Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose GITMO Transfer

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, file)

A new poll released by Gallup shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose the idea of closing the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and moving terrorist suspects held there to prisons in the U.S.

This may be problematic for President Obama, who plans to do just that. Earlier this week, it was announced that the federal government would acquire the Thomson Correctional Center (pictured at left), an underused state prison in the rural town of Thomson, Illinois, and use it to hold Guantanamo Bay detainees as well as federal prisoners.

Sixty-four percent of Americans said they opposed the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to U.S. prisons, and only 30 percent of Americans said they supported it. These numbers have remained fairly constant since May, when 32 percent believed detainees should be transferred to the U.S. and 65 percent did not.

The plan gets the most support from Democrats: 50 percent of Democrats supported the transfer, compared to 28 percent of Independents and only eight percent of Republicans.

Officials from Thomson have reportedly come out in favor of Obama's plan to transfer detainees there, citing the fact that it would boost the economy and create jobs. Republican lawmakers, however, have been very vocal about their opposition to the proposed plan.

"The administration has failed to explain how transferring terrorists to Gitmo North will make Americans safer than keeping terrorists off of our shores in the secure facility in Cuba," Republican senator from Kentucky Mitch McConnell said, as noted in the poll release.

When Mr. Obama took office, he said that he intended to close the Guantanamo Bay facility by January 2010. The administration has not released a timeline for the proposed transfer of detainees to Illinois, but the president has stated that he will miss his original deadline. Congress must approve the transfer; given the significant opposition to the plan, a fight seems likely.

The poll was conducted from November 20-22, before the administration announced a specific destination for the detainees.

[rockcutr]

so nine people were asked somewhere in cuba. 6 cryed don't take our pork away. And that is supposed to be a covering of what americans think....liars.
Bottom line is that it is way past time to do something about cheneys political prison of geneva convention rule breaking and torture. It is way past time the EX vice dude is muzzled for crimes against humanity and for his own self interest and false fear spewing of the lack of safety in america. For HE is the evil we all need to be aware of. Dicky is one messed up dude. Maybe some of his indefinate incarceration needs to be emposed upon him. Without trial of kangaroo court proceedings. The law should not be made up to accomodate sociopathic politicians fears. Especially when no longer in office.

[50BMS13]

When Obama ran for office he had the "Michael Moore" vote and the youth movement on hopes of change. He no longer enjoys this wide support so his numbers are falling. Guantanimo needs to stay opened. We should not bring terrorists into the heartland of the USA. They need to be tried in military tribunal now or released now.

[bmirarck2]

SuperMax (familiarize yourself with the daily routine there, Gitmo is heaven compared to the rigor @ SuperMax) in Florence Co. The facility has at least a half dozen terrorists, both foreign and domestic in their cells. They have been there for at least a half dozen years. Nothing has happened, nothing will happen. There have been: No breakouts, there have been no terrorist acts against the prison or surrounding area, there have been no demonstrations. Americans need to get over the Bush/Cheney fear factor, aka the dumbing down of America!! Save money bring the guilty ones to the states. *** does the Marine corp have to do with being jailers? Stupid emotional appeals, such as yours, make no sense!

[Empire-George-]

by velma179 December 16, 2009 8:02 PM EST
Baloney!

Name ONE person who has ever escaped from a SuperMax US prison?

There is one thing The US does greater than anyone -- BUILD PRISONS!
_____________

First of all, this is not a SuperMax facility, but some run-down piece of junk that happens to be in Obama's home state (how convenient)

The problem is that the government has a 85% acquittal rate against the Gitmo detainees, which many have been released.....now, the question arises, what will happen when they are released or when no country will take them for bribes (bermuda, etc.)

DO American citizens want vicious terrorists released into our general population, regardless of them being convicted of a specific crime or not ?

[bmirarck2]

Another MORON. The prison in Ill. is brand new, never been used. Get a frickin' clue dumbo!!

[innisfree4]

This arrogant and ignorant administration does not care what the majority of Americans want...Trying Terrorists in NY (we don't want it!) Transferring terrorists to ILL (we don't want it!) Giving Citi Group a huge tax refund (we don't want it!) and an overhaul of Health Care System that 90% of Americans are happy with!..
This is what you get when you elect a 'rock star' with 146 days of experience as a US Senator..

[hockeymom441]

Well, considering the moronic options... we had no choice!

I liked McCain... until his Alzheimer's became apparent when he appointed the illiterate airhead who doesn't read, or speak coherent sentences. What a screw up. If I were republican, I'd be so annoyed they lost that election SOLELY b/c of her. I know some folks love her b/c she cute and folksy... but she has no business running this country. Until you guys publically say that and bring someone w/ 2 brains cells to rub together - get ready 7 long years.

[zootsuithap]

oh, they will "escape" the Supermax alright. They will walk out the door along with their slip-and-fall lawyers.

[bmirarck2]

Good, set them free in Colorado. We need some new species for hunting!!

[whosaid1]

I say "let them go" .....why spend all that money, and give them a "stage" to push their "cause"...they'll likely be found guilty, but they will never get the death penalty...so, the tax payer will be paying "big" bucks for years to come, to keep them alive, healthy and in jail...

[TheOleProfessor]

That would be all well and good, except this administration would be sure to put them in a safe place, probably in the U.S. where the democrat activist lawyers would immediately begin the lawsuits against the U.S. taxpayers. Soon the democrats would offer them citizenship, and ultimately they would end up in Congress as democrat representatives.

[velma179]

A poll from November.


Gee Whiz... are we drunk on polls or what?


Tomorrow a poll will say 65% want Gitmo closed and then the next day 65% will want their mommy....

sheesh

I am so sick of 600-1500 people who have nothing better to do than answer their phone (maybe turn down The Wheel of Fortune ) deciding what America thinks!

[EasyEJL]

65% wanting gitmo closed doesn't contradict them not wanting the prisoners here. Most surveying results are based in the wording. For instance on health care, most people would say they like the idea of universal coverage. But if you ask about universal coverage provided by the government its a different result. or if you ask about universal coverage paid by tax dollars...

[bigtruck1955]

The siege of School No. 1, attended by 6- to 16-year-olds, began just after 9 a.m. Wednesday when the guerrillas blasted their way into the building at the end of the opening-day assembly. Though Russian (US Goverment) officials never confirmed it publicly, the hostage takers demanded the withdrawal(release) of Russian(Gitmo Prisoners) troops from Chechnya and the release of prisoners taken after a guerrilla raid this summer in the neighboring region of Ingushetia. They also demonstrated their seriousness by mining the school with explosives and threatening to blow it up if Russian forces moved in on them. We best wake up in this county or this is our future. Google chechen school massacre. Wake up you bone heads.

[velma179]

Baloney!

Name ONE person who has ever escaped from a SuperMax US prison?

There is one thing The US does greater than anyone -- BUILD PRISONS!

Take your paranoid rant and please... kindly ..shove it!

[a1106foothil]

What a brilliant comment. One of the great things about America is that even the ignorant can state an opinion. So while you are tossing around such clever words as "shove it", you might consider a different angle. We are trying to protect the folks outside the prison from terrorist wanting to make a statement OUTSIDE the prison. Not a very effective tactic in Cuba! And my friend, the first terrorist attack that happens in a town outside the walls of a SuperMax? Our distinguished President and his liberal minions will find there is nowhere to hide.

[cleric60]

"The administration has failed to explain how transferring terrorists to Gitmo North will make Americans safer than keeping terrorists off of our shores in the secure facility in Cuba," Republican senator from Kentucky Mitch McConnell said, as noted in the poll release
Why are we bring these terrorists on US soil. Does that mean they are
entited to have US lawyers, etc? Will they have the legal rights under the law as US citizens? Who is going to pay for all this?
I live just north of the suggested prison site; I really don't want foreign terrorists so near to my home.

[wyodutch]

Asking the dumbed-down American subject for it's opinion on anything is like asking a maggot what it thinks about Einstein's Theory of Relativity.