Thread: Bush Ratings Tumble When Immigration Dominates the News

Bush Ratings Tumble When Immigration Dominates the News rasmussenreports.com
Mon May 21, 3:11 PM ET

Each time immigration reform dominates the news. President Bush's Job Approval ratings tumble to new lows. Last week, a much-heralded agreement on "comprehensive" immigration reform was announced. By Saturday, the President's Job Approval had fallen to 34. Just as important, the number who Strongly Approve of the President's performance dipped to 13%. Both figures are the lowest ever recorded by Rasmussen Reports. (see comments on comparing Approval Ratings from different polling firms).

Overall, it is the War in Iraq that has hurt the President the most. However, immigration adds to the downward pressure on his numbers in a unique way--immigration costs the President support among his base. Today, as the immigration debate formally begins in Congress, just 68% of Republicans give the President their Approval.

While the President advocates a "comprehensive" reform focused primarily on legalizing the status of illegal aliens, our most recent survey shows that most voters favor an enforcement first policy. Last year, following a nationally televised Presidential Address on immigration, just 39% of Americans agreed with the President's position.

From the beginning, the President and most other Beltway politicians have misunderstood the public debate over immigration The initial discussions in Washington implied a debate that was either pro-immigration or anti-immigration. Those who favored some form of legalization or earned citizenship were pictured in official Washington as pro-immigrant while those who favored border control were thought to be anti-immigrant (or perhaps racist).

However, Rasmussen Reports data shows an entirely different picture. Among those who favor enforcement-first, 59% also favor a national policy goal that welcomes all immigrants except national security threats, criminals, and those who would come here to live off the U.S. welfare system.

Among those who oppose an enforcement first policy, just 50% favor such a welcoming policy goal.

In other words, those who favor an enforcement-first policy are more likely than others to ultimately support a welcoming immigration policy.

While favoring an immigrant-friendly society, most Americans also favor a society in which the laws are observed by everyone. By a 3-to-1 margin, voters say it doesn't make sense to consider additional laws until the government first gains control of the borders and enforces existing laws.

Earlier surveys on immigration have found support for building a barrier along the Mexican border and positive attitudes towards citizen patrols along the border. Another survey found that most Americans consider current immigration laws a threat to both national security and the economy. Three-fourths of all Americans believe it is too easy for people from other countries to enter the United States.

Rasmussen Reports conducts ongoing surveys measuring the attitudes of Americans on the news of the day. Recent surveys have asked about the Pope's comments on pro-choice politicians, results of the French elections, the DC Madam, gun control, and the Supreme Court decision on partial-birth abortion. The latest updates can be found on the Rasmussen Reports home page.

Rasmussen Reports also regularly tracks public attitudes towards Congress, the War on Terror, and other topics. Rasmussen Reports also continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates along with ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Democrat Nomination Process every Monday and on the Republican contest every Tuesday. Results for the Generic Congressional Ballot are updated monthly.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070 ... 20070521_1

You can tell these numbers are a crock when they have Bush at 34% on Sat. Another poll put him at 28% last week before he started flapping his gums about immigration.

We have watched his numbers dive each time he has talked about this amnesty plan and you can count on his numbers being 25% or less right now truth be told.

Enforcement first people are open to legal immigration, but not in the warm levels this pollster describes them.

W

Today, as the immigration debate formally begins in Congress, just 68% of Republicans give the President their Approval.

I don't thinks its near that anymore.. I dare say his over all might be higher now..

I'll tell you what he is underestimating Americans!! pretty soon there will be nothing left of him to pole!

Bush is not taking any chances on being cast out of office. Here is the latest news on the little dictator.....

Bush Anoints Himself as the Insurer of Constitutional Government in Emergency
By Matthew Rothschild
May 18, 2007

With scarcely a mention in the mainstream media, President Bush has ordered up a plan for responding to a catastrophic attack.

In a new National Security Presidential Directive, Bush lays out his plans for dealing with a “catastrophic emergency.â€

Bush can sign anything he wants and has but that does not mean he will get away with it, this is still America the last time I looked and the more people who see him for what he is the madder they are getting. I think he has a big surprise in store for him, he is going to push Americans to far. He is acting like a little Hitler and people are getting sick of it.