Thread: 32% Angry About Immigration, but Not Mad at Immigrants

32% Angry About Immigration, but Not Mad at Immigrants rasmussenreports.com
Fri Jun 13, 9:36 AM ET



One-third of U.S. voters are still angry about illegal immigration, an issue that neither presidential candidate has made central to his campaign. But, voters blame Washington, not immigrants.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that along with the 32% who express "anger," an additional 27% are frustrated with the lack of action. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say it's just one of many issues they have an opinion about.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of those angry about immigration direct their anger at the federal government while only 12% point towards the immigrants. This fact, perhaps more than any other, may explain how official Washington misread the public mood so badly last June. While the Senators believed they were solving the problem, voters believed that the government was the problem.

This is consistent with other recent polling data showing that an overwhelming majority of voters believe the federal government itself has become a special interest group that looks out primarily for its own interest.

Overall, public attitudes about immigration have shifted little in the past year. By a 63% to 28% margin, voters continue to believe it is more important to gain control of the border than to resolve the status of those who are already in the country illegally. Democrats are more evenly divided than other voters, but a plurality (49%) agree that controlling the border is the top priority.

At the same time, by a 56% to 27% margin, all voters continue to favor a welcoming immigration policy that would let anybody move to the United States except national security threats, criminals, and those looking to live off the U.S. welfare system. Republicans and unaffiliated voters are a bit more supportive of a welcoming policy than Democrats, but 52% of those in Barack Obama's party support that approach. Among those who say it's more important to gain control of the border, 60% favor a welcoming immigration policy.

Voters who are angry about the issue also hold views right in line with the population at large--they favor a welcoming immigration policy by a two-to-one margin (60% to 30%).

Another factor fueling the anger over immigration is the belief that most government officials encourage immigrants to retain the culture of their home country. Overall, 43% of Americans believe this to be true while 32% disagree and believe most officials encourage immigrants to fully embrace American culture. Among those who are angry about immigration, 59% believe most government officials encourage immigrants to retain their home country culture. A separate survey conducted earlier this week found that 77% take the opposite view and believe people who come to America should adopt this country's culture.

The importance of assimilation into the culture is highlighted another recent survey--54% of voters say it is more important to encourage all immigrants to embrace American culture than it is to reduce the number of immigrants. Just 36% take the opposite view and say reducing immigration is a higher priority. That survey, as with many others, also found a strong preference for ballots and other government documents to be printed in English only.

In reviewing this data, it is important to remember that most voters have a very positive view of American culture. Rasmussen Reports polling data consistently shows that a solid majority believe our society is generally fair and decent. Only about two-in-ten voters consider American society as generally unfair and discriminatory. Protecting a society that is generally fair and decent is naturally a goal that many people embrace.

Collectively, this data suggests that the desire of most Americans to gain control of the border is part of a broader desire to protect American culture. The anger over immigration--anger at the government--is based on the perception that government policy and government officials are failing at that basic task. Many voters would probably go further and believe that many government actions constitute nothing less than an active assaulting on the culture. This view helps explain the overwhelming opposition of voters to drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants.

Also, when 73% of voters want police to see if traffic violators are in the country legally, what they are saying is that they simply expect government to perform one of its basic functions. That mindset also helps explain the strong popular desire for requiring employers and landlords to seek proof that someone is legally in the country.

Last year, the Senate was forced to surrender and defeat a bill that most Senators liked but was supported by just 22% of American voters. The Senators and their friendly Beltway pundits appeared stunned by the public opposition to what they considered a "comprehensive" reform.

What they failed to understand is that voters who are angry about immigration are angry at the government, not immigrants. The United States is a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws and most Americans want both of those traditions upheld.

This national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports June 10, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

http://yahoo.com

What???

somebody is smoking crack.. those numbers are way off

By a 63% to 28% margin, voters continue to believe it is more important to gain control of the border than to resolve the status of those who are already in the country illegally.

Are you listening McCain? Are you listening Obama? The American people reject amnesty and want the border secured.

What they failed to understand is that voters who are angry about immigration are angry at the government, not immigrants. The United States is a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws and most Americans want both of those traditions upheld.

So there, LaRaza. Take that, and stick your racism accusations in your ear.

4* [asked only of those who are angry] Are you more angry at immigrants

looking for a job or angry at the federal government for the way it deals

with immigration?

12% Immigrants looking for a job

83% The federal government

5% Not sure

Where's the word "illegal", that speaks volumes on the intent of this survey.
This isn't an endorsement of illegal aliens. Most people don't blame illegals who make at least more in one hour than they can all day in their legal countries. We blame the government for doing everything it can to make it easier for them to do so. That there is even a discussion is the fault of the government. What government lets millions illegally immigrate to depress wages as they're burdening taxpayer supported programs? As if that isn't enough they call citizens names for demanding them to do their sworn duty to protect the borders. Rant rant rant... I think more people need to come to LA and see the future of their home towns if they don't wake up. I love speaking Spanish to the ingrates, I love seeing everything painted in tacky green, red, yellow and the trash everywhere..

This poll is interesting too:


Just 17% Say Federal Government Represents Will of the People
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Email a Friend Email to a Friend
Advertisement

As Election 2008 draws ever closer, it is hard to overstate the disconnect between the American people and their government.

[b]Just 17% of voters say that the federal government represents the will of the American people. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 68% disagree and 15% are not sure (see video). These views are consistent across partisan and demographic lines. Men, women, young, old, Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal, all offer a bleak assessment of what is supposed to be a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.â€