Poll: Doubts About McCain's View Of Iraq

CBS News Survey: 39% Say GOP Presidential Candidate Paints Too Rosy A Picture Of War

(CBS)  John McCain's upbeat view of the war in Iraq isn't shared by many Americans, according to a CBS News poll.

McCain's negative ratings have risen this year, and a sizeable number of Americans believe he's painted too rosy a picture of the situation in Iraq.

The poll was conducted before the GOP presidential hopeful made what his campaign called a major speech on Iraq Wednesday at the Virginia Military Institute.

Thirty-nine percent of those polled said McCain's descriptions of U.S. progress in Iraq make things sound like they're going better than they actually are. That's compared with 29 percent who believe McCain, who recently returned from a trip to the war-torn country, is describing the situation in Iraq accurately.

WHEN MCCAIN TALKS ABOUT IRAQ, HE MAKES THINGS SOUND…

Better than they really are
39 percent
Worse than they really are
9 percent
Describing things accurately
29 percent
Don't know/No answer
23 percent

McCain’s strong support for the war could have political consequences for him: registered voters' views of McCain have grown more negative this year. Today more voters view him unfavorably than favorably, by 31 to 26 percent. Despite his presidential campaign, however, McCain remains unknown to, or elicits no opinion from 42 percent of voters.

OPINION OF JOHN MCCAIN
(Registered voters)

Favorable
26 percent
Unfavorable
31 percent
Undecided/Haven't heard
42 percent

The poll also found that two-thirds of Americans continue to believe things are going badly in Iraq, about the same number as a month ago but more negative than one year ago.

A majority, 54 percent, is also not optimistic that the U.S. can succeed in Iraq.

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Read the complete CBS News poll results.

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

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 480 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone April 9-10, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus five percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

[omega39-2009]

If McCain's handlers have any hope of getting him elected president, they better stick him in a closet until after the election.

[bluestardad]

Hey he should call Mike Niphong from the Duke Case they should have much in common both supporting a Lie!

[terrapin78]

Put a fork in him. His candidacy is done. He just won't face the reality. Similar to Iraq!

[nolalou]

Well if by some fluke he does become the Republcan nominee for President, at least we'll have a clear choice. McCain and more of the same in Iraq, or a Democrat who will begin to withdraw our troops from a conflit we never belonged in to begin with.

[iceman_1960]

"Support For Iraq May Hurt McCain"

Ya think ?

Belaboring the obvious...

[iceman_1960]

"Despite his presidential campaign, however, McCain remains unknown to, or elicits no opinion from 42 percent of voters."

Jay Leno once mentioned a relatively obscure, potential presidential candidate who had said "I'm having debates with my mirror about whether to run or not."

Leno: "The first thing his mirror said to him was, 'And what did you say your name was ...?' "

[clestes-2009]

McCain is toast and a good thing too.

[inventagod]

Maybe John should apply for the open position of 'Bu$h War Czar', instead of begging his way into the White House...
Seems Georgie is giving up on the presidency, and is outsourcing the responsibilities...

[macusweil]

Rocket Science.. wow!! Man has walked on the moon now he wants to land on Uranus. As McCain has shown he can openly talk out of his..

2/3 of US citizens understand the war was a mistake that leave only 1/3 as potential voters for this guy. You can add to that the aversion of at least some of those remaining against voting for any more GOP (Gas, Oil & Petroleum) lobbyists.

[gangesdak]

McCain should be the Republican nominee. Then there will be a clear choice between those who want to drain the country and those who want to build the country. Republicans, go for McCain- the (degenerated) war hero.

[ckcool192000]

As a republican canidate for President, he has about as much chance of getting elected as Bush does of "winning" the war in Iraq.

I guess he really doesn't want the job, because if anyone these days does a little research he/she will find that most citizens of this country is fed up with the war and the billions of dollars that it is eating up. Just think, if they didn't have this "war" maybe they could spend some of that money on finding alternative fuels, or the thousands of other issues that should be receiving more support that the war.

[wayfedup]

Give up, McCain; You are a war hero of the Vietnam Conflict, However, Your unyielding support for THIS FIASCO will DOOM any chance of future political aspirations you may have.

As an AMERICAN, I say "thank you"for your past sacrifices, but I STRONGLY disagree with you on this War.

[perception5]

Well McCain could do what the Democrats do and that's is tell the American people want they want to hear and then after he gets elected do something different. Just like our 110th DO-NOTHING CONGRESS who's approval rating by Gallup Poll is at only 28%. Lying works for the Democrats because they have their close buds in our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack to prop them up and cover up bad news........ really sad but true

[irishbitch1]

Two years ago I thought McCain was an honorable man who would support our military because of all he has been through. What happened John? The Vietnamese could not brainwash you but it certainly looks like bush did!

[lochlan-2009]

I won't vote for him, but Collin Powell I'd seriously consider, even know he was under the Bush Admin.

[damien_58]

Part 1


Here we have McCain, who served in another unpopular war, Vietnam, and much like this current one, our leaders keep telling us how we are winning, and must not let the enemy win by default by pulling out too soon.

Well, as anyone who has been watching McCain as of late will tell you, he keeps saying how safe Iraq has become, and if this is so, why did he travel over there with what was his own personal army that covered him while he was playing around talking and acting like he was vacationing in sunny California ?

[gwagener]

McCain is gambling on a big turn-around in Iraq. It was not that long ago that the overwhelming majority of Americans supported the invasion of Iraq. The US public is fickle.

[wayfedup]

I won't vote for him, but Collin Powell I'd seriously consider, even know he was under the Bush Admin.
Posted by lochlan at 12:09 PM : Apr 11, 2007
Sadly, Colin Powell sold out too... he left because Even HE couldn't Hang with THOSE FOOLS any longer!

[wdrussell1]

Big John wants to show the GOP lackeys, that he is just as capable of living in a fantasy world as Bush/Cheney.

[knyghtwolf]

Iran May Be Helping Iraqis Build Bombs
BAGHDAD (AP) - Iranian intelligence operatives have been training Iraqi fighters inside Iran on how to use and assemble deadly roadside bombs known.....
Here will be the reason we invade Iran, they will suddenly have "discovered" terrorist ties from Osama bin-Laden, Iraq, and somehow 9/11.

[imprisonbush]

I watched the clip of McCain being interviewed for 60 minutes about his repeated false statements about General Patreaus's supposedly going into Bagdad in "unarmored Humvee" when there is no such thing. All I can say is that I am sure glad McCain is "having fun" with his delusional campaign and misstatements that defraud Americans. His attempts to paint a rosy picture of Iraq also contradicts General Petraeus's much more cautious statements (i.e. stating that it's too early to observe any discernible success). I am also thrilled McCain was able to get such a great deal on rugs (5 for $5) in Iraq, at the expense of poor Iraqi rug merchants and Americans who surely paid millions for his little political campaign junket. I am also baffled why McCain thinks this Administrations repeated, deliberate frauds, corruption and negligence entitle anyone to believe anything Bush and his enablers say (including McCain).

Lets not forget the point that John McCain is trying to make. Losing this war will have grave consequenses for the United States. It will also mean that the thousands of US troops killed and wounded will have done so for nothing. Running away from Iraq when things get tough is easy. Trying to get people to understand what is at stake with a bunch of Chicken Little's running around saying the sky is falling takes courage. After all, our next presidents biggest job will be preventing another 9-1-1.

[oleander8]

"It will also mean that the thousands of US troops killed and wounded will have done so for nothing."

A poor reason for staying in Irag - thousands more could be killed...for nothing.

[jasonmcj]

Succint and factual, well stated.

"'It will also mean that the thousands of US
troops killed and wounded will have done so
for nothing.'

A poor reason for staying in Iraq
- thousands more could be killed...for
nothing."

[mcvet]

After all, our next presidents biggest job will be preventing another 9-1-1.
Posted by US8th_Hit at 12:34 PM : Apr 11, 2007

Now let me see here. There was NO connection with 9/11 and Iraq and there were NO Weapons in that nation. The people who planned and carried out the attack on this nation are in IRAQ? Hummm maybe you need to get another Magic Swastika there Sparky, the one you have is defective!! Oh! You might also stop practicing FASCISM saying that those who do not agree with your view of this massive blunder are "chicken Little's". Hell I have the urge to jump to my feet and shout SIEG HEIL after reading you post. How many lies do we swallow before we accept the fact? Amyone can read the reports and anyone can see the facts. We are neck deep in a Civil War and the outcome is already there for all to see. When the people start marching and burning our flag, the battle is over for the hearts and minds of the people. Now you can use Gestapo methods to beat down the people's hatred for Bush and that pack of losers but it will take THOUSANDS of American's and they will NEVER be able to leave. Now take off the Swastika and act like an AMERICAN. Just because someone doesn't agree with your narrow views does NOT make this anything BUT an AMERICAN. SIEG HEIL Y'all.

[roger_inkart]

Comment:

"Running away from Iraq when things get tough is easy."

This isn't about what is "easy" it's about what is the best course of action for the nation and for Iraq. (This also isn't about saving face for the White House and their endlessly foolish supporters.)

[walt1944-2009]

King George must have a thick "dossier" on McCain to make McCain jump through hoops like a trained dog. McCain's views on Iraq are just one instance on how McCain has changed positions after having had a "talk" with the big Kahuna in the White House. Electing McCain would be like having another 4 years of George Bush, because McCain would be afraid to make any decision on his own and would have George and all the other "Bushies" stay on as "advisors".

[mcvet]

McCain is gambling on a big turn-around in Iraq. It was not that long ago that the overwhelming majority of Americans supported the invasion of Iraq. The US public is fickle.
Posted by gwagener at 12:13 PM : Apr 11, 2007

After FOUR long years and after discovery of ALL the lies the question is why do you still support these people? The entire world sits and wonders why America has turned to Fascist and YOU call us "fickle"? I'm a Combat Vet of Vietnam and I know what I was told. I also know it was ALL lies... that makes YOU a nazi for using such tactics on me. Sieg Heil

[perception5]

'Katie's Notebook' Item Cribbed From W.S. Journal

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 11, 2007; Page C07

Katie Couric did a one-minute commentary last week on the joys of getting her first library card, but the thoughts were less than original. The piece was substantially lifted from a Wall Street Journal column.

CBS News apologized for the plagiarized passages yesterday and said the commentary had been written by a network producer who has since been fired.

...... oh yeah if Ronald Reagan were alive today we all could here him saying....."Well.....CBS there you go again".
Not sure why CBS (Censoring Broadcasting Station) hasn't posted this BIG story themselves....but we will all keep PRETENDING that there a "straight" news organization...(wink wink)
Yeah liberals CBS is "just the messenger" right??

[jn122736]

%u201CAfter all, our next presidents biggest job will be preventing another 9-1-1. %u201C
Posted by US8th_Hit at 12:34 PM : Apr 11, 2007

The best way to prevent another 911 is to truly investigate the first one and bring the culprits to justice. That would be the surest way to end the Iraqi fiasco.

It defies all logical and rational thinking that it was pure coincidence that this administration had the Iraq invasion planned well before 911 and why they did not capture Osama Bin laden when they had the chance.

It has long been my opinion that 911 was much more than an al qaeda project.

The totally unusual actions, or lack of, surrounding the events up to, during, and after 911.

The way the buildings collapsed in a manner that only lower level explosions could cause, not to mention the third building collapsing at the same time and in the same manner although it wasn%u2019t hit by an airplane.
It is just possible that the jet that crashed in PA was intended to hit this third building instead of the white house as most people believed.

These facts are in perfect lockstep with the daily revelations of more corruption of our government and all federal agencies and further misleading/lying to everyone.

All this is way too much to be coincidence.

[mcvet]

This isn't about what is "easy" it's about what is the best course of action for the nation and for Iraq. (This also isn't about saving face for the White House and their endlessly foolish supporters.)
Posted by roger_inkart at 01:22 PM : Apr 11, 2007

Thank you! These pathetic Nazi's seem to care less about the safety of this nation and the FACT that Bin Laden and the Taliban, who aren't even close to Iraq, have rebuilt and are back in business BIG TIME. These slime balls don't care. They just HAVE to save the fuehrer's face.... as if it's worth saving.

[mcvet]

Well McCain could do what the Democrats do and that's is tell the American people want they want to hear and then after he gets elected do something different. Just like our 110th DO-NOTHING CONGRESS who's approval rating by Gallup Poll is at only 28%. Lying works for the Democrats because they have their close buds in our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack to prop them up and cover up bad news........ really sad but true
Posted by perception5 at 12:03 PM : Apr 11, 2007


You poor simple minded Fascist, you haven't a clue do you. Report after report is put out from BOTH Republican and Democrat that we have been mislead, that we are losing and YOU just keep lining up for the Kool Aid! How many people have told you losers that IRAQ didn't have anything to do with the attack on us... it just never sinks in. How many people have told you that the Bush Administration MADE UP the WMD's INTEL and you just keep slinging that mud. What is it with you losers? Why have you become FASCIST? Why is YOUR party more important than your country? Sieg Heil and Amen.

[mbcsmith]

Thank you! These pathetic Nazi's seem to care less about the safety of this nation and the FACT that Bin Laden and the Taliban, who aren't even close to Iraq, have rebuilt and are back in business BIG TIME. These slime balls don't care. They just HAVE to save the fuehrer's face.... as if it's worth saving.
Posted by MCVet at 01:28 PM : Apr 11, 2007

What is your solution to Iraq?

[roger_inkart]

Comment:

They just HAVE to save the fuehrer's face.... as if it's worth saving.

Posted by MCVet at 01:28 PM : Apr 11, 2007

Thus, the danger in attaching your ego and identity to a politician (or anyone, really.) They defend Bush so violently because, in essence, they are actually defending themselves. They can't admit Bush and the Iraq war were wrong because they would mean they were.

The Bush zealots still rattle off tired and meaningless Rovian talking points like it was 2004. But it isn't. It never will be again with any luck.

[skyk-2009]

I LOVE it when the Bush Bootlickers get the nerve to crawl out of their holes. They always have the same tired old lines and within a Week Sir Lies-A-Lot screws something up or something is revealed to drive them right back under their rocks. LMAO But when you are a fascist you just crawl back under, in the slime and garbage and wait until the attention is on something else. Disgusting way to live but they have been doing it for so long I guess it's second nature to them.

[skyk-2009]

What is your solution to Iraq?

Posted by mbcsmith at 01:34 PM : Apr 11, 2007
+ report abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simple. You pull back, defend the nation against attacks from without and just tell them, "Look we took out the Dictator, now it's your turn". The fact now is the same as it was when I was in Vietnam, we can't "Give" our system to them, they MUST be willing to fight for it. They must be willing to extend the same right and benefits to those who differ with then that they want. You can no more MAKE these people do that than you can make our south accept the same Democracy. The difference is we have the ability to drag them kicking an Screaming along with us... these people can't do it.

[perception5]

How many people have told you that the Bush Administration MADE UP the WMD's INTEL and you just keep Posted by MCVet at 01:31 PM : Apr 11, 2007

.....oh MCVet, are you shooting for Liar of the Year award? Let me refresh your contaminated liberal mind.
George Bush to Clinton appointee George Tenet of the CIA.
Our President: "Mr. Tenet does Iraq have WMD's?"
George Tenet: "Mr. President it's a slamp dunk?"

MCVet, you are engaging in the same type of propaganda campaign that the Germans used on their people in the late 1930's. It also happens to be the same type of propaganda that our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack uses in America today................and that is........keep repeating a KNOWN lie and eventually folks will regard it, THE LIE, as the truth........I afraid MCVet you represent posion in the blood stream of this great nation..........and it's really sad in 2007 Americans have to put up with this media corruption.

[pwrslm]

I'm a Combat Vet of Vietnam and I know what I was told. I also know it was ALL lies... that makes YOU a nazi for using such tactics on me. Sieg Heil
Posted by MCVet at

So what. Being an idiot doesnt change the fact that the United States let you serve your country, even if your a traitor today. Its insignificant.

The fact is this poll is nothing to brag about. 39% agree they dont trust a guy. 61% didnt join the yaya club, so phoey, its nothing more than irresponsible journalism, just like your irresponsible posts.

[mcvet]

What is your solution to Iraq?

Posted by mbcsmith at 01:34 PM : Apr 11, 2007
+ report abuse

Are you people completely NUTS?!? Turn IRAQ over to the UN for God's sake, be the good guys and say, okay we did our part. Then you go AFTER the guy who attacked us and the people responsible for 9/11. You Nazi's are so set on FORCING the poor folks of Iraq to submit and save face for your fuehrer that you are completely ignoring the REAL enemy, who has NOW rebuilt and is back at it. THEY ARE NOT IN IRAQ and you losers are going to pay a VERY heavy price for that stupidity, any VETERAN will tell you that. Sieg Heil

[briannorwood]

Mr. McCain,

PLEASE SHUT UP!

[downtowner97]

John McCain: Champion of the disembrained.

[pwrslm]

How many people have told you that the Bush Administration MADE UP the WMD's INTEL and you just keep Posted by MCVet at 01:31 PM : Apr 11, 2007

your such a flake bag.

try researching your topics before you post on them, all your doing is proving that your a clueless bimbo.

You didnt run for congress, your not the president, that means the only thing your good at is ...ewww, nasty, you do that?

[mcvet]

So what. Being an idiot doesnt change the fact that the United States let you serve your country, even if your a traitor today. Its insignificant.

The fact is this poll is nothing to brag about. 39% agree they dont trust a guy. 61% didnt join the yaya club, so phoey, its nothing more than irresponsible journalism, just like your irresponsible posts.
Posted by pwrslm at 01:42 PM : Apr 11, 2007

You jump around and insult Combat Veterans BECAUSE they have defended your slimy Butt. You'll also BLAME someone else when Bin Laden and the Taliban are again killing by the Thousands... who You'll blame is beyond me but rest assured those that you slime dogs call "Liberal's" will, yet again, clean up the mess. Lets answer some questions as an AMERICAN and leave the Fascism out of it. Who planned the attack on this nation? IS that PERSON in IRAQ? Now IF the person who planned the attack on us ISN'T in IRAQ where is he? Well WHY are we after HIM and those who protect HIM? Why are we taking sides between Sunni and Shiite in IRAQ if THEY never attacked us and THEY had nothing to do with any attack on us? Sieg Heil Y'all.

[gwagener]

MCVet wrote:
After FOUR long years and after discovery of ALL the lies the question is why do you still support these people? The entire world sits and wonders why America has turned to Fascist and YOU call us "fickle"?


I didn't say I support Iraq policy, just that if somehow things get better in Iraq it will help McCain greatly in his presidential bid.
I was against the Iraq invasion when the overwhelming majority of Americans were for it. Perhaps you need to look the word "fickle" up in the dictionary. It simply means that people in America are changable.

[football2552]

McCain has absolutely no chance of becoming president, he should just give up. McCain doesn't want to admit he is wrong that is why he lied about how Iraq is doing.

[shingles1]

What I want to know is, who are the 9 percent who think McCain is making things sound WORSE than they really are?

Perception5, Lars008, and One_American must have somehow gotten into the random sample.

[perception5]

Well maybe Katie will be taking this job after this bit of news:

'Katie's Notebook' Item Cribbed From W.S. Journal

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 11, 2007; Page C07

Katie Couric did a one-minute commentary last week on the joys of getting her first library card, but the thoughts were less than original. The piece was substantially lifted from a Wall Street Journal column.

CBS News apologized for the plagiarized passages yesterday and said the commentary had been written by a network producer who has since been fired."

...... oh yeah if Ronald Reagan were alive today we all could here him saying....."Well.....CBS there you go again".
Not sure why CBS (Censoring Broadcasting Station) hasn't posted this BIG story themselves....but we will all keep PRETENDING that there a "straight" news organization...(wink wink)
Yeah liberals CBS is "just the messenger" right??
and FOX is the corrupt news organization right??

[pwrslm]

Are you people completely NUTS?!? Turn IRAQ over to the UN for God's sake,

Posted by MCVet

You mean the same folks that screwed the Iraqi people from 92-2002 through the oil for food program? Wake up, we are living in reality, not your fantasy. The UN is a den of thieves and liars. Maybe you should hang out there, eh? Be much more used to the liars and thieves there, just like home...

[mcvet]

MCVet, you are engaging in the same type of propaganda campaign that the Germans used on their people in the late 1930's. It also happens to be the same type of propaganda that our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack uses in America today................and that is........keep repeating a KNOWN lie and eventually folks will regard it, THE LIE, as the truth........I afraid MCVet you represent posion in the blood stream of this great nation..........and it's really sad in 2007 Americans have to put up with this media corruption.
Posted by perception5 at 01:41 PM : Apr 11, 2007

ABSOLUTE GARBAGE AND ***!! PERIOD! I'm an American telling YOU that you are practicing FASCISM and have been doing so since I've been on these boards. EVERY person who doesn't follow the parties views or anyone who doesn't hold to Bush's views of the world is a "Liberal" or "Lefty". The definiation of the word doesn't matter to you. The FACT that the nation was created by LIBERALS and the GREATEST Generation was LIBERALS doesn't matter to you, you just keep on mud slinging and slandering them. That's FASCISM in every nation on this planet. Sieg Heil Y'all.

[mcvet]

MCVet, you are engaging in the same type of propaganda campaign that the Germans used on their people in the late 1930's. It also happens to be the same type of propaganda that our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack uses in America today................and that is........keep repeating a KNOWN lie and eventually folks will regard it, THE LIE, as the truth........I afraid MCVet you represent posion in the blood stream of this great nation..........and it's really sad in 2007 Americans have to put up with this media corruption.
Posted by perception5 at 01:41 PM : Apr 11, 2007

ABSOLUTE GARBAGE AND ***!! PERIOD! I'm an American telling YOU that you are practicing FASCISM and have been doing so since I've been on these boards. EVERY person who doesn't follow the parties views or anyone who doesn't hold to Bush's views of the world is a "Liberal" or "Lefty". The definiation of the word doesn't matter to you. The FACT that the nation was created by LIBERALS and the GREATEST Generation was LIBERALS doesn't matter to you, you just keep on mud slinging and slandering them. That's FASCISM in every nation on this planet. Sieg Heil Y'all.