You Can See The Problem Here
There’s a new poll out on the all-important “birther” question. Here are some interesting results:
A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll finds that 77% of Americans believe President Obama was Indeed Born in the United States, with only 11% saying he was not — but there’s no clear verdict among Republicans.
Among Republicans, it’s a much weaker plurality of only 42% who say Obama was born in the U.S., with 28% saying he was not, with a very high undecided number of 30%. Among Democrats, the number is 93%-4%, and among independents it’s 83%-8%.
No wonder Republicans seem hopelessly confused on this issue, their base is wildly out of step with the rest of America.
Here is a futher breakdown, by region and by political registration:
ADDING AN EXCELLENT GRAPH:
h/t Kevin Drum
So 11 percent of Americans are Obama-hating conspiracy theorists. How do they break down?
Yes No Not sure
Dem 93 4 3
Rep 42 28 30
Ind 83 8 9Northeast 93 4 3
South 47 23 30
Midwest 90 6 4
West 87 7 6
This is further evidence that Republicans have become a regional party, out of step with the rest of the country.
Tags: Birthers, Republican Crazy
It’s even better than that, UI. Also from Daily Kos:
We asked two extra questions this week (the correct answer to both is YES):
QUESTION: Do you believe that America and Africa were once part of the same continent?
QUESTION: Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States of America or not?
We will deal with the second question separately (how extensively do you think birthers have infiltrated the Republican party?), but as for the science question (detailed answers after the fold):
YES NO NOT SURE
ALL 42% 26% 32%
DEM 51% 16% 33%
REP 24% 47% 29%
IND 44% 23% 33%
OTH/REF 42% 25% 33%
NON VOTERS 46% 22% 32%
Republicans flunked the science question, whereas everyone else passes. Regionally, the South didn’t do that well either.
NORTHEAST 50% 18% 32%
SOUTH 32% 37% 31%
MIDWEST 46% 22% 32%
WEST 43% 24% 33%
What are they teaching in science class these days? And isn’t it amazing that regions and parties have their own facts? Perhaps we should ask how old the earth is, or whether the real life Fred Flintstone had a dinosaur as a pet.
anon,
They really live in their own alternate reality. I guess that’s why they are so angry, because real reality collides with alternate reality a lot. There is always a constant fight over teaching science correctly in some places where it clashes with the religious beliefs of some people. You can see it in the poll question.
Plate tectonics fall into the same bucket as evolution for these young earthers.
Yes, plate tectonics goes against believing the earth is only 4000 years old. I don’t think plate tectonics is taught much at all in school, though.
Seriously, I think the anger in the South over the Civil War has not yet subsided.
Moreover, Sherman’s scorched earth march into Georgia remains an open sore among true Southerners.
Add to that the absolutist religious anti-science fundamentalism prevalent in the much of the South, and you have a divide that has not yet healed, in fact, it seems to be worsening these days, to the point where they seem to be occupying another planet!
Will someone please take my comment out of moderation?
Thanks nemski!