SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY NEWS
Contact: Funda Alp, 203-396-8241, alpf@sacredheart.edu
For Immediate Release
February 23, 2006
PATRIOT ACT, U.N. INTERVENTION IN IRAN, WAR IN IRAQ, AND AID TO HAMAS AMONG POLICY ISSUES MEASURED IN NATIONAL POLL BY SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY
FAIRFIELD, Conn.— A new national poll by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute, examines domestic and foreign policy issues, including the Patriot Act, President George W. Bush's first-term tax cuts, support for U.N. intervention in Iran's nuclear armament, the war in Iraq, and financial aid to Hamas.
Domestic Policy
- A majority of respondents, 58.1%, believe the existing Patriot Act should be made permanent (34.6%) or strengthened (23.5%). Some, 18.8% believe the Patriot Act should be allowed to expire. Others, 23.1% were unsure.
- Among only those with an opinion, 75.6% support a strengthened and permanent Patriot Act while 24.4% would allow the Act provisions to expire.
“The poll results concerning the Patriot Act strongly suggest that the American people are willing to expand the power of government and allow civil liberties to contract somewhat in the interest of fighting terrorism. The results suggest a pragmatic response to what is a very distinct threat to the safety of the American people. This is fairly consistent with the historical pattern in the U.S. of favoring security over liberty during a time of national crisis,” stated Dr. Gary Rose, chair and professor in the Department of Government and Politics at Sacred Heart University.
- Researchers asked respondents if Congress should act to make President Bush's first term tax cuts permanent or reverse and stop the ten year phase in. Over half of those with an opinion, 59.2% suggested Congress should make the President's tax cuts permanent while 40.8% were opposed.
Foreign Policy
- Nearly three quarters of all respondents, 70.8%, said the United Nations should use military means if necessary to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons. Another 18.7% were opposed and 10.5% were unsure.
Among only those with an opinion, 79.1% support U.N. sponsored military means to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while 20.9% are opposed.
Two thirds of Americans surveyed, 66.5%, said they are opposed to continuing financial aid to Hamas as long as they remain committed to terror and refusing to recognize Israel's right to exist. Another 14.0% were in favor of continuing financial aid to Hamas. Others, 19.5%, were unsure.
- Among only those with an opinion, 82.6% oppose U.S. financial aid to Hamas while 17.4% believe it should be continued.
Nearly half of those surveyed, 47.8% suggested they strongly or somewhat agreed that the United States should pull out of Iraq now. Another 44.1% suggested they somewhat or strongly disagreed with pulling U.S. forces out now.
- Among those with an opinion, 52.0% support the immediate return of U.S. forces from Iraq while 48.0% are opposed.
Dr. Rose commented, “The responses indicate in no uncertain terms that the American people are losing tolerance with the prolonged war in Iraq. Should the U.S. decide to take direct and unilateral military action against Iran, the American people will undoubtedly question such a policy and will most likely demand international cooperation. The Iraq War may have altered the future of American foreign policy.”
EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
- Gary Rose, Ph.D., chair and professor in the Department of Government and Politics at Sacred Heart University
- Jerry Lindsley, director, Sacred Heart University Polling Institute
To speak with these experts, please contact Funda Alp at 203-396-8241 or alpf@sacredheart.edu.
How the Poll Was Conducted
The Sacred Heart University Polling Institute completed 1,000 interviews with residents nationwide between February 9-15, 2006. The sample was generated proportional to population contribution in all 50 states. Statistically, a sample of 1,000 completed telephone interviews represents a margin for error of +/-3.0% at a 95% confidence level.
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About Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University, the second-largest Catholic university in New England, offers more than 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. Its main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut, is complemented by satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. Over 5,600 students are enrolled in its four colleges: Arts & Sciences; Education & Health Professions; University College; and the newly established John F. Welch College of Business, committed to educating students in the leadership tradition and legacy of Jack Welch. U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review place SHU among America's best colleges in the Northeast, and Intel rates it #11 among the nation's most “unwired” campuses. SHU fields 32 Division I athletic teams, and has an award-winning program of community service. www.sacredheart.edu
For additional Sacred Heart University news, please visit http://www.sacredheart.edu/pressroom.cfm.
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