Say Anything Blog

Public opinion polls suck, I think, because they seem to do more to influence public opinion toward the biases of the poll-takers (and those that publish the poll results) than portray it.  But since we are served a never-ending glut of opinion polls which tell us that Americans think President Bush and the war in Iraq stink, it’s worth pointing to one which says that Americans think a Democrat policy for Iraq stink.

Especially since a poll like that isn’t one you’re likely to hear about on the nightly news or read about in your newspaper.

This one is from Public Opinion Strategies, and it indicates that Americans want Congress to fully fund the war in Iraq…

When asked if they favor or oppose Congress fully funding the war in Iraq, 56% favor fully funding the war in Iraq, while just 38% oppose. In fact, more voters STRONGLY favor (40%) Congress fully funding the war in Iraq than out-right oppose it (38%).

Support for funding our troops is consistent across the board:

* Republicans are unified with 87% support. A majority (55%) of Independents support fully funding the war in Iraq. Despite the party line vote in Congress, more than one in four Democrats support funding for our military in Iraq.

* Across the country, majorities of Americans support funding our troops - including 51% in the Northeast, 56% in the Midwest, 58% in the South, and 59% in the West.

...oppose the inclusion of domestic spending initiatives (read: pork barrel spending) in war funding bills and oppose the reduction of troop levels below that with the commanders on the ground feel is appropriate…

When asked about the Democrats attaching spending for non-defense, domestic projects to a defense bill, more than three-in-five voters (64%) oppose the bill, including a majority (53%) who STRONGLY oppose it. Just 30% favor the Democrats use of pork barrel projects in the Iraq War funding legislation.

* Almost half of Democratic voters (41%) oppose including domestic spending in a defense bill.

A majority (54%) also oppose Democrats imposing a reduction in troops below levels requested by military commanders, while just 41% favor.

...and blame the Democrats almost exclusively for not fully funding the war in Iraq:

We read voters the following statements and asked them to pick which statement they agreed with the most.

President Bush has declared that he will veto the bill because it sets a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq and includes billions of dollars in non-emergency spending. By vetoing this bill, a spending bill for the troops will not be passed.

In thinking about this, which position do you agree with most? (ROTATE STATEMENTS)

40% (SOME/OTHER) people say that if President Bush vetoes the Democratic spending bill then Bush should be blamed for not funding the troops because his veto will mean that there is no spending package available for the troops.

...OR…

50% (OTHER/SOME) people say that if President Bush vetoes the Democratic spending bill then the Democrats in Congress are to be blamed for not funding the troops because they attached restrictions on the President and military commanders in Iraq along with billions of dollars in pork barrel spending to a bill intended to help the troops.

A plurality of Independent voters (47%) would blame Democrats for not funding the troops, while just 33% say the blame lies with the President.

In short, not a very good poll for the liberal perspective on Iraq.

We’ve said it many times before on this blog, but it’s worth saying again.  America doesn’t like a loser, and while many Americans may be frustrated with our progress in Iraq I think it’s foolish to suggest that there’s widespread support for just giving up in the war.