CBS Poll: Clinton To Blame

Most Americans continue to separate their positive evaluations of President Clinton's performance in office from negative assessments of his morality and character, according to the latest CBS News poll.

Who Is More To Blame?

CLINTON 53% ENEMIES 39%

This poll was conducted Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with nearly half the respondents interviewed after independent counsel Kenneth Starr's report was sent to the House of Representatives. There were few differences in overall assessments before and after.

THE PRESIDENT'S JOB PERFORMANCE

Clinton's Job Ratings

APPROVE Overall 59% Foreign Policy 62% Economy 73% DISAPPROVE Overall 34% Foreign Policy 28% Economy 17%

This is the first time the president's overall job approval has dropped below 60 percent since January, before and immediately after the accusations that there had been a sexual relationship between Mr. Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

Sixty-three percent describe the president as having strong qualities of leadership. Yet, in this poll, there are increasing concerns about the president's ability to continue to do his job. Seventy-one percent now say they believe the scandal will have a serious impact on the next two years of the administration, up from 60 percent just three weeks ago.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN NOW?

Scandal Has Had A Serious Impact On White House?

NOW 71% Aug. 19-20 60%

As has been the case almost since the beginning of the investigation into the Lewinsky matter, many Americans seem to favor only limited action. In fact, while more support Congressional censure of the president than do not, the margin is not overwhelming. Forty-eight percent say Congress should censure the president, while 40 percent say it should not.

Better For Country If Clinton Resigned?

YES 26% NO 69%

The public, at least, is not convinced about the fairness of either the report or the investigation. Half have concerns about the report itself. Forty-one percent say the report will be a fair and balanced look at all of the facts, while 50 percent expect it to be one-sided. As has been the case since the early days of the scandal, more than twice as many people view the entire Starr investigation as partisan as view it as an impartial investigation.

Will Ken Starr's Report Lead To Impeachment?

YES 54% NO 31%

The public tends to move more slowly than political elites, and it is impossible to predict what will happen if the entire report is released and read. By 61 percent to 30 percent, Americans want the report to be made public.

Regardless of what Congress decides to do with the report, a majority of Americans believe the report will lead to Congressional impeachment hearings.

ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITY
The public's assessments of Mr. Clinton's morality and honesty have fallen significantly since the beginning of the scandal. Only 32 percent now say he shares the moral values most Americans try to live by. Only 22 percent describe him as having more honesty and integrity than most people in public life.

Nearly as many people have an unfavorable opinion of the president as have a favorable one Forty-three percent have a favorable opinion. Forty-one percent an unfavorable one. The last time Mr. Clinton's favorable rating was this mixed was in the period after the 1994 election, which resulted in Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate. At that time, however, the president's approval rating was at or below 40 percent.

As the president continues to make public statements taking responsibility for his actions, Americans are now blaming the president more for creating the situation than they did before his Aug. 17 speech to the country. Before the speech, a majority said the president's political enemies were more to blame. Now a majority say he is to blame.

While half the public says they are satisfied with President Clinton's statements about the Lewinsky matter, 42 percent think he still needs to say more on the matter.

The scandal may have increased public concern about moral issues overall. When asked to name the most important problem facing the nation, 12 percent cited moral values—making it the most frequently cited issue. Although some respondents have always mentioned morality when asked to name the most important problem facing the country, the figure rose both in January, when the scandal first emerged, and in this poll. Much of the increase appears to come from Republicans. Twenty-two percent of Republicans in this poll cite moral values as the country's most important problem, and an additional 10 percent specify the scandal as the biggest problem.