Americans Overwhelmingly Back President
By Richard Morin and Claudia Deane
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 21, 2001; 12:32 AM
President Bush begins his war on international terrorism with overwhelming public support for a sustained and broad-based attack on terrorists and the nations that shelter them, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.
The survey, taken immediately after Bush's address to Congress and the nation, also found that 91 percent of Americans currently support the way Bush has handled last week's murderous terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Bush clearly helped himself and his efforts to unite the country behind a sustained war on terrorism. Eight in 10 Americans said they watched or listened to the president's speech. And they liked what they heard: Of those who listened to the president, eight in 10 said it made them feel more confident in the country's ability to deal with the crisis.
"I thought it was a really good speech," said Charlene Thompson, 57, of Bradley, Ill. "It made me feel more safe. It make me feel they are definitely going to do something, and that everybody is joined together."
The survey also suggests that most Americans have heard the president's repeated warnings that the war on terrorism will be long. But substantially fewer expect large numbers of casualties, suggesting that public attitudes could change if the conflict becomes particularly bloody.
Overall, nearly eight in 10 expected that the war would last a year or more – and 57 percent said it would extend for several years. About half – 53 percent – predicted that "not that many" U.S. troops would be killed or injured, while 37 percent said they expected large numbers of casualties.
"I think it's going to be long," said Patricia Geskey, 63 an insurance agent in Lincoln, Ill. "These people have no inhibitions about using germ warfare, no inhibitions about killing themselves. But we're going to have a minimum loss because we're smarter than they are. We don't kill ourselves. We want to bring our boys home. They don't."
Even among those who expected many casualties, eight in 10 favored going to war with terrorists.
Annette Guttirrez, 42, of Senoia, Ga., has two grown sons. One is in the Army reserves, the other is a Marine reservist. "I know both might probably go." Still, Guttirrez said she would accept a long war with large numbers of casualties.
"Some have to lose to gain the freedom and opportunity for many," she said. "We were taught that in school. Kids are still taught that today."
A total of 526 randomly selected adults were interviewed for this survey. Margin of sampling error for the overall results is plus or minus 5 percentage points. The practical difficulties of doing a survey in a single night represent additional potential sources of error.
More than six in 10 – 63 percent – agreed with Bush that the country should mount "a broader war against terrorist groups and the nations that support them." One in four favored targeting only those terrorists and countries that were directly responsible for last week's attacks. The remainder – about one in 10 – opposed an all-out war against terrorists or were uncertain.
"I think we should go after terrorists in general," said Bill Clayton, 60, of Wiggins, Miss., who watched the president's speech. "I think now is the time to deal with all of them – everybody who supports them."
Other findings suggested that Americans supported an all-out war against terrorism because the country currently has no better option. When asked what would create the greatest risk of further terrorist attacks, nearly three in four said taking no military action would be riskier than military strikes.
Bush continues to get high marks for the way he has handled the response to the terrorist attacks, winning approval from overwhelming majorities of self-described Republicans (97 percent), Democrats (91 percent) and political independents (87 percent).
"I think he's handling it very well," said Arthur Andrade, 49, of Farmington Hills, Mich. "I didn't vote for him. I am not an admirer. But he really seems to shine through on this. He's taken control of the situation and his caution has been a wise thing."
Bush had attempted to reach out to both Democrats and Republicans in his speech last night, and he clearly succeeded. More than three in four Democrats and political independents who viewed the speech, as well as nearly nine in 10 Republicans, said the president's address had made them feel "more confident" about the country's ability to deal with the crisis.
The president's call for more airport security, additional help to law enforcement agencies investigating terrorism and the creation of a new cabinet position for domestic security also were broadly welcomed.
Seven in 10 – 69 percent – said they were confident that these measures would reduce the risk of another major terrorist attack, while three in 10 doubted they would have much success.
"I don't think terrorism can be stopped," said Michael Gromacki, 31, of Minneapolis. "But it can be reduced greatly. I'm a realist. We just need to do whatever can be done."
Despite the plummeting stock market and additional layoffs in the wake of last week's attacks, the survey found little change in the public's perception of the country's overall economic health, perceptions which had begun their downward slide in the first part of the year.
A majority – 57 percent – said the country was headed into a recession, up from 53 percent immediately before the attacks and unchanged from last Thursday. Six in 10 currently rate the overall economy as "not so good" or "poor," down slightly from 66 percent two weeks ago.
© 2001 The Washington Post Company
Best Regards, J.T. |
