New Judicial Watch-SurveyUSA Poll Shows Deep Divide between Obama Administration and Likely Voters on Wide Range of Issues

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released the results of a new nationwide survey conducted in partnership with SurveyUSA concerning the American people’s attitudes on a variety of subjects, including President Obama’s job performance, political corruption, healthcare, transparency, ACORN, illegal immigration, and climate change. The poll was conducted by SurveyUSA December 11-14, 2009. Highlights include:

• A majority of likely voters (58%) believe decisions by the Obama administration are “Bad for America.” (37% say these decisions have been “Good for America.”)
• A majority of likely voters believe that government is too big (64%) and that bigger government leads to more corruption (62%). The vast majority of likely voters (72%) believe political corruption played a “major role” in the financial crisis. (President Obama recently suggested “fat cat bankers” were the chief cause of the crisis.)
• A majority of likely voters (56%) say the government is operating in a manner “Out Of Line” with the U.S. Constitution. And a majority think shrinking the size of government by 25% would be good for America.
• A majority of likely voters (59%) disapprove of the way the Obama administration is handling illegal immigration. An even greater majority (69%) disapprove of the way Congress is handling illegal immigration.
• The vast majority (77%) of likely voters are opposed to local governments providing sanctuary to illegal aliens, and a majority (61%) want local law enforcement to be more involved in enforcing immigration laws. And a majority (59%) oppose local governments using tax dollars to support sites for day laborers who are seeking work.
• Among likely voters, 56% have a negative view of ACORN, only 8% have a favorable opinion, giving ACORN a net favorability rating of minus 48.
• More likely voters believe global warming scientific data is “mostly falsified” (49%) than believe this data to be “mostly genuine” (41%).

“On virtually every single issue polled the Obama administration appears to be completely out of step with the prevailing views of the American people. It ought to be an especially troubling sign for President Obama that the majority of likely voters believe his decisions have been bad for the country. Frankly, these poll results suggest that President Obama and many other politicians ought to rethink their approach to government,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Overall, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,450 adults nationwide. 1,264 respondents identified themselves as being registered voters. Of the registered voters, 1,020 identified themselves as likely to vote in the 2010 elections for United States Congress. The margin of error for the Judicial Watch-SurveyUSA poll ranged from 2.6% to 3.1%, depending upon the question asked. The following are the complete results from Judicial Watch/SurveyUSA national poll. Results with crosstabs are also available.

Judicial Watch-SurveyUSA National Poll Results

OBAMA DECISIONS

1. As a whole, are the decisions being made by the Obama administration good for America? Or bad for America?

37% Good For America

58% Bad For America

6% Not Sure

POLITICAL CORRUPTION

2. How serious of a problem is political corruption in the federal government? Very serious? Somewhat serious? Not very serious? Or not serious at all?

65% Very

24% Somewhat

8% Not Very

2% Not Serious

1% Not Sure

3. Which political party does more to fight political corruption? (First two choices are rotated.) Republicans? Democrats? Or is there no difference?

25% Republicans

21% Democrats

54% No Difference

THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

4. How much of a role did political corruption have in the financial crisis? A major role? A minor role? Or no role at all?

72% Major Role

18% Minor Role

7% No Role At All

2% Not Sure

5. Has the federal government’s use of tax dollars in the financial crisis – for instance, the TARP program – been good for America? Bad for America? Or has it made no difference either way?

25% Good For America

50% Bad For America

17% Made No Difference

7% Not Sure

SIZE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

6. Is the federal government too large? Too small? Or about the right size?

64% Too Large

6% Too Small

25% About The Right Size

6% Not Sure

7. If the size of the federal government were shrunk by 25%, would that be good for America? Bad for America? Or would it make no difference?

58% Good For America

19% Bad For America

17% Make No Difference

5% Not Sure

8. If the size of the federal government were increased by 25%, would that be good for America? Bad for America? Or would it make no difference?

12% Good For America

71% Bad For America

13% Make No Difference

4% Not Sure

9. Would a larger federal government have more corruption than a smaller one? Less corruption than a smaller one? Or would there be no difference?

62% More Corruption

5% Less Corruption

30% No Difference

3% Not Sure

10. Is the federal government operating in a way that mostly is in-line with the US Constitution? Or mostly out of line with the Constitution?

35% In-line

56% Out Of Line

8% Not Sure

SECRECY

11. Is the Obama administration making too much information available to the public? Not enough information? Or about the right amount of information?

8% Too Much

56% Not Enough

31% Right Amount

4% Not Sure

HEALTHCARE

12. Would an increased government role in the health care system lead to more corruption? Less corruption? Or will it make no difference?

62% More Corruption

14% Less Corruption

21% No Difference

4% Not Sure

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

13. Do you approve? Or disapprove? Of the way the Obama administration is handling illegal immigration?

22% Approve

59% Disapprove

19% Not Sure

14. Do you approve? Or disapprove? Of the way Congress is handling illegal immigration?

10% Approve

69% Disapprove

21% Not Sure

15. Do you think local law enforcement officers should be more involved in enforcing federal immigration laws? Less involved? Or should they have the same role now?

61% More Involved

12% Less Involved

22% Same Role As Now

5% Not Sure

16. Do you think local governments should? Or should not? Provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants?

12% Should

77% Should Not

11% Not Sure

17. Do you think local governments should? Or should not? Use tax dollars to support sites for day laborers who are seeking work?

23% Should

59% Should Not

18% Not Sure

ACORN

18. Is your opinion of the organization ACORN…favorable? Unfavorable? Neutral? Or, do you have no opinion of ACORN?

8% Favorable

56% Unfavorable

17% Neutral

20% No Opinion

JUDICIAL WATCH

19. Is your opinion of the organization Judicial Watch…favorable? Unfavorable? Neutral? Or, do you have no opinion of Judicial Watch?

16% Favorable

12% Unfavorable

23% Neutral

49% No Opinion

CLIMATE CHANGE

20. Do you think scientific data suggesting global warming is the result of human activity is mostly genuine? Or mostly falsified?

41% Mostly Genuine

49% Mostly Falsified

10% Not Sure