More support for an Iran strike than you probably thought
The Israel Project released a poll this afternoon finding that 55 percent of Americans would approve of the "United States and its allies making targeted conventional military strikes against Iran's nuclear weapons facilities" – a surprisingly high number considering the opposition generated by the war in Iraq.
At a press conference announcing the findings – which technically were 33 percent strongly approving and an additional 22 percent somewhat approving – pollster Frank Luntz suggested that the reason was simply that "Iran scares people."
"He is the most frightening world leader," said Luntz of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Americans are disturbed by his threats.
An Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities is less popular among Americans, with only 43 percent approving and 48 percent disapproving. But if economic and diplomatic sanctions fail and Iran acquires nuclear capability, the approval number rises to 63 percent.
Still, there was a great deal of support for diplomacy, with 62 percent saying an "opportunity for a diplomatic solution still exists."
Luntz also presented research on the language of the presidential candidates on Iran and Israel. Using a technique he is frequently seen utilizing on cable television news channels, focus groups turn a dial in a positive or negative direction to signal their opinion on the words being said by the candidate.
He showed the groups of voters, half leaning Republican and half leaning Democrat, portions of the candidates' speeches at this year's AIPAC policy conference. He noted that voters partcularly like when candidates present specific details on the Iranian threat, as Barack Obama did in his speech. He said that Hillary Clinton's strong statement of "no nuclear weapons for Iran" received over 90 percent approval from both sides of the aisle – something he had never seen before. And he said John McCain gets significantly lower numbers from Democrats than Republicans when he talks about Iran because "he reminds them of George W. Bush."
The survey of 800 likely voters was conducted by telephone in late July by Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies and Stan Greenberg of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percent.
26 Comments
Share This
Democratic convention,
Iran
Comments RSS Feed Reader Comments
Mark, how tacky too place “Esq.” after your name. Are you really that much of a pompus individual? I don’t understand why America has to do Israel’s dirty work? At what cost is too much for the Americans to keep supporting Zionisom causes, the average American cares about paying the mortgage, feeding their kids and filling up their gas tank, and not what the Israeli lobbyists agendas are down in Washington or over in Tel Aviv.
Barrack Obama stated in the primaries that he is prepared to meet, discuss and arrange accords with Achmendinijad of Iran. History shows this very same approach was done by Neville Chamberlain the Prime Minister of England only with Hitler of Germany. He reached an accord with Hitler and came back to England waving a document and calling it “Peace In Our Time. We all know what happened! The second World War and the attempted eradication of the Jewish race.
Obama wants to act same as and will end up the Neville Chamberlain of our time.
Hamid -
Being the “pompous” individual that I am, I’m impelled to point out, relative to the specific lament you express concerning the onerous gas prices Americans face at the pump, that it is your brethern who seem to be reaping the windfall off the misfortune you allude to. I, of course, don’t expect you to appreciate the incongruity whereof the sheiks of this world, ruling over lands of abundant material resource but utterly bereft of human spirit and talent, hold the cards over the heads of American consumers, but ...
It cannot be better in the long run if don’t strike. Once these hotshots get their nukes, ludicrous demands and claims will follow...and wars.
Its Frank Luntz. I wouldn’t believe his poll at all since he is a professional manipulator. He even wrote a book on it. He’s also a pro-Israel Neocon and frankly they have no credibility but be sure that our media will swallow this garbage. Israel matters more than anything our politicians. America is a distant third behind Israel and Iraq. People are losing homes, the automakers are finished, oil through the roof and all the Jews want is another stupid wasteful war.
“...that it is your brethern who seem to be reaping the windfall off the misfortune you allude to...”
Actually OPEC is only a part of the problem with high gas prices, the main catalyst are speculators. Also last time I checked Haliburton and oil companies such as Exxon have posted record profits each quarter for the last 3 years. Sorry Mark, but your point lacks basic logic, all people like you care about is the survival of Israel (your real brethren) not the average American. Why do you still continue to use “Esq.” after your name? Do you sign all of your letters like that as well?
I am “impelled” to jump in here and agree with Hamid on all counts.
First of all, this poll asks if those polled approve of strikes against Iran’s “nuclear weapons facilities”. That assumes that they even have nuclear weapons facilities. As of now, it has only been determined that they have refinement facilities that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allows, a treaty that both the US & Iran have signed.
I don’t trust Frank Luntz one bit.
If the questions had been asked differently, without the use of misleading language, the outcome would have been far different.
For example, if those polled had been asked if it meant them paying $10 per gallon for gas and heating oil would they be willing to strike Iran, what do you think their answers would have been?
Mary, like Hamid your startling lack of knowledge, reliance on unguided/unrefined supposition ex cathedra, willingness to jump to unwarranted conclusions and ability to ignore manifest evidence which runs counter to your prejudices (most notably antisemitism in your case, Mary) marks you for being, ... shall we say less than a rocket scientist. I can only hope that the rest of the antisemites (who for some reason unknown seem to have alighted in a curious chorus upon the JTA post comment space, have the same mental capacities as Mary and Hamid respectively display.
Leave a Comment
To comment on this article, you must first be registered with JTA.
Not Registered?
There are real advantages to a FREE registration with JTA.org:
- Make your voice heard through comments on articles
- Receive our e-mailed Daily Briefing, an invaluable quick-read
- Help decide what Jewish news matters most with interactive tools
Register Now
Already a JTA member?
Daniel
08/28/08 01:05 PM
all military instalations should be bombed in iran.. the rest i wouldnt worry about.