By: Mary Mostert, Analyst, Original Sources (www.originalsources.com)
February 2, 1999
A growing number of people simply don't believe polls reflect what THEY really think. And, our own poll yesterday certainly proved they are right. Poll questions boil down opinions to tight little statements. But, people don't think in tight little statements.
Our poll was based on a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll of 1,031 adults, conducted January 22-24, which showed that Vice President Al Gore's approval rating is "almost as high as that of his boss: 64 percent approve of how Gore is handling his job as vice president, compared with 69 percent who approve of how Clinton is handling his job."
Readers were asked to send an e-mail to "let us know:"
1. If you approve of the job Bill Clinton is doing, and you voted for him, and are among the 76% who believe he is dishonest, immoral and untrustworthy, why you believe he is preferable to a honest, moral trustworthy Democrat (Al Gore) as President?
Now, no professional pollster would ask such a question. My question allowed my readers to actually say what they think - not agree with what I think. So, of course what I got was a lot of carefully thought out comments that can't be tabulated. Carefully thought out commentary is an anathema to pollsters, and they may have a point. My question, in effect, was to determine why people of America, as reported by polls such as CNN/USA Today/Gallup, preferred a president in office that 76% believe is dishonest, immoral and untrustworthy, (Bill Clinton) to the elected successor, Al Gore, who a mere 23% believe is dishonest immoral and untrustworthy.
I did not choose the people who answered the question. Actually, I didn't get a single answer that told me why people of America seem to prefer a president that 76% believe to be immoral, dishonest and untrustworthy. That leads me to wonder where CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll found all the people who want Clinton to remain in office, even though they know he is dishonest, immoral and untrustworthy. They prefer Clinton and want him to remain in office, rather than Al Gore, who, 77% believe, IS honest, trustworthy and moral. Below are a few of the numerous responses:
Response to the poll.
1. I do think that too many people want to use Clinton as a scapegoat excuse for their conduct.
2. Too many people are not educated in high school to "Slanted" news.
3. Why isn't the Senator Packwood trial brought out more?
4. Remember that the 'star' of "Deep Throat" said that oral sex was the most disgusting form of sex that a man could ask a woman to perform. This in a congress hearing. NOW really hit on this hearing. What happened to NOW?
5. If Clinton is not thrown out of office, can not every person serving time not file for a discharge of their sentence for some reason?
Lovell
I do NOT support President Clinton. I want him out of office.
I did NOT vote for him. I do NOT trust him.
FYI, Looked at CNN today story "New polls show most Americans still OPPOSE removing Clinton" I checked out the poll sources at the end of the story.. LA Times questioned 960 adults and Newsweek polled 751 adults.
THEN I looked at SENATEVOTE.COM poll "should the Senate remove Clinton from office?" 63,846 YES (61%) while 40,828 said NO (39%) from 104,674 votes. That is one poll you will not see in the media because it is against Clinton.
Enjoyed your writings..... Cheers, James and Peggy
I am one of the 76% who feel that the President is dishonest,immoral,and untrustworthy!!! I did not vote for him. but, if I could vote to remove him I would stand outside the polls all night to be the first to vote YES on removel.I don't believe the polls reflect the truth about the way most Americans truely feel about this matter, certianly not I this area of the country. thanks
RON
I do not approve of Bill Clinton, the job he is doing etc. I did not vote for him at any time , neither did I vote for a republican, but I did vote. I wish with all my heart that the senators would stop worrying about keeping their job long enough to do their job. -
Tal
I just wanted you to know that I agree with your article. America is in a moral dilemma. But what I don't think is emphasized enough is the role the media has played not only to make this president, but to keep him in power. It is almost Orwellian to see how it being played out on the television every night. These are the same people who would crucify Clarence Thomas, but they turn their heads to the most blatant examples of sexual misconduct by our president. If this president is not punished, there are no laws that can be enforced. I really don't know if even the liberal establishment have thought this one through to the end. Thank you for your time.
James
Just think of it, the White House and the Democrats do not want witnesses, and lo and behold a NEW POLL appears showing that the majority of "the American people" do not care for the managers set up of having witnesses! WAG THE DOG -- or which ever way you want to look at it, these "POLLS" are beginning to have a rather strong odor about them.
My husband and I are American people, we are citizens, we pay our taxes, and we vote. Yet we have to suffer the indignity of having some other person speak for us.
You people seem to be influenced by the polls -- reinventing government, maybe? So, the FITZPATRICKS would like to present you with some polling data:
WE WANT WITNESSES
WE WANT AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ON THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
WE WANT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON REMOVED FROM OFFICE
There is no margin of error here -- we are informed persons who are sincere in their opinions.
I don't really consider myself someone that would get all wrapped up in a conspiracy theory but I am beginning to feel that the major news organizations are all working off the same template that is first approved by the White House.
I marvel at the canned responses that I get when I ask my fellow co-workers and friends about their feelings on this matter. Their responses are derived nearly 'word for word' from the same phrases that the democrats and thus the news outlets report.
Some of my favorites are:
"It's just about sex"
"It's his private life"
"It doesn't rise to the level of impeachable offenses"
But, I would have to say my All-Time Favorite is: "The American people don't want him removed from office". It's funny how the phrase --"THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" always seems to come right before all of these different phrases.
As soon as I hear someone say this phrase, I immediately stop them. I reiterate that I want to know what 'they' think, not what they think the 'American people' think. It's scary how often people just vomit forth whatever they hear in a 2 second soundbite.
Wake up America!
...and we wonder how someone like Hitler got started? Thank God for term limits!
Troy
Think Bill Clinton Is Dishonest And likes to lie
The mainstream print and electronic media support Bill Clinton and his administration --for whatever reason--are they as corrupt as he is? That's another question. But I believe they ask questions in such a way that they get the response they want. I believe the majority of Americans are honest, decent people who want honest leadership--but they are uninformed about this president and tend to believe the lies he tells about wanting to do what is best for this country. Most of the people do not know that he demonstrated against this country on foreign soil and watched while our flag was burned. Most people do not know that he is destroying our freedoms and taking away our private property rights through Executive Orders that can be implemented while bypassing the Congress. If they knew the truth about this president I believe they would march on Washington!!!
Naureene
I have been a Republican ever since I passed out Hoover lapel pins when he was running against Al Smith for the presidency to succeed Cal Coolidge.
However, I am ambivalent on the subject of whether Clinton should stay in office.
True, he is a lowlife and a disgrace to the nation. It is also true that allowing him to remain, could be interpreted to mean that we condone such qualities in our president, and set a bad precedent for our youth and future politicians. And, true, he has icewater running through his veins, and thinks only of himself.
On the other hand, he is impeached, and probably won't have much influence on government policy for the next two years. It just might be better for the Republican's future to prevent Al Gore from establishing himself favorably in the presidency during that period.
Saving Social Security is just another sham. There is no such thing as a Social Security Trust Account. Theoretically, the monthly tax payments are invested in government bonds which are simply IOUs which the Congress spends. If the social security money is somehow segregated, taxes will have to rise. So, if Clinton remains in office, that won't be a problem.
But, the big problem with having Clinton at the helm, is that foreign policy will be politicized. This is a dangerous world, and he has proven himself to be inadequate in that respect. But I don't think Gore would be any better. He, also, is just a hack politician that rode into Congress on his father's coat tails.
So, to me it's a toss-up. Keep him or dump him. I don't know.
I would enjoy hearing your thoughts from both of you, but don't feel obligated to respond.
J. W.
Ans: I think that Clinton will have very little impact on Congressional legislation in the next couple of years, but suspect he will use his acquittal as an opportunity to govern without Congressional approval through executive orders, international law implemented through the UN and military actions.
I firmly believe that Clinton should be removed from office. There is nothing about this man or his demeanor while in office that even remotely suggests a man of integrity, morality or a man fit to occupy the highest office of our land and govern our people. I hope the Democrats realize that they will have to live with their consciences the rest of their lives (providing they still have them) and will vote to remove him.
Evelyn
As for the poll:
Throw the lying, cheating, pot smoking, sexual predator, adulterer, draft dogging, flag burning, treasonist out of office - and into a jail cell!
Good Day!
Glen
I am among the 76% who believe he is dishonest, immoral and untrustworthy.
He's also a liar, and a traitor to his country.
I wouldn't trust Al Gore as President because he's one of Clinton's strongest defenders and anyone who defends a man like Bill Clinton is a guilty as he is!
I don't believe these polls. I am 52 years old and I have never been polled and I don't know anyone who has participated in a poll....
Cliff
Replying on poll article on Mike Reagan's web page. I did not vote for Bill Clinton either time. I think the job performance is irrelevant. He is a criminal and should be treated as such. I agree polls are easily manipulated and are only for the liberal media to make people agree with them. Lets vote at the polls instead of taking them with controlled parameters.
Jerry
Ms Mostert,
In responding to your poll question, I do not think that Bill Clinton is doing a good job as president, I think he has sold foreign policy for campaign contributions, he's made the White House the most exclusive B&B in the country, and I can't begin to express how disgusting I find his sexual behavior in the oval office.
As to Al Gore, I don't think he's done a good job either. That "fundraiser" at the Buddhist temple in California is very suspicious, and should probably be more thoroughly investigated.
Pat
I did not vote for clinton
I do not approve of the job he is doing
I think Mr Gore comes off as being more upstanding in his moral leadership
I would like to have this dishonest, immoral, anti-American president removed
from office!
Shirbyrae
Well, there you have the unvarnished opinion of my readers. If you want to participate in the poll, or comment on the responses e-mail: mmostert@originalsources.com