Poll: GOP Put Politics Over Safety

Most Respondents Think GOP Leaders Knew About Foley's Explicit E-Mails

(CBS)  An overwhelming majority of Americans think House Republican leaders put their own political interests ahead of the safety of congressional pages in their handling of the Mark Foley scandal, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll.

Seventy-nine percent of those polled — including 61 percent of Republicans — say GOP leaders were more concerned with politics than the well-being of the teenage pages.

Sixty-two percent think the Republican leadership was aware of the sexually explicit e-mails sent by former Rep. Foley before the public learned about them in late September — a charge many top Republicans deny. Two-thirds of Americans say GOP leaders did not take the matter seriously enough when they first learned about it.

DID HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP KNOW ABOUT FOLEY’S SEXUALLY EXPLICIT E-MAILS?

Yes
62%
No
19%

Forty-six percent think embattled House Speaker Dennis Hastert should resign for his handling of the Foley disclosures. Two-thirds of Democrats and 44 percent of Independents say Hastert should step down; among Republicans, nearly half think he should not resign, while 25 percent say he should.

While 80 percent of Americans think the Foley scandal is a serious matter for the country, it's not clear how big an impact it will have on next month's midterm congressional elections.

SHOULD SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DENNIS HASTERT RESIGN?

Should
46%
Should not
26%
Don't know
28%

Two-thirds of voters say the Foley scandal will make little difference in how they cast their ballots, but 21 percent say it will make them more likely to vote Democratic.

Democrats continue to hold a sizeable lead in the generic vote for Congress, with 49 percent of registered voters saying they'd support a Democratic candidate versus 35 percent who would support a Republican. Those numbers show little change from last month.

2006 CONGRESSIONAL VOTE (Among registered voters)

Democrat
49%
Republican
35%

Fewer Republicans, though, now say they are enthusiastic about voting in November, and fewer expect their party to win the most seats this year. Overall, 59 percent of voters, including 41 percent of Republicans, expect the Democrats to pick up seats in the House in November.

More Americans also now see the Democrats as the party holding the higher moral and ethical ground — once a Republican strength. Thirty-seven percent think the Democrats have higher ethical standards, compared to 32 percent for the Republicans. Forty-seven percent think the Democrats are more likely to share their moral values, versus 38 percent for the Republicans.

By more than two to one, Americans see Republicans as more corrupt.

Overall, Americans have a very low opinion of Congress. Nearly seven in 10 think most members of Congress do not try to follow the same rules of behavior as most Americans, and a similar number believe most members consider themselves above the law.

President Bush continues to be a negative factor in the upcoming elections — to a degree unprecedented in previous midterm elections. Just 15 percent of registered voters say they think of their vote as being one in support of the president, while over twice as many, 36 percent, say theirs will be a vote against the president. Forty-three percent say their vote will not be about Mr. Bush.

A separate CBS News/New York Times poll finds Mr. Bush's overall job approval is down to 34 percent, a drop of three points from last month.

That poll also finds Americans are more negative than ever before about the state of the Iraq war. Just 31 percent think the war is going well, the lowest number ever in this poll; while two-thirds say the war is going badly, the highest number ever.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.

This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 983 adults, interviewed by telephone October 5-8, 2006. The sample included 891 registered voters. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points and plus or minus three points among registered voters. Error for subgroups may be higher.

[stick130]

Anyone that ever believed a Republican had higher morals than a Democrat is watching way too much,, Fox News? I don't trust either side. I can still remember when a couple of Democrats were ousted on moral issues.There's a saying in Texas and I'm sure in other places also.Don't through uh uh glass when ah ah ya live in ah ah ah rock ah ah well anyway.It's just, "Hard Work"? I will help Hastert resign,He can enjoy his last 90 days? You to John in the Bloody 8th!

[j-whitman]

Seems as though youre off topic,,, Bush has cut much more than entitlements for Medicare,,, He's cut funds for our troops, our GOP is using our defense money as a SLUSH FUND

[exusmcsgt]

Why is everyone debating socialized medicine on this page?

[bellal-2009]

Yea, I hear you. I pay a fortune also. However, my plan is very good. I'll tell you though, huskerarmy, you wouldn't want to have to pay for my healthcare. Even though I pay a fortune in premiums and co-pays it's a drop in the bucket to what my insurance co. is paying.

[huskerarmy]

"Do we really want another entitlement program that's going to go bust in a twenty years."

I did a lot of research on Nationalized Health Care as an undergradute. Canada has a fairly good system. It has problems but, the system we currently have in the U.S. isn't working. I belong to an HMO, it's all I can afford, and going to the clinic is a lot like going to traffic court. Inspite of the very low standard of care, the co-pay has been going up annually at a much greater rate then inflation while the number of things that are covered has shrunk miserably. And that is the pattern for everybody, across the country. All of the pro-Pharmacutical, Pro-Insurance company legislation passed by the GOP hasn't caused any benefits to trickle down yet.

[bellal-2009]

Huskerarmy, I agree that we should have state funded mandatory health policy for those who aren't insured because they can't afford insurance. It would save the emergency rooms. The rest of us should fend for ourselves. Do we really want another entitlement program that's going to go bust in a twenty years.

[getcentered]

gslinger3

I just plain, think your wrong.

Talking points, HATE, scandalize the opposition. I think your switching the parties up.

Karl Rove would be much disappointed in your analysis. It takes all the credit away from him.

There is a whole world of good information at your fingertips, find it, use it. Get informed. Get centered.

[huskerarmy]

"The ONLY way you can get elected is to scandlize the opposition, thats it."

Can you name any of the presumably innocent victims of this?

[j-whitman]

Good bye,, I'm doing something the GOP should do, but won't,,, WATCH THE NEWS

[huskerarmy]

"And Huskerarmy, it's the "lazy poor people" (your words not mine) who get their health care for free. Which is a good thing."

You imply lazy or otherwise undeserving... If you didn't think that, I don't know why you wouldn't abandon your social darwinist policies and support basic health care for all Americans. It can't be about money. Corporate welfare, write-offs and giveaways to Walmart, et al dwarf the expendatures spent on health care for the poor.

[j-whitman]

Bell,, come on now,,, are you aware that illegal's don't have to sign up for Medicare?? They have all bills paid for,, which is probably the biggest drain on the system,,, Oh, but you wouldn't know,, you only listen to Bush & cronies.

[j-whitman]

Gslingre,,, Don't you think this administration has created enough scandels?? More to come, much, much more.

[bellal-2009]

They are able to sign up for govt. programs that provide food, housing,daycare,healthcare and a tax refund.

[j-whitman]

Bell,, I win??? This isn't a contest,, IT'S WHATS REALLY HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY WITH BUSH'S POLICIES

[gslinger3]

talkingham

Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black, you liberals are the most hate filled excuse for a party this nation has ever seen, its no wonder that your no idea candidates can't get elected anymore, you are all out of touch with the people, all you can do is call names and hate. The ONLY way you can get elected is to scandlize the opposition, thats it. Mainstream america is tired of your same old talking points because they have seen that your way of government doesnt cut the mustard. If the Dems do take it will only take 2 years before votors will have had enough, so enjoy it while you can.

[j-whitman]

Bell,,, what about the millions of good Americans who live without a living wage nor benifits,,, That's the real results of Bush's job creation

[bellal-2009]

UNCLE. You win Jwhitman.

[bellal-2009]

Well, I'll never believe Universal Health care is a good option. It's always going to be cheaper and BETTER as far as care to just bite the bullet and pay for it.

[j-whitman]

Bell,,, Our Homeland Security is UNDERFUNDED & THE LARGEST JOKE IN HISTORY

[j-whitman]

Bell,, Our Nations National Security has been DESTROYED