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Poll: Public still prefers censureDecember 19, 1998Web posted at: 4:28 p.m. EST (2128 GMT) WASHINGTON (December 19) -- Nearly half of the American public, looking forward to the next step in the impeachment process, want the Senate to end a trial immediately and vote to censure President Bill Clinton instead, according to a new CNN/TIME Poll. Another third would prefer to avoid a Senate trial by having Clinton resign, and only one in six say they want to see a Senate trial proceed. The results are not surprising: censure remains the most popular option among the public. If given a choice between impeachment, censure or no action at all, 43 percent say they would most like to see Congress censure Clinton and just 30 percent would prefer impeachment. Most Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic party, but only 36 percent of the public has a favorable view of the Republican party. The poll also shows that the number of Americans who say that things are going well in the country has dropped from 78 percent in October to 60 percent today. One potential reason for that may be the 74 percent who say that political events in Washington are out of control. Clinton's approval rating, at 64 percent, remains high, as does the number of Americans who approve of the decision to attack Iraq. Three-quarters favor using military force to remove Saddam Hussein from power, the highest figure recorded since 1991. The new CNN/TIME Poll was based on interviews with 1,031 adult Americans conducted December 17-18, before the House voted on articles of impeachment. The poll has a margin of sampling error ranging from +/- 3 percentage points to +/- 4 percentage points, depending on the question. Here are the questions and answers: Question 1: As you probably know, the House of Representatives is considering a resolution to impeach President Clinton. If the majority of the House votes for impeachment, the Senate would have to decide whether Clinton is guilty and should be removed from office. Based on what you know, do you think the House should vote for or against the impeachment of Bill Clinton? Should House Impeach Clinton?Yes 37% No 61% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 2: If the vote goes through in the House of Representatives, an impeachment trial will be conducted in the Senate, where a two-thirds vote would remove Clinton from office. Which of these options do you think would be best for the country -- for the Senate trial to go ahead in order to determine guilt or innocence, for the Senate to end the trial immediately and vote to censure, or for Clinton to end the trial immediately by resigning from office? If House Impeaches Clinton, What Should Happen?Senate trial 16% No trial/resignation 31% No trial/censure 48% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 3: Which of the following possible outcomes of the investigation of Bill Clinton would you most like to see happen -- Clinton is impeached and removed from office, Clinton is censured by Congress and remains in office, or Clinton remains in office and Congress takes no action against him? What Would You Prefer To See Congress Do?Now October Censure Clinton 43% 28% Impeach Clinton 30% 12% No action 25% 34% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 4: How well do you think things are going in the country these days -- very well, fairly well, badly, or very badly? Things Are Going Well In Country TodayNow 60% October 78% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 5: Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with this statement: "Political events in Washington are out of control." Are Political Events Out of Control?Yes 74% No 24% Sampling error: +/-4% pts Question 6: Please tell me whether you have generally favorable or generally unfavorable impressions of the Democrats/Republicans in Congress, or whether you are not familiar enough to say one way or the other? Opinion of Parties in CongressFavorable Unfavorable Democrats 53% 27% Republicans 36% 47% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 7: In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Clinton is handling his job as President? How Clinton is Handling His Job as PresidentApprove 64% Disapprove 32% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 8: Do you approve or disapprove of the decision to attack Iraq? U.S. Attack on IraqApprove 69% Disapprove 21% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 9: Do you favor or oppose using military force now to remove Saddam Hussein from power? Favor Using Military Force To Remove Saddam From PowerNow 76% 1996 65% 1991 58% Sampling error: +/-3% pts Question 10: As you may have heard or read, the new Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Robert Livingston, has publicly admitted to having adulterous affairs. In your view, should the fact that Livingston had adulterous affairs disqualify him from voting on President Clinton's impeachment, or don't you feel that way? Should Livingston's Affair Disqualify Him From Voting on Impeachment?Yes 29% No 66% Sampling error: +/-4% pts |
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MORE STORIES:Saturday, December 19, 1998
Reaction to impeachment mixed, emotional DeLay, Gingrich support Hastert for House speaker Clinton appeals for 'reasonable' compromise What's next in the impeachment process? Livingston bows out of the speakership Poll: Public still prefers censure Transcript: Clinton reacts to impeachment vote First lady delivers pep talk to Democrats White House says GOP's strategy is to get Clinton to resign House roll call: Article I House roll call: Article II House roll call: Article III House roll call: Article IV Clinton radio address: U.S. is vigilant on Iraq GOP radio address: Iraq shouldn't stall debate |