CBS Poll: Pastor's Remarks Hurt Obama

While Most Are Unaffected By Controversy, A Third Of Those Who Have Heard About It View Obama Less Favorably

(CBS)  A new CBS News poll finds that while most voters who have heard at least something about controversial statements made by Barack Obama's longtime pastor say their view of the Democratic presidential candidate is unchanged, a third say it has made them feel more negative about Obama.

The poll found that among registered voters, 25 percent said they had heard "a lot" about Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments, while 33 percent said they had heard some. Forty-two percent said they hadn't heard about the comments.

Of those voters, sixty-five percent said it didn’t make a difference in their view of Obama. However, of those whose opinion is changed, the net impact is very negative. Thirty percent said it made them have a less favorable view, whereas 2 percent said it made their view more favorable.

Interviewing for these questions was completed Sunday and Monday, before Obama's speech on the subject today.

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See The Complete Poll Results
Obama Urges End To "Racial Stalemate"
Full Transcript Of Obama's Remarks
Video: Obama On Anger Between Races

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Democrats are especially apt to say their views are unchanged, with 76 percent saying it has made no difference of their view of Obama, 15 percent saying it made their view less favorable and 2 percent saying it made their view more favorable.

Republicans are the most likely to say their view has been affected: 47 percent say they've become less favorable, and 53 percent said it did not make a different.

Sixty-one percent of independent voters say they are unaffected, but 36 percent said it made their view less favorable. Two percent of independents said it made them more favorable view.

Overall, unfavorable views of Obama are up somewhat from February. His favorable ratings remain largely unchanged at 44 percent, but there has been some movement from undecided views to unfavorable views, from 23 percent in February to 30 percent now.

Among Democratic primary voters, unfavorable views have doubled, but favorable views remain dominant: more than six in ten Democratic primary voters are positive.

Independent voters - a group Obama has successfully courted in many primaries and would try to draw in the general election - still view him favorably, about the same as last month. Unfavorable views have risen among Republicans.

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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 844 adults nationwide, including 749 registered voters, interviewed by telephone March 15 - 17, 2008. Interviewing for the questions on Wright and Obama was conducted March 16-17, 2008 among a sample of 355 registered voters. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points and five points for those questions. The error for subgroups is higher.

[sonofman2]

On several occasions I%u2019ve heard Pastor John Hagee on TBN during his sermon that because Judges in certain states has caused God to Dam America. Now, Pastor Hagee backs John McCain. Pat Roberts the evangelical on the 700 club said that God has Damed America because of it acceptance of homosexuals. This Rev has also backed John McCain. Now are you going to ask McCain to disenfranchise these two ministers? There are a lot of white Americans in this country that heard their parents or grandparent use racial overtones in their presences (homes). WAKE-UP WHITE AMERICANS! The Declaration of Independence says: We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal. The darker Americans are far more forgiven than the white Americans. Out side of professional sports the darker Americans are on many occasion are harassed. They can%u2019t go into a store without being watched, racial profiled by police officers, not given adequate pay by their employer and in many cases they are denied housing in certain communities. This country should not be called the United States. They should rename it to the %u201CDIVIDED STATES%u201D.

[jacenda23]

The pastor''s comments have not changed my view of Obama at all. After his first few sentences, it was obvious he was an angry, ranting lunatic. The sad part is, he claims to be a man of God, yet through the use of his vulgar language, pessamistic tone and degrading terminology - as well as the using of the term of anyone as being mixed race as being born "trash", is quite the opposite example of what a leader in the church should be. Sometimes a reminder of why many choose to be spiritual and practice in their own way instead of attending church (of any denomination) because of the politics, corruption, and self-serving messages that are now a common part of church.
Heck, say what you want about the Catholic church, but in all the time I attended Catholic Mass growing up, I never once heard my preacher use the term "****" to describe female breasts, nor did he degrade a person solely on the fact that they were born of a father of one race and a mother of another race. Hopefully, with all the intermixing of races these days, no young children were subjected to hearing that term used to describe them.

[lindadreamin]

The Wright story has NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on my choice for President. I look at someone''s legislative record first and I don''t care what someone''s religion is. The only person running for President with a truly distinctive legislative record - in terms of quality not quantity - is Barack Obama.

Oh and by the way judgment and wisdom trump experience.

[tbweb]

Maybe the reason Sen. Clinton didn''t use Rev. Jeremiah Wright against Sen. Obama was because her husband former Pres. Bill Clinton had contacts with Rev. Jeremiah Wright too!

During one of the most difficult periods in the presidency of Bill Clinton, he addressed a group of clerics at an annual prayer breakfast in September 1998 just as the Starr report outlining his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky was about to be published.

Among those in attendance, was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., who is seen shaking hands with Mr. Clinton in a photograph provided today by the Obama campaign. Mr. Wright%u2019s relationship with Senator Barack Obama, as his longtime pastor, has been the subject of considerable controversy in recent days because of incendiary excerpts of sermons Mr. Wright gave at their church, Trinity United Church of Christ, in Chicago.

Dear Pastor Wright:

Thank you so much for your kind message.
I am touched by your prayers and by the many expressions of encouragement and support I have received from friends across our country.

You have my best wishes.

Sincerely,
Bill Clinton

Source: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/photograph-of-bill-clinton-and-rev-wright-surfaces/

[it_oldtimer]

I must confess (as a reasonably affluent white American) that I actually agreed with pretty much everything Wright has said. He hit the nail(s) squarely on the head, in my humble opinion.

Kudos to him for having the guts to speak the truth. It''s a pity that so many of us still just can''t take it. Most of us are apparently still not comfortable without our blinders on, I guess.

[fprofit]

This is my first time being involved in politics and it will be my last. I am so tired of heading about the remarks of Wright. The media refuse to let it go. Some people are holding Barack responsible bacause he just happens to be a member of Wright''s church and he''s running for the President of the United States. However, I must remember that there is no way to grafe a new idea on closed minds, meaning not holding Barack responsible for what Wright said and for what Wright''s beliefs. I truly believe this is so wrong.

[finewoven]

If OBAMA WANTED TO EFFECT CHANGE AND HOPE FOR THIS COUNTRY HE SHOULD ADMIT THAT HE IS WRONG AND THAT TO UNITE THIS COUNTRY HE NEEDS TO START WITH HIM, BY QUITING AND SPENDING THE REST OF HIS LIFE WRITING THE WRONGS THAT REVERAND WRIGHT HAS CAUSED THROUGH HIS SO CALLED CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.
Posted by Hillarygrl34 at 07:40 PM : Mar 19, 2008

What you fail to understand, and the pastor fails to comment on, is that Jesus already did this. By dying for mankind''s sins, he helped along the "righting of many wrongs" that have occured since sinful man began. This is the Christian Ministry.

[finewoven]

Terrorist won''''t respect an OLD man in need of geritol and his "blankie", nor would terrorist respect a woman offering them brownies and cookies either.
Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 02:07 PM : Mar 20, 2008

Who gives a *** what terrorist''s respect. I don''t respect terrorists and don''t care whether they respect me. The worst reason to answer the question of whether a person is considered a good president, is what my enemy''s perception of my choice.

[pepperwood2]

How could this happen! 35+ years experience???

3 AM call to Whitehouse - Oct 3 1993 - Muslim extremists attack US Troops in Mogadishu, Somalia. 18 killed 90 wounded

The Clintons response: withdraw troops
Clintons decides to cut losses, Sets timetable, declares that American troops are to be fully withdrawn from Somalia by March 31 1994. The hunt for Aidid is abandoned, and US representatives are sent to resume negotiations with the warlord.

Builds Confidence of Muslim extremists to plan further action in Africa, Middle East, Europe & USA.

[blkpresident]

Rev. Wright and his church are NOT running for president folks, so let''s get back to the real issues: OLD man McCain''s age and ''lil Hillary''s apron strings. Terrorist won''t respect an OLD man in need of geritol and his "blankie", nor would terrorist respect a woman offering them brownies and cookies either.

[jon2012-2009]

877 people polled is such an insignificant sample, that this poll is skewed, by what I am hearing is that Democrats are embarrased to even SAY there voting for Obama. Do a bigger Sample and we can get a better picture.
Posted by Hillarygrl34 at 07:38 PM : Mar 19, 2008

Maybe I''ll believe you if you at least majored in statistics in college.

[whanna4]

for me obama could steal this election, knowing what we do now, would iowa, idaho, open primary states and the stupid caucus states still vote for barack in the same numbers? i don''t think so.

[canyoutellme-2009]

Barack Hussein needs to fall on his own sword, or else the DNC needs to help him with the job. If he gets the nomination this boy is cold meat when the patriotic organizations get through with him next summer. This "God Damm America" bit isn''''t ever going away.


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Posted by trapbreak at 01:17 PM : Mar 19, 2008
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can you do me a favor? Can you tell me exactly when Barack Obama himself said "God D*mn America" please? I have searched long and hard for that and can''t seem to find a single reference to Obama himself saying that. I have found numerous things such as yesterday''s speech which CLEARLY showed his patriotism for the US. But, if you have evidence for the contrary, please advise.

BTW, if someone''s parents or brother or sister or something say something YOU don''t agree with, would YOU disown them? or still love them like family? If you did disown them, wouldn''t you be disloyal to your family? Barack''s church is part of his family. Why would he abandon them? That would be pathetic for him to abandon his Pastor who wed him and his wife and baptized his children... and to abandon the congregation he''s known for 20 years. Takes a man of HIGH moral courage to stick with his family. BTW, i''m a WHITE JEW who is FOR Barack.

HAve a nice day!

[walker1209]

I am soooo sick of all of this rhetoric; can anyone (candiates, citizens) talk about the issues? I don''t see how any of this foolishness can help the current state of America. As far as what the Pastor said, I think a lot of this stuff is garbage; but he has an absolute right to say it. But Senator Obama''s supporters need to understand that other candidates surrogates have a right to say what they want also. With such pressing problems as housing/or the lack thereof, health care, rising food prices, failing schools, etc. I am supposed to get exorcised over what this man or Gerry Ferraro say. GET REAL FOLKS!!! WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!

[desertclair]

Obama had 20 years to influence his pastor to a higher perspective on race. He didn''t do it. That means he is great at making speeches about change, but doesn%u2019t have the courage to take "action" for change when he should. So...We need Florida and Michigan to re-vote! We must vote Obama out of this race if we want a chance for "change" from the current Republican agenda, because I do not believe Obama can win the general election now that his pastor''s sermons are public. The Republicans will use them to scare people. If Obama opposes these re-votes, he is putting himself above what may be best for the country, because people voted for him before they really knew him . Thank you ABC for investigating him for us!

[jon2012-2009]

What has the Dem party done for the black race oh I know helped them get ten million abortions yea way to look out for them. One day blacks will see who realy has brought them down.

Posted by getrealnow2 at 12:06 PM : Mar 19, 2008

I don''t know that Republicans don''t do abortions, with or without encouragement from anybody. Of course, they''re a touch hypocritical and like to pay lip service to how it''s a sin and so on. What counts is appearances in the eyes of your fellow men. I bet they do more abortions than any other group in American society.

[drum747]

Obama has shown that his "Superior judgement" is not so good!! Anybody who would support him at this point also has flawed judgement.Period.

[liny516]

Interesting poll. So let''s see, immediately after the worst thing that has happened to Mr. Obama, most people''s feelings about him have not changed.

I would be interested in seeing the same poll three or four weeks from now after high emotions have calmed down.

it''s interesting that rabid Clinton supporters want Mr. Obama to leave despite the fact that he leads Clinton even in new polling. He may have dropped, but that''s expected immediately after something like this. Clinton and her supporters including the two rabid ones right below my post can''t come to grips with the fact that she will not be coronated queen of the US.

It''s quite apparent also that there is a lot of racism in the Democratic Party. This is evident by the repeated unecessary use of Mr. Obama''s middle name. By now, everyone knows what his middle name is. Despite that, he is still on top. Hillary should quit and stop destroying the Party. I won''t vote for Hillary if she steals the nomination. Her nomination will energize the right and turn off many young voters and minorities who are democratics. She will also turn off Indep., who are the key vote for both parties.

[myshiba]

Please can everybody stop theis race baiting. l am a white female and l will be voting for barack Obama becasue at this point in history he is the best person for the presidency.

He is not beholden by special interest, he does not take money from lobbyist and one million of ordinary Americans like me have donated to him and l beg you to stop dividing us against racial lines.

It is time for our government to work for people like you and me instead of their ''''special interest''''agenda.

Barack Obama for ordinary people like you and me!!

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What makes you say that (please be specific)? This is a serious question.

[observerq]

If the Repulicans are satisfied with a candidate that doesn''t know the correct data about the subject matter with which he is speaking regarding an Iranian Shiite extremist group and the Sunni terrorist group Al-Quaeda, making it terribly apparent with his repeated misquote, that is really unfortunate.

On another note: Is there really any more to be said about Rev Wright''s comments and Obama''s loyalty to this country as well his ability to lead it? His true sentiment which is much different than Rev Wright''s was highlighted in the speech he gave on yesterday. It is apparent that his intent is to lead this country as a president willing to bridge the gaps between people. He has addressed the issue and made it clear what his true beliefs are. Is there a political advantage to be gained in the constant attention to this situation?