American voters have finally found something they can agree on: Democracy is under attack.
But ask them why and who is to blame and that agreement falls apart.
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In the latest, and maybe most remarkable, Battleground Civility Poll from Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, one thing is clear. Politics is to blame for the gulf over why democracy is under fire.
Democrats, for example, blame election deniers, presumably such as former President Donald Trump, and threats of voter intimidation. Republicans, meanwhile, blame the liberal media and voter fraud.
Interesting stuff in the latest @GUPolitics Civility Poll, conducted post-midterm.
Huge agreement that democracy still under attack.
But significant differences on *why* it’s under attack, driven by partisanship and where voters get their information.
Check it out! https://t.co/328YImGbVc
— Mo Elleithee ?? ?? (@MoElleithee) November 30, 2022
“It’s clear that Americans are united in their belief that democracy is facing a serious stress test right now,” said Mo Elleithee, executive director of the Institute. “But understanding how partisanship and news consumption drives very different narratives of why democracy is under assault is critical to our understanding of how we can restore trust in our institutions,” he added in releasing the poll conducted by Democrat Celinda Lake and Republican Ed Goeas.
Overall, 75% believe that “democracy is under attack,” as opposed to only 24% who disagree, said the school. And everybody in this group seems to agree: 80% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans, and 64% of independents.
There is also some agreement on the causes.
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“When given a list of reasons why some people say democracy is under attack, voters agree widely on the threat of violence to democracy: 77% of voters agree that ‘the increasing amount of violent behavior in our society’ is an extremely or very serious threat to democracy (including 75% of Republicans and 74% of Democrats). Furthermore, 63% of voters believe that ‘the decreasing amount of respect and civility in our political system’ is an extremely or very serious threat to democracy (including 61% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats).”
But when the questions went further, the political divide showed its face. From today’s release:
- Sixty-seven percent of voters believe that “News coverage that favors one political party” is a serious threat to democracy (76% of Republicans, 63% of Independents, 59% of Democrats). Biased news coverage is also seen as an extremely or very serious threat by majorities of voters who watch CNN (64%), Fox News (79%), or MSNBC (67%) on a daily basis.
- Sixty-three percent of voters believe that “Political candidates who refuse to accept valid election results” is a serious threat to democracy. This item is highly rated as extremely or very serious by Democrats (83%), daily CNN viewers (85%), and daily MSNBC viewers (89%), but of lesser concern to Republicans (42% extremely or very concerned) and daily Fox viewers (50% extremely or very concerned). 60% of Independents saw this issue as extremely or very concerning.
- More than eight-in-ten Democrats (81%), daily CNN viewers (85%), and daily MSNBC viewers (86%) see “voter suppression and intimidation” as an extremely or very serious threat. This item is of comparatively less concern as an extremely or very serious threat to Republicans (44%) and daily Fox News viewers (53%). 59% of Independents found this issue extremely or very concerning.
- Forty-nine percent of voters believe that “voter fraud causing stolen elections” is a serious threat to democracy (71% of Republicans, 44% of Independents, 29% of Democrats). Similarly, 70% of daily Fox viewers see it as a serious threat, as opposed to just 43% of daily CNN viewers and 37% of daily MSNBC viewers.
- Forty-four percent of voters believe that “woke culture imposing out-of-touch liberal values on all of us” is a serious threat to democracy (71% of Republicans, 40% of Independents, 20% of Democrats). Seventy-two percent of daily Fox viewers see this issue as an extremely or very serious threat, compared to 34% of daily CNN viewers and 26% of daily MSNBC viewers.
