Just more than half of Americans say torture is at least sometimes justified to thwart terrorist attacks, and the country is evenly divided over whether to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, according to a poll that underscores President Barack Obama’s challenges in selling his terrorism-fighting policies.
The latest Associated Press-GfK survey shows 70 percent of Americans have confidence that Obama can effectively handle terrorism in an era when many people say they still fear becoming a victim and when a swath of the public shares the views of Obama’s Republican predecessor, George W. Bush.
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But since Obama ordered the closure of the military-run prison in Cuba, the Democratic-controlled Senate demanded more details of Obama’s plan as lawmakers voted 90-6 to refuse to give him $80 million he requested to shutter the facility, which has held hundreds of detainees for years without charges or trials. Republicans also spoke vigorously against the notion that dangerous terrorism suspects could end up confined on U.S. soil. And foreign allies balked at accepting the transfer of prisoners from the military-run facility when the United States didn’t appear willing to do the same.
Obama risks further defeat of his policies in Congress and disapproval of them abroad if he can’t get the public on board. Thus, he’s making a tough sell.
Nearly eight years after terrorists struck on U.S. soil, more than a third of Americans say they worry about the chance that they or their relatives might fall victim to a terrorist attack — essentially unchanged from 35 percent five years ago.
The poll also shows potential areas of political vulnerability for Obama, indicating he must walk a fine line as he seeks to both protect the country and turn the page on Bush’s national security policies.
Fifty-two percent of people say torture can be at least sometimes justified to obtain information about terrorist activities from suspects, an increase from 38 percent in 2005, when the AP last asked the question. More than two-thirds of Republicans say torture can be justified compared with just more than a third of Democrats.
On Obama’s plan to close Guantanamo, 47 percent approve, while 47 percent disapprove. Most Republicans disapprove, while most Democrats approve. Independents are evenly divided. Leading the charge by Republicans against Obama’s policies is Dick Cheney. The poll shows nearly a quarter had a favorable opinion of the former vice president, a measure that’s risen steadily from a low of 13 percent in one 2007 poll.
The poll also found another bright spot for the out-of-power GOP: More people identified themselves as Republican than did last month, 23 percent to 18 percent.
