Thread: Large majority supports path to citizenship

Isn't This A Crock !!

The Times Bloomberg Poll

Large majority supports path to citizenship
A poll finds 63% of all respondents, and 65% of Republicans, back the controversial measure.
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer
June 13, 2007


WASHINGTON — A strong majority of Americans — including nearly two-thirds of Republicans — favor allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens if they pay fines, learn English and meet other requirements, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

That is a striking show of support for a primary element of an immigration overhaul bill that has stalled in the Senate amid conservative opposition.

Only 23% of adults surveyed opposed allowing undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. That finding bolsters the view, shared by President Bush, that the bill's opponents represent a vocal minority whereas most people are more welcoming toward illegal immigrants.

"They are willing to take jobs that our people aren't interested in, and I think this helps the economy," Joseph Simpkins, a retired dry cleaner in New Jersey who participated in the survey, said in a follow-up interview. "As long as they pay taxes, I see nothing wrong with having them become citizens."

The immigration bill, a top priority for the White House, is languishing at a time when Bush's approval rating has hit a new low: The poll found 34% approved of the job the president is doing, the lowest level registered by the Los Angeles Times poll throughout his time in office.

Those and other poll findings indicate a pessimistic electorate, distrustful of political and corporate leaders and unhappy with the status quo at home and abroad.

More than two-thirds of those surveyed believe the country is seriously on the wrong track, nearly matching the highest level of pessimism since 1992. Many blame U.S. oil companies and the Bush administration for high gas prices. And they have a jaundiced view of corporate chieftains, seeing them as overpaid and unethical.

"I don't know anyone who says, 'Wow! Things are going well,' " said Patricia Clark, a homemaker in Harrisburg, Pa. "It's the middle-of-the-road people like us who pay all the taxes and get hit with high gas prices. I can understand why people don't vote."

Dissatisfaction with Bush is a big part of the sour mood. His approval rating fell to 34% from 45% in September. Even among Republicans, that number was down to 70% from 83%.

Only 31% of those surveyed approved of the president's handling of the war in Iraq. And the poll found increased support for an immediate U.S. troop withdrawal: A quarter of those polled said they supported such a plan, up from 19% in January.

And the perception that the country is not moving in the right direction was more pervasive than in January, when 61% said things were on the wrong track; now 69% feel that way. Just 43% of GOP respondents said the country is moving in the right direction.

Partisan divisions are particularly pronounced in voters' views of the economy and their own financial condition. Eighty-two percent of Republican respondents said the economy is doing well, whereas 44% of Democrats shared that view. Fourteen percent of Republicans said they were worse off financially than three years ago, compared with 34% of Democrats.

The poll also found a wide gender gap in attitudes toward the economy, with men far more optimistic than women. More than two-thirds of men surveyed said the economy is doing well, compared with 49% of women.

"Sure, there are people out of work, but I do feel our economy is doing as well as I've ever seen it," said Harold Wells, a retired financial planner in Michigan. "We have 4.5% unemployment, and the stock exchange is at its highest in a while."

As gasoline prices soar over $3 a gallon, survey participants were most likely to blame U.S. oil companies and the Bush administration rather than market fluctuations. Whereas 12% said market forces were responsible for the high price of gas, 38% blamed oil companies and 21% blamed the administration.

Corporate chiefs in general were viewed with suspicion, with 81% saying they are overpaid and 33% saying they are ethical.

The immigration debate has heated up in recent weeks, with the Senate taking up — and last week putting off — the overhaul legislation. The bill aims to establish a pathway to citizenship for most of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. It also would create a guest worker program and institute a point system for evaluating new immigrants that would put less weight on family ties and more on applicants' skills and education.

Underscoring the urgency of the debate, 86% of people surveyed said illegal immigration was an important problem.

Although the pathway to citizenship is one of the most controversial provisions of the Senate bill, 63% of those polled backed the idea — as did 58% of those who identified themselves as conservatives and 65% of Republicans.

The survey question specified that, under the proposal, citizenship would be available only to those who registered their presence in the U.S., had no criminal record, paid a fine, got fingerprinted and learned English, among other requirements.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... ome-center

Yes it's a crock and they obviously polled a group of people who they knew would vote that way. I don't believe it for a second

I do believe I want some of what these pollsters are drinkings.

Maybe, it's a new brand of Kool-Aid (red, white and green) mixed.

If asked if they approve if the illegals are ABSOLVED of fines, what will they say. That is the case here. There is already a fine that can be imposed for crossing the border illegally.

If asked if they will qualify for EITC, what will they say?

If asked if the requirement is to take some phoney baloney test in English in TEN YEARS what will they say?

Yeah, I'd believe a poll in the LA (Largely Askew) Times as much as I'd believe pigs can fly.

"sniff sniff" something smells! Oh never mind, it's just garbage by The Times Bloomberg Poll.

Anyone that believes that one should pull their head out of the sand. I really wanted to say something else, but.....not worth getting my thread pulled

"Consider the source"...

Times Bloomberg poll that alone says it all. They probably took the poll in New York Sanctuary City.

Alot of people still do not realize what illegal aliens receive at their expense. They only hear the Open Border Crowd on Main Stream Media bemoaning the terrible and sad situation of the illegal aliens and they are unaware or apathetic to the Americans that are victims due to illegal immigration.

I called in to the Mike McConnell radio show and pointed out that illegals receive all of these benefits they are not allowed to or are not supposed to be receiving. He tried to say the law says they cannot, therefore implying they do not receive benefits.

They have received 15 million plus in health services in Tennessee, through the TENNCARE program for one, when disabled, really in need individuals were thrown off the rolls of this program under Governor Bredesen.

One Democratic candidate said they received over 200 MILLION in services.

They DO receive other benefits they are not entitiled to because the law does not seem to matter except when it comes to Americans following it. And when you steal others identities or falsify identification you can have the world as your oyster at American, taxpayer expense.

Originally Posted by zeezil

Yeah, I'd believe a poll in the LA (Largely Askew) Times as much as I'd believe pigs can fly.

that's exactly what I was thinking while reading this article....wonder where and how this poll was conducted???