Thread: Half of Americans Believe Congress Is Corrupt, Poll Results

http://www.lp.org/article_264.shtml

Half of American Adults Believe Congress Is Corrupt


In a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, 49 percent of those who responded believed most members of Congress are corrupt. Forty-six percent believe that most congressmen are not corrupt. Almost a third of poll respondents said corruption was moderately important. An almost identical percentage of respondents, 28 and 27 percent respectively, believe "many" Republicans and Democrats are corrupt.

Corruption could become an important issue in the 2006 congressional races. Fifty-five percent of respondents said corruption will be "the most important" or a "very important" issue to consider when voting this November, CNN.com reported.


his poll was conducted prior to former lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea to conspiracy, mail fraud, and tax evasion on Tuesday. In the wake of Abramoff's guilty plea, both major parties are attempting to distance themselves and perform damage control. President Bush and House Speaker Dennis Hastert have announced they will donate the campaign contributions they received from Abramoff to charities.


As part of his plea arrangement, Abramoff has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in return for a lighter sentence, according to the Washington Post. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are nervous that Abramoff will provide testimony that could link them to his illegal activities. The Associated Press reported the ongoing investigation includes more than 20 members of Congress, with court documents prominently mentioning Rep. Tom Delay (R - Texas) and Rep. Bob Ney (R - Ohio).

I didn't see a poll. Do you have to be a Libertarian to vote? And I think more than half think the congress is mostly corrupt.

Originally Posted by JuniusJnr

I didn't see a poll. Do you have to be a Libertarian to vote? And I think more than half think the congress is mostly corrupt.

I think you had to be a member of congress or family member to get in on this poll.


SAMPLE: Interviews conducted via telephone December 16-18, 2005, with 1,003 adults in the United States. SAMPLING ERROR: +/- 4.5% pts

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/03/ ... ressimage/