Poll: Most Americans Think Clinton Lied, But Don't Want Impeachment
Approval for Hillary Clinton, Al Gore remains high
By Keating Holland/CNN
WASHINGTON (Aug. 24) -- A new CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll finds that although most Americans do not want Congress to impeach President Bill Clinton and remove him from office, they don't want him to get off scot-free either.
Twenty-four percent support impeachment and another 41 percent say that Congress should pass a resolution expressing formal disapproval of his actions. Only 32 percent think that Congress should take no formal action against Clinton.
The president's confession last Monday that he had an "inappropriate" relationship with Monica Lewinsky significantly increased the number of Americans who believe he lied under oath while in office, and also convinced a smaller number that he tried to obstruct justice.
Ninety-three percent of Americans now believe that Clinton had "sexual relations of any kind" with Lewinsky, although 40 percent are still not convinced that those charges are definitely true.
Another effect of Clinton's speech last week: Americans are now slightly more likely to believe Lewinsky than Clinton if their statements before the grand jury conflict.
Forty-six percent would tend to believe Lewinsky on points where her testimony differs from Clinton's; 41 percent would tend to believe Clinton's version of events. Only 31 percent think Clinton should address the nation again to further explanation his relationship with Lewinsky.
The results of the poll are based on interviews with 1,317 adult Americans conducted August 21-23. Most questions have a sampling margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
Should Clinton Give Another Speech On Lewinsky?
Yes 31%
No 67
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
What Action Should Congress Take Toward Clinton?
Impeach 24%
Censure 41
No action 32
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
Note: This finding is based on a question which presented these three options only. Impeach meaning "impeach and remove him from office" and censure being defined as a "resolution expressing formal disapproval of his actions but do not remove him from office." When faced with only two choices, impeachment or no impeachment, 29 percent favor impeachment and 67 percent oppose.
Charges That Clinton Lied Under Oath Are True
Now 80%
August 7-8 68
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Charges That Clinton Obstructed Justice Are True
Now 55%
August 7-8 49
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Charges That Clinton Had Sexual Relations With Lewinsky
Definitely true 53%
Probably true 40
Not true 5
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Whom Do You Tend To Believe More?
Now August 7-8
Lewinsky 46% 44%
Clinton 41 44
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Most Americans think that Clinton will be a success, not a failure, in his remaining time in office, but 71 percent think that he will mostly be remembered as president for his involvement in personal scandal, not his accomplishments.
Fifty-seven percent say that he betrayed the public trust in the Lewinsky matter, but an equal number say that his personal life doesn't matter as long as he does a good job of running the country.
And Americans are indeed satisfied with the way things are going in the United States. Sixty-three percent feel that way; that's comparable to how the public felt after the Persian Gulf War and at the height of the Reagan-era economic boom in 1986.
That satisfaction may be why 56 percent say that they are glad Clinton is president. Clinton would also beat Bob Dole by ten points, 46 percent to 36 percent, among registered voters if the 1996 election were rerun today.
Clinton As President For Rest of His Term in Office
Success 60%
Failure 33
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Clinton Will Be Remembered For...
Scandal 71%
Accomplishments 23
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Did Clinton Betray Public Trust?
Yes 57%
No 41
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Clinton's Personal Life Doesn't Matter
Agree 57%
Disagree 41
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
How Things Are Going In Country Today
Satisfied 63%
Dissatisfied 34
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Are You Glad That Clinton Is President?
Yes 56%
No 42
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Registered Voters' Choice If 1996 Election Were Held Now
Clinton 46%
Dole 36
Perot 11
Registered voters only
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
Only one in five Americans believe that Hillary Rodham Clinton should leave her husband, but the number who say she should publicly defend him has dropped slightly since February.
Forty percent now say that she should stay with him but not defend him in public. Sixty-one percent have a favorable impression of Mrs. Clinton. That number is virtually unchanged from polls taken both before her husband's speech last week and since the start of the year.
Hillary Clinton Should...
Publicly defend her husband 32%
Stay with him, but don't
defend him 40
Leave her husband 18
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Opinion of Hillary Clinton
Favorable 61%
Unfavorable 33
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
What about Al Gore? Clinton's problems appear to have had little effect on public attitudes towards the vice president.
Twice as many people think he is honest and trustworthy than feel the same about his boss. More Americans also believe that Gore shares their values and shows good judgment than believe the same about Clinton.
The public thinks that both men care about the needs of people like them. But Gore may not be out of the woods yet. A majority believe that Attorney General Janet Reno should appoint an independent counsel to investigate the charges that Democrats, including Gore and Clinton, illegally raised campaign funds in 1996.
Independent Counsel For Campaign Fundraising?
Favor 53%
Oppose 41
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Honest and Trustworthy?
Clinton Gore
Yes 31% 63%
No 67 25
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
Shares Your Values?
Clinton Gore
Yes 37% 52%
No 61 35
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
Shows Good Judgment?
Clinton Gore
Yes 35% 57%
No 64 29
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Cares About the Needs of People Like You?
Clinton Gore
Yes 62% 59%
No 36 31
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
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