Poll Findings: Partisan Bent in `Truther,' `Birther' Beliefs

By: Charles Cooper
Topics: In The News

(CBS)

After a summer of political discontent, the results of a new poll suggest that large numbers of Americans still distrust official storylines in favor of fringe conspiracy theories.

The survey by Public Policy Polling finds that 42 percent of Republicans believe Barack Obama was born outside of the United States while 22 percent said they were unsure. On the other end of the insanity meter, the poll reveals that one fourth of Democrats believe that George Bush intentionally allowed the September 11, 2001 terror attacks to go ahead because the former U.S. President supposedly sought a pretext to take the United States to war in the Middle East compared. About 12% of Democrats said they were unsure.

The survey was carried out between September 18 and September 21. By comparison, a poll carried out by Research 2000 and published by the Daily Kos in late July reported that 28% of Republicans believed Obama was not born in the U.S.

The findings were released against a backdrop of growing polarization between liberals and conservatives. Spring and early summer protests against government taxation and spending by the right led to angry confrontations during the August recess when Congressmen returned to their districts. Radio and television talk show hosts also fanned the flames, injecting racially charged criticism of the president into the debate. The upshot: Posters portraying Mr. Obama as an African witch doctor and signs warning of a fascist or 2004 petition calling for a congressional hearings - as well as an investigation by the New York Attorney General - into "evidence that suggests high-level government officials may have deliberately allowed the September 11th attacks to occur." Jones, who subsequently denied being part of the "Truther" movement, later resigned his post - in no small part over the attention he attracted by signing the petition.

Back on planet earth, there was good news for the president, whose favorablilty ratings held steady at 52% for the second consecutive month. His repeated public appearances to sell health care reform also seem to be working in his favor. upport for his health care plan though. Voters are about evenly divided on the administration's health care reform plans with 45% in favor and 46% opposed. Compare that with the a month ago when 40% of respondents favored health care overhaul. The poll found that Mr. Obama was doing better with independent voters, who previously expressed opposition by a 49% to 35% margin. They now favor health care reform by a margin of 46% to 44%.

Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.

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by kaptkirk October 2, 2009 7:55 AM EDT: Could this be a more bias report.; Reply to this comment


by RTM9900 September 30, 2009 2:00 PM EDT: Perhaps unsubstantiated documents posted in jpeg form on websites amount to undeniable proof for some but in the realm of critical thinking this type of un-critical thinking ranks right up there with believing a poorly designed phishing webite that is obviously trying to steal personal information is legit!

Jpegs ????

Yeah right !

Easily manipualted ?

Yup !

Factcheck's contribution isn't any less questionable as they were personally chosen by the person whose eligibility is being questioned and by golly they work for the same people formally conservative or not.

Then of course there is the illegal and thus illogical whacky statements made by employees of the State of Hawaii , that first cite privacy laws to explain why the public can't see Barack's BC that is allegedly in the vault and then violate that same law by illegally and publicly discussing and then allegedly disclosing "PRIVATE" information that is not supposed to legally be disclosed ! LO - STINKING - L

Why isn't a judge questioning their motivation and letting a prosecutor cross examine these law breakers ?

Oh and the newspaper articles DON"T name the "son" nor do they cite where that "son was BORN ???????????; Reply to this comment


by bees65 September 30, 2009 9:59 AM EDT: Man, what poll are you looking at? Obama is dropping like a lead balloon!!!
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Overall, 49% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty-one (51%) disapprove. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Democrats approve while 78% of Republicans disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 60% disapprove.; Reply to this comment


by kimbroughs September 30, 2009 9:58 AM EDT: As I read these comments and various articles, it amazes me that we are still a racist nation. Has anyone considered the polls regarding the pedople who are against the president. I promise if you check the polls you will see that these are white americans who are not and will never accept the fact that a black man is in the white house. It is pitiful to hide behind some other ill concept to voice your disapproval of this man in the white house. We as a nation will not accept the fact that there are some die-hard racist people still in this country whose agenda is to convince all that Mr Obama should not be in the white house. We need to seriously look at this racist issue because sooner or later it will come to light and we will eventually have to deal with it.; Reply to this comment


by ai3di September 29, 2009 6:47 PM EDT: As someone who has grown up Roman Catholic, I know what it is like to have others who believe the same things you do, but still think their opinion on the subject is better. That is what politics is like to me. I have never understood why someone will think ill towards another just because they are a republican or democrat. As far as I am concerned, we all want what is best for everyone, why fight each other. To me, the most ignorant person is one who feels free to give their opinion, but will not listen to anyone elses opinion. I will fight for anyones rights even if I don't agree with them. I think we need to see people coming together instead of fighting over what party is in power and how we can make the other guys look bad. I am an American, so are you, let's act like we belong to the same country and stop bickering about who is right, when all sides are just as right about what they believe as you are. We can not move forward, when so many arguee with how to do such a thing. We cannot make things better, if each side argues what exactly needs to be done and how. Stop pointing fingers. It is what it is, you can't change what has already happened. Let's move forward and actually help, instead of spending all our time trying to make someone look bad just because you don't agree with them. This is America. Everyone has a voice, your rights are protected, if you say another group is wrong, then you are just showing how ignorant and wrong you are. I am just tired of so much bickering and no action.; Reply to this comment


by brucearnold September 27, 2009 9:14 PM EDT: On 9/11/01, the all-powerful bankers behind New World Order globalization unleashed their oil and money hungry military-industrial dogs of war to orchestrate the fall of 3 (not 2) WTC towers--the third, not struck by a plane, housing 3 floors of damning SEC records. On that day, we lost 3000 lives (with 1000s more to follow) plus 4 commercial airliners (with all on board) ... and stood by helplessly as something (not wide enough to be a 757) bored a hole in the side of the Pentagon. Yet even today, two elections and a new administration later, our Big Brother government expects us to believe that all of that masterfully-plotted and perfectly-timed destruction was accomplished by 15 Saudis and 4 of their cousins using nothing more than box cutters and big balls. If you believe that, or if you believe we have been told anything close to the Truth about 9/11, then I ask you to Google "911 truth" and "911 peak oil", and objectively evaluate what you find at websites like AE911Truth.org.; Reply to this comment

by noloyalisti September 25, 2009 2:14 PM EDT

The birthers are just typical right wing extremist who only know how to lie, cheat and steal. Like most conservatives (and Republicans), all they care about is money. They want someone else to pay for them as long as they don't have to. They don't believe in government unless it is for their benefit.

Don't trust conservatives in any business or elected position. They lie, cheat and steal. And whatever they think is right.

Reply to this comment


by RTM9900 September 30, 2009 3:46 PM EDT: Painting with a broad uninformed brush ?

Perhaps you can point out a single credible scientifically verified study that supports that wild conspiracy theory ?????????

Perhaps you ignore Geitner the tax cheat ...

Is he a typical RWer ?

Perhaps the other tax cheats that Barry appointed to his cabinet are closet RWers !!!!!

Oh no you'd better warn Barry !!!!!

His cabinet is overrun by RWers out to steal the money from the treasury (If only there was any left ! ) !!!!!


by theshameofitall September 24, 2009 10:16 PM EDT: So we are to believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of people can keep a secret involving the most heinous act of this century to date! Hate does occlude reason.
If the terrorists who have just been stopped by programs set up by the demon Bush and his evil cohorts had been successful, who you have blamed it all on Mr. Obama's vacation to Mass. during August?; Reply to this comment


by sdupont73 September 24, 2009 8:29 PM EDT: As an avowed progressive, I find both the Truthers and Birthers to be a bit loony.

There's no scientific evidence to suggest Obama was born anywhere but Hawaii.

There's no scientific evidence to suggest that Bush had any specific foreknowledge of 9/11.

Conspiracy theorists tend to base their conclusions on two kinds of falacies: 1) They believe in certain 'facts', even though they've been repeatedly debunked and 2) They believe the existence of an unanswered question automatically implies a conspiracy.; Reply to this comment


by PartyofAmerican September 24, 2009 7:31 PM EDT: Bush spent more than a third of his two terms on vacation. Does that tell you anything? I guess the rest of the time he was sleeping.; Reply to this comment