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53% Worry Opposition to Obama’s Policies Will Lead to Violence
 Rasmussen Reports
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April 02, 2010
Fifty-three percent (53%) of U.S. voters now are at least somewhat concerned that those opposed to President Obama’s policies will resort to violence, up 10 points from last September.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of voters don’t share that concern.
Those figures include 28% are very concerned and 13% who are not at all concerned.
The partisan difference is noticeable. Seventy-one percent (71%) of Democrats are at least somewhat concerned that Obama’s policies will trigger a violent reaction. Fifty-six percent (56%) of Republicans are not concerned while unaffiliated voters are almost evenly divided on the question.
Democrats in particular have raised the specter of possible violence following their passage of a national health care plan that has been consistently opposed by most voters, They raised similar concerns following the angry congressional town hall meetings last August when voters complained about the health care plan and other expensive Obama initiatives.
One week after the House of Representatives passed the health care plan, 54% of voters favor repealing it.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of voters believe the average member of the Tea Party movement has a better understanding of the issues facing America today than the average member of Congress. Only 30% believe that those in Congress have a better understanding of the key issues facing the nation.
Sixty-three percent (63%) think it would be better for the country if most incumbents in Congress were defeated this November. Just 27% of voters say their representative in Congress is the best possible person for the job.
Politicians expressing concern has certainly raised the visibility of the issue. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of all voters have followed news reports about some politicians who say they are worried about the level of anger in the current political debate. Forty-four percent (44%) have followed those news reports very closely.
Democrats are much more interested in these stories than Republicans and unaffiliateds.
In September, those who were angriest about the federal government’s policies were the least concerned about the possibility of violence.
Overall, 70% of voters are angry with the policies of the federal government. That includes 48% who are very angry.
Just 11% of voters rate Congress’ performance as good or excellent, but 64% say Congress is doing a poor job.
As for President Obama, his job approval ratings as measured by the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll showed a modest bounce following passage of the health care plan, but this was due primarily to increased enthusiasm on the part of Democratic voters.
Older voters are more concerned about possible violence than those who are younger. African-Americans are nearly twice as likely as whites to be very concerned about the potential for violence.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of the Political Class are concerned about possible violence as the result of the president’s policies, a view shared by just 48% of Mainstream Americans. Forty-nine percent (49%) of Mainstream voters are not concerned.
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