Politics

AP ‘SPIN METER’ Says Views of Tea Partiers Are Not Like ‘Others’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tea party backers fashion themselves as “we the people,” but polls show the Republican Party’s most conservative and energized voters are hardly your average crowd.

According to an Associated Press-GfK Poll this month, 84 percent who call themselves tea party supporters don’t like how President Barack Obama is handling his job — a view shared by just 35 percent of all other adults. Tea partiers are about four times likelier than others to back repealing Obama’s health care overhaul and twice as likely to favor renewing tax cuts for the highest-earning Americans.

Exit polls of voters in this month’s congressional elections reveal similar gulfs. Most tea party supporters — 86 percent — want less government intrusion on people and businesses, but only 35 percent of other voters said so. Tea party backers were about five times likelier to blame Obama for the country’s economic ills, three times likelier to say Obama’s policies will be harmful and twice as apt to see the country on the wrong track.

These aren’t subtle shadings between tea party backers and the majority of Americans, who don’t support the movement; they’re Grand Canyon-size chasms.

With Republicans running the House next year, the findings highlight the delicate dance facing leaders who will have to address tea party concerns without alienating moderate voters who will be crucial in 2012, when the GOP hopes to win the White House and boost its strength on Capitol Hill.

One certainty: There are too many tea party supporters for politicians to ignore, especially for Republicans. About 3 in 10 adults in the AP-GfK Poll call themselves tea party backers, including 60 percent of Republicans. In the exit poll in this month’s election, which saw high conservative turnout, 4 in 10 voiced tea party support, and 2 of every 3 GOP votes came from them.

Those are impressive numbers, though leaders of the loosely organized movement sometimes seem to imply that their views enjoy an even broader consensus. Tea party supporters emblazon “We the People,” the opening of the preamble to the Constitution, on banners at demonstrations and on merchandise their groups sell. And at a campaign rally last month in Orlando, Fla., tea party favorite Sarah Palin said of congressional Democratic leaders, “It’s nothing personal, you just replace them with people who will do the job, who will listen to the people.”

“We are ordinary Americans,” Jenny Beth Martin, a national coordinator for Tea Party Patriots, an umbrella group. “These are people who care so much they want to restore our Constitution.”

GOP pollster Steve Lombardo says it will be a challenge for Republican leaders to find policies that will deliver “a two-fer for independents and more extreme elements” of the party. He and other Republicans say the answer is to focus on areas of broad agreement like curbing federal spending, taxes and deficits.

In an early nod to tea party voters, House and Senate Republicans have adopted a self-imposed ban on home-district federal projects called “earmarks,” a symbol of wasteful spending.

In the AP-GfK Poll, tea party backers agree with others on the urgency to address the economy and joblessness, two of the country’s top problems. But they are likelier to name taxes and the budget deficit as important issues and less interested in education and the environment.

The poll also shows sharp differences between the tea party and the 7 in 10 independents who don’t support the tea party, a group both parties will target in 2012. Tea party backers take a far more negative view of Obama and his agenda than those independents do and are far likelier to think favorably of the GOP and unfavorably of Democrats.

Tea partiers are likelier to be white, male, older and more affluent than everyone else, the polls show — groups that tend to be more conservative. Yet even compared with the 47 percent of conservatives who don’t back the tea party, the views of conservatives who do support the movement stand out.

Among conservatives who are tea party backers, 74 percent are glad Republicans will run the House next year while Democrats retain control of the Senate and White House. Just 36 percent of conservatives who don’t back the tea party agree that divided government will be good for the country, likely because of concern over gridlock. Tea party backers are also far likelier than other conservatives to like Palin, the former Alaska governor.

Democrats say the gap between the tea party and others will let them cast the GOP as extreme.

“The House and Senate Republican leadership are playing a very dangerous game by appearing to embrace proposals that many Americans consider outside the mainstream,” said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who was narrowly re-elected over tea party favorite Sharron Angle.

Republicans say the hazard the tea party poses is not its views but some of the controversial candidates it backed, such as Angle and defeated GOP Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell of Delaware. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., who had tea party backing, said this month’s GOP victory showed wide support for controlling spending and taxes and creating private sector jobs.

“That is the mandate that’s been given across the country, that’s the voice of the American people,” he said.

The AP-GfK Poll was conducted Nov. 3-8 by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications and involved cell and landline telephone interviews with 1,000 randomly chosen adults. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. It included interviews with 299 tea party supporters, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 7.5 points.

The exit poll involved interviews with 17,504 voters, including Election Day voters and phone interviews with people who voted early or absentee. It had an overall margin of sampling error of plus or minus 1 point.

___

Associated Press News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius, AP Polling Director Trevor Tompson and AP Deputy Polling Director Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.

Comments (68)

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  • Chicago Ray
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 11:23pm

    They shouldn’t be taking polls at the John Stewart rally because these numbers on Obama are obviously dem weighted. Just today his approval falls to it’s lowest at 39%…for those math challenged libs that’s 61% disapproval.

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
  • lylee
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 11:01pm

    Conservatives who do not agree with the “tea party” are either not conservative or, more likely, do not know what the “tea Party” stands for because they have recieved distorted information. They need to do their homework before 2012

    Report Post »  
  • alienguns
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:59pm

    I align with the Tea Party–does that mean I am not part of the American public? since when does upholding the Constitution and wanting smaller Gov. and lower taxes make you EXTREME right? well I guess if you are so far left you are hanging off the edge of reality then common sense probably seems EXTREME

    Report Post » alienguns  
  • henryKnox
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:54pm

    It has been amazing to see how the Tea Party has shined light on the biases in the media. The AP has freaked out during the last year and has shown itself to be quite biased. The other biased media that I hadn’t suspected was Reuters. It turns out that Reuters has backed terrorists by doctoring photos to make terrorists appear innocent and to make them appear better in the public eye. It is so beautiful to see the scambling of the roaches when the lights are turned on. At the same time it is also disappointing.

    Report Post » henryKnox  
  • republitarian
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:39pm

    This story is absurd. Anyone paying attention can see right through this. The Blaze is teasing us.

    Report Post » republitarian  
    • The Dad
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:21am

      Total garbage is nothing new to me. I dream of a day in the future when there is no more crap in the mainstream media like this flaming bag of manure. The moral of the story is that liars lie, and if they get away with it long enough they start to belive their own delusional tripe. Whoever wrote this piece of total garbage should be ashamed of the article. At least there is a group of people here on THE BLAZE who are intelligent enough to know when someone tries to sell us a whole bag of cow pies. I am proud to call all of you my brothers and sisters in arms. The statistics from the election prove that the people don’t belive this drivel any more.

      BLAZE ON

      -The Dad

      Report Post »  
  • Mousey
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:36pm

    84 percent who call themselves tea party supporters don’t like how President Barack Obama is handling his job – 16% of us do !?
    a view shared by just 35 percent of all other adults. <— it appears after the last election that 35% of all other adults amounts to not many at all.

    Tea partiers are about four times likelier than others to back repealing Obama's health care overhaul and twice as likely to favor renewing tax cuts for the highest-earning Americans. <— what a surprise !!!

    Most tea party supporters — 86 percent — want less government intrusion on people and businesses, but only 35 percent of other voters said so. Tea party backers were about five times likelier to blame Obama for the country’s economic ills, three times likelier to say Obama’s policies will be harmful and twice as apt to see the country on the wrong track. <—– you just woke up??

    These aren’t subtle shadings between tea party backers and the majority of Americans, who don’t support the movement; they’re Grand Canyon-size chasms. <— i think they're confused on the words "minority" and "majority" :/

    With Republicans running the House next year, the findings highlight the delicate dance facing leaders who will have to address tea party concerns without alienating moderate voters <—- moderates have already been alienated … they helped vote :-)

    There are too many tea party supporters for politicians to ignore <—– aww innit a shame when we want to run our country??

    party favorite Sarah Palin said of congressional Democratic leaders, “It’s nothing personal, you just replace them with people who will do the job, who will listen to the people.” <—— that's what they're there for isn't it?

    the answer is to focus on areas of broad agreement like curbing federal spending, taxes and deficits. <——— what a genius; hand on the pulse

    But they are likelier to name taxes and the budget deficit as important issues and less interested in education and the environment. <—– read that "likelier to name taxes and the bufget deficit as our ruination and less concerned about financing the pensions of the teachers union and some crock of manure called global warming".

    7 in 10 independents who don’t support the tea party <—- if they are so numerous where did all the votes come from?

    Tea party backers take a far more negative view of Obama and his agenda than those independents do <—- isn't his approval ratings somewhere around 35%?

    I'm bored with this already …. let's keep up the pressure brothers and sisters :)

    p.s. thank heaven for the spell checker eh?

    Report Post » Mousey  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:33pm

    Perhaps it is because I am tired but to me, after the first few sentences, all I read was blah, blah, blah. They don’t get it & never will. We are the American people. I believe there is a silent MAJORITY who still believe in the constitution and the fact that they work for us, not the other way around.

    Report Post »  
  • powhatan
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:26pm

    Actually what is strange now is that the liberal / progressives are “the man” and we conservatives are the freedom fighters…..right is the new left :D

    Report Post » powhatan  
  • kindling
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:57pm

    Why is it so difficult for people to say the obvious, it is not about race. I know it has been said again and again but it seems the nose ring media needs it written out for them. The people that do not support Obama in and out of the tea party are people of all colors that want to work and keep what they earn. They want the fed government to guard our boarders and stay out of everything else. The people that support Obama are the people of all colors that don’t want to work and think everyone else owes them a living and are jealous of other’s wealth and a few are people like my sister that is wealthy and feel guilty so think everyone else should share what they have with those that don’t want to work. They want government to do everything for them because they have been trained by the nose ring media.

    Report Post » kindling  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:21pm

      “Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found out the exact
      amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will
      continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of
      tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”
      ~ Frederick Douglass

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
  • Peregrinus
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:50pm

    Seriously funny math. This is almost like saying “84% of Green Party members believe in global warming, but only 35% of everyone else does. And Green Party members are four times as likely as everyone else to support cap and trade programs. Isn’t that peculiar?”

    Duh, Tea Partiers don’t support Obama BY DEFINITION. That’s why they identify with the Tea Party in the first place. AP, quit trying to make out the Tea Party to be a bunch of freaks. It ain’t working.

    Report Post » Peregrinus  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:48pm

    The Liberal Socialists Democrats are trying to divide and conquer. They think that if they can divide us by planting lies in newspapers and media. They will get us to argue amongst ourselves. But it won’t work because its not about us. Its about the Constitution and what’s right for AMERICA. Too bad they will never figure it out.

    Report Post »  
  • LIBERTARIAN T38
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:43pm

    Only 35% of other want less government intrusion? That is complete BS. This whole article reads like it was written by Seargent Shultz on MSNBC.

    Report Post » LIBERTARIAN T38  
  • BRAVEHEART
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:41pm

    The establishment politicians have been living in an elitist progressive dream world and it may take several strong butt whippings by we the people to bring them back to some sense of common reality. I think they are beginning to sense the Hot Breath of conservative reality breathing down their lying scumbag necks. If the people remain vigilant and stand up to their insane communist policies we can send them back to their indoctrination camps or possibly exile them to Siberia.

    Report Post »  
  • PhilaFreedom
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:39pm

    So let me get this straight, using their poll of how people view Obama having handled his job. They say 3 in 10 polled represent the tea party. Of those, 86% disapprove, making it 25.8% of all polled. Of those non-tea partiers polled, 35% disapprove, making that 24.5% polled. So I’m getting that 50.3% of ALL polled disapprove. How is that not main stream thinking? Do they really think we’re that stupid?

    Report Post »  
  • Luckywon
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:37pm

    There is so much wrong with this story, I don’t even know where to begin. While trying to show how wide a gulf there is between Tea Partiers and “Regular” people, they disregard the facts and gloss over others, while making some of their own up. For instance, about the 84% of Tea Partiers that don‘t approve of Barack Obama’s handling of his job, (I have a really hard time thinking that 16% of Tea Partiers do approve… ) compared to 35% of the public. – When they show what a large part of the American people are Tea Party supporters, why does it not occur to the writer that most of that 35% of the public ARE the 85% of Tea Partiers! Are we not part of the public? do they poll us separately?… the entire article is ridiculous and goes straight down from there.

     
  • Timmer1973
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:34pm

    This poll seems to be very interested in showing the differences between Tea Party Supporters and every other American. It is rather difficult to keep track of all the groups who have divergent views from the Tea Party….Independants, Republicans who don’t support the Tea Party, most Americans….?

    As a Conservative, I believe the Federal Gov’t should have as LITTLE influence on my life as possible. I noticed that the pollsters found that Tea Party people were more interested in taxes and gov’t spending, than education and the environment Perhaps because these are not areas the Federal Gov’t should be heavily involved in.

    I don’t think most Conservatives are deluded as to the amount of education that has to be accomplished over many years. It took the better part of the last century to get us to the point we find ourselves now, and it will take at least that long to change the direction of this great nation.

    Report Post »  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:33pm

    I think the Tea Party would have a much larger suport if MSM including the AP were not so bias to the libral side, and just plain liers.

    Report Post »  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:30pm

    Why are they separating Tea Partiers from the rest of America?

    “According to an Associated Press-GfK Poll this month, 84 percent who call themselves tea party supporters don’t like how President Barack Obama is handling his job — a view shared by just 35 percent of all other adults.”

    To cut down the opposing number of “all other adults” (people without the Tea Party label attached to them) for psychological reasons, and manifest a 35% figure to use against the Tea Party. It should be “all adults”, not “all other adults”.

    More psychological games from the masters… before you know it, that statistic will drop the “[Non-Tea Party affiliated]” footnote, and will be used as an example of support for the Obama administration. They just want to get low numbers out there any way they can, knowing they’ll travel down that narrow tunnel that is the liberal “reality”.

    All you have to do is add the opposition numbers together (where they belonged in the first place) and you have a conservative majority, as illustrated in the elections. It’s pretty simple. The only reason why you create subcategories is to play mindgames.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • oldasdirt
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:29pm

    Republic: A state in which sovergin power is invested in representitives chosen by the people to govern.And government is of the people,and it’s from the people to the leaders,not from the leaders to the people.Republic.
    I heard Red Skelton say this one night,it just stuck with me these years.

    Report Post » oldasdirt  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:27pm

      Red was an amazing man! I really miss him. Our country sure could use someone like him now.

      Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:25pm

    The Republicans better figure it out also. Because they can be replaced in two years. I can’t figure out why the Republicans and Democrats have such a hard time with the Constitution. It seems like pretty simply document to me. It is “by the people, for the people” how is that hard? The Democrats found out a couple of weeks ago. Then they want to insult us, by thinking we are too stupid to know what’s going on.

    Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:53pm

      Not sure if this is right, yet to myself it seems they have gotten so hidebound in the ‘way things just are’ they forget after so long, we hire them, they work for us, and not the other way around. They are allowed to become so entrenched in power, or become so addicted to the power, familiarity breeds the uttermost contempt for the American People they are suppose to represent.

      So we hold all beaurocrats accountable, and keep the pressure on them. They fail, they are fired.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • nelsonhumphreys
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:22pm

    This is a great slime job by the AP. notice they do not compare the tea party to the general population. They only make comparisons with people who oppose the tea party. That does not prove the tea party are extreamist, only that the AP is biased.

    Report Post »  
  • PeterThePainter
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:21pm

    Deny, Deny, Deny….attack and kill the Grandmothers that are peacefully stating their political preferrence. Stand up and don‘t let the media’s spin deter you. It’s like being on a 3rd grade playground with the 75 pound bully. Or, go wash Reids car and hope he thinks you did a great job.

    Report Post »  
    • PeterThePainter
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:38pm

      @Heavyduty.
      I am amazed at how many people simply don’t want to realize what is going on. Yes, the Republicans have been given one last chance and we all must push them to do the right thing and hold them accountable for each and every vote on issues going forward….If they fail us

      Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:21pm

    You have to love these left winged media groups that try to figure out what a tea partier is. Then if frustrates them even more when “we the people” do something different.

    Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:54pm

      AP is playing the popularity game. Anyone on the fringes of the Tea Party is expected to jump ship, cuase all the cool kids are not tea partiers. I’m not surprised at how misleading their polling data is. I’d like to see this poll published to see what loaded questions were asked. You can create any numbers you want based on the scope of your questions and limiting possible answers.

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 11:35pm

      Exactly … that is the first thing I learned in statistics class .. you can by changing the criteria (i.e. group) achieve nearly any outcome you want. Statistics can be made to “lie” and liars use statistics .

      Report Post »  
  • LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:20pm

    What exactly is a ‘tea party backer’ and how is it possible that only 84% of them don’t like how obama is doing his job?? What a trivial story from the AP. I DO like the part about Harry Reid’s spokesman saying what a DANGEROUS game the repubs play if they “embrace proposals many Americans consider outside the mainstream”. HA! REALLY! ‘Cause the LEFT is so ’in’ the mainstream????

    Report Post » LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA  
    • heavyduty
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:35pm

      You really have to consider the source. First of all Harry “liar” Reid’s” spokesman. Really, why can’t Harry “liar” Reid make his own statements. Besides this is a Democratic poll. We already know that they are capable of saying anything.

      Report Post »  
  • OneFunR6
    Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:15pm

    “The Constitution is not an instrument for the Government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the Government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”
    ~ Patrick Henry

    Report Post » OneFunR6  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:40pm

      Patrick Henry and the other founders indeed had the forsight to recognise that the government they were bringing into existence could be endangered by the very same causes they were fighting at the time. In warning us of the dangers of government, Patrick Henry is also expressing the means by which, should the government become the central danger to the American people, how we can find the means to restore the country TO the people.

      Glen Beck is dead on in that WE the People will write the next chapter for the history of America in what we choose to do today. Fight or pass into the night, our choices and actions now make that future to be written.

      Today at the food bank where I volunteer thirty people joined us, to hand out about 1000 meals and dinners for families to have on the Thanksgiving Holidays. All of this from donations or funds raised by the church. Of these thirty people, twenty one were former or reservist soldiers, and several were near homeless themselves. Yet they still chose to come and serve others before themselves. In the line itself people stood from 6am to closing at 7pm; the hours we were open were from 1pm to when the last person was helped.

      Uncommon courtesy showed this day, as people who had waited hours gave those coming up in the line with disabilities and the elderly their places so they would not have to wait in the cold for so long. Many young men and women came after school, or after work to assist people with the meals to their cars and vehicles; several gave up their city bus fare or taxi ride money so others could use it for the same purpose.

      Today I got to see what Beck is talking of first hand; the future of America being written here and today in the situation where indeed uncommon courtesy for others, today became a fulfillment of all our beloved land is to be.

      The light is not gone, not by far, this is what we are as true Americans, we are a uncommon people in which uncommon courstesy is the normal, not the exception. And I will not be one to stand before the Almighty without doing my best to keep her alive, no matter the cost to me.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Luckywon
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:40pm

      There are so many things wrong with this story, I don’t even know where to begin. While trying to show how wide a gulf there is between Tea Partiers and “Regular” people, they disregard the facts and gloss over others, while making some of their own up. For instance, about the 84% of Tea Partiers that don‘t approve of Barack Obama’s handling of his job, (I have a really hard time thinking that 16% of Tea Partiers do approve… ) compared to 35% of the public. – When they show what a large part of the American people are Tea Party supporters, why does it not occur to the writer that most of that 35% of the public ARE the 85% of Tea Partiers! Are we not part of the public? do they poll us separately?… the entire article is ridiculous and goes straight down from there.

      Report Post »  
    • payitforward
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:54pm

      I’m with you Snow Leopard,

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 10:30pm

      Snowleopard3200, that was awesome, thank you for the Thanksgiving inspiration. I hope you, and all other writers and readers of The Blaze have a blessed Thanksgiving. With God’s help we will prevail.

      Report Post »  
    • yellerhammer
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:48pm

      I’ve just figured out what AP stands for ; ALL PROGRESSIVE; Snow Leopard you have got to be psychic or something cause you say what I think, Blast Away Brother!

      Report Post »  
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