notion that this was “Bush’s war.”
sbj: Again, willful ignorance. I never said he declared war on Islam, did you not read my comment? It was his actions and deeds that suggested it. But it’s typical of conservatives to not see nuance or shades of gray. It’s either good or evil with them.
DJ: What actions of Bush suggested that he had declared war on a religion? It’s typical of a liberal to make an assertion without providing evidence. Here is evidence of Bush’s intent:
“I’ve made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a war against Arabs. It’s a war against evil people who conduct crimes against innocent people.” — Remarks by President George W. Bush and President Megawati of Indonesia The Oval Office, Washington, D.C. September 19, 2001
“The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That’s not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don’t represent peace. They represent evil and war.” — Remarks by the President at Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. September 17, 2001
“All of us here today understand this: We do not fight Islam, we fight against evil.” — Remarks by President George W. Bush to the Warsaw Conference on Combating Terrorism November 6, 2001
“I have assured His Majesty that our war is against evil, not against Islam. There are thousands of Muslims who proudly call themselves Americans, and they know what I know — that the Muslim faith is based upon peace and love and compassion. The exact opposite of the teachings of the al Qaeda organization, which is based upon evil and hate and destruction.” — Remarks by President George W. Bush and His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan The Oval Office, Washington, D.C. September 28, 2001
“Islam is a vibrant faith. Millions of our fellow citizens are Muslim. We respect the faith. We honor its traditions. Our enemy does not. Our enemy doesn’t follow the great traditions of Islam. They’ve hijacked a great religion.” – Remarks by President George W. Bush on U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan Presidential Hall, Dwight David Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. October 11, 2002
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/06/obama-were-not-at-war-with-islam/
I was one of those “white evangelicals” polled and I swear
the term used was “hope” and not “trust”.
sbj~
Reject away! Sadly for you, and the rest of the GOP, only about 30% of Americans agree with you on this…again Bush was and is the face of the Iraq War and the failure of this war lies on his watch, as does the failure to capture Osama Bin Laden…it is no different than the fact that George H.W. Bush’s Gulf War I was his War and he was SUCCESSFUL at executing it, unlike his Son. Historians do not typically credit past Congressional bodies with the success or failure of particular wars, the credit lies with the Commander-in-Chief (Bush), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State. The Congressional argument is an argument that you are attempting to make in order to deflect responsibility away from Bush et al, and to someone/something else. George H.W. Bush-Gulf War = SUCCESSFUL : George W. Bush-Iraq War and Afghanistan War = FAILURE.
Jenn: The Iraq war will be judged a success. Nice deflection of your own as I never claimed anywhere that the “failure” of the war was to be blamed on Congress. I never claimed that the war is a failure. We were writing about whether the Iraq war was to blame for poor relations between the Muslim world and our nation. You have transformed this into a discussion about the success of the Iraq war. You seem to be arguing that if the Iraq war is successful then our relations with the Muslim world will be hunky dory? Congress is to be blamed/credited with authorizing war – this should not be disputed.
sbj: The Iraq War and the Afghanistan War will not be judged a success, but we can agree to disagree on that issue, history is yet to be written on either of these Wars. You should re-read my post, none of my points argued that if the Iraq War is successful then our relations with the Muslim world will be hunky dory. However, historically speaking, we do not define or blame wars on, successful or otherwise, the Congress that authorizes them. But if you want to take that position, then by all means go for it – it was, however, a Republican Congress that authorized the Iraq War. Yes there were Democrats that voted yes as well, but if you want to just get down to blaming someone/something, then by all means, I will concede the point along your line of argument – It was a Republican led Congress that authorized the Iraq War, so therefore they are to blame.
Jenn – I appreciate your polite tone. If the Afghanistan War will not be judged a success, then President Obama just escalated our venture into a failing effort with a Democratic congress by his side. I trust you will blame him for wasting American lives and treasure on a venture you already deem a failure. I presume you condemn the Democratic congress for just last week funding that escalation. I presume you blame the Democratic congress since 2006 for funding the failed Iraq war. I presume you blame our Secretary of State and our Vice President for authorizing the Iraq war. I presume you question the judgement of our President for selecting those two to serve in such high places in his administration?
sbj ~ You should not presume about me. I blame George W. Bush for the war in Iraq, NOT the Congress. You are the one that blames the Congress, and along that line, I conceded the point by way of the Republican led Congress. So make no mistake…the remainder of your “presumes” do not apply to my personal views on the situation. I do not blame the Congress, past or present, although I do have issues with some of the votes cast by individual members of the Congress authorizing the Iraq War. I believe I was clear in the posts prior that I blame George W. Bush for the failures in Iraq and Afghanistan, just like I hold George H.W. Bush up as successful in the first Gulf War. I was simply conceding the point along your argument line by way of holding Congress to blame for authorizing the war. You see we come from two completely different perspectives on this…I view our current President’s efforts as attempts to fix the complete “mess” that George W. Bush left with regard to Iraq and Afghanistan. You don’t even acknowledge that there is a “mess”, in fact, you actually think these wars will be deemed as “successful”; you only attempt to deflect responsibility away from President Bush and onto someone/something else, in this case, the Congress. I disagree with that view, it is President Bush that owns the failures in the Iraq War, it is President Bush that owns the failures in the Afghanistan War and it is President Bush that owns the failure to capture Osama Bin Laden, the leader of the organization that actually attacked this great Nation on 9/11. It is my view that President Obama will do his absolute best to take over these situations and wade through them in order to provide for the most successful outcome based on the circumstances left to him on January 20th, 2009. I applaud President Obama for re-focusing the actual fight we should have been engaging in this entire time – the fight against Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist network – let’s hope that our Nation is successful considering we have wasted our valued troop efforts and taxpayer dollars on a war in Iraq that should have never been waged. And I will state that if President Obama is not successful in Afghanistan, I will hold he and George W. Bush responsible for that because they now both have taken action – the Iraq War, sorry, but that one is completely George W. Bush’s responsibility.
i’m an arab born again christian so i don’t know if i qualify as a “white evangelical,” but this idiots blog seems to treat white evangelicals like animals by saying we’re the most likely to believe the myth of obama is a muslim — what are you you idiot secular humanist filfth. obama is in the middle east. left wing secluar idiots will ALWAYS denigrate born again christians. you will ALWAYS hate us and say things about us that you wont say aobut others