Stay up to date with our latest insights. Americans blame all sides of the healthcare reform battle about equally -- Democratic leaders, Republican leaders, and conservative commentators -- for provoking the rash of threatening e-mails, phone calls, and vandalism that erupted after the healthcare bill passed in the U. House of Representatives. A majority of Americans say healthcare costs in the U.
Half of Americans believe that healthcare costs for themselves and their families will get worse. This marks a change from the uptick in support Gallup found immediately after the U. House of Representatives passed the bill. The recent Virginia and New Jersey state elections played out in the context of broad, national trends relating to the mood of the nation, the economy and the role of government. Forty-seven percent say television is their main source of Tea Party information, the top source; another 24 percent say they get Tea Party information from the internet.
Nearly half say the main goal of the movement is to reduce the role of the federal government, far outdistancing any other consideration. Just seven percent say the goal of the movement is to elect Tea Party candidates. An overwhelming majority of Tea Party supporters, 84 percent, say the views of the Tea Party movement reflect the views of most Americans.
But Americans overall disagree: Just 25 percent say the Tea Party movement reflects their beliefs, while 36 percent say it does not. Ninety-two percent of Tea Party supporters believe President Obama's policies are moving the country toward socialism. Fifty-two percent of Americans overall share that belief. Asked what socialism means, roughly half of Tea Party supporters volunteered government ownership or control, far more than any other answer.
Eleven percent cited taking away rights or limiting freedom, and eight percent said it means the redistribution of wealth. Thirty percent of Tea Party supporters believe Mr. Obama was born in another country, despite ample evidence to the contrary. Another 29 percent say they don't know. Twenty percent of Americans overall, one in five, believe the president was not born in the United States. More on this part of the poll here. Tea Party supporters were asked in the poll what they thought of a few notable figures.
The most popular was Sarah Palin, who is viewed favorably by 66 percent of people in the movement. Only 40 percent, however, believe she would be an effective president, a smaller percentage than Republicans overall.
Fifty-nine percent of Tea Party supporters have a favorable impression of Glenn Beck. Nearly as many, 57 percent, have a favorable impression of former President George W. Bush, despite his role in raising the deficit and overseeing TARP bailout of the financial sector.
Tea Party supporters are more concerned with economic than social issues. Seventy-eight percent say economic issues are a bigger concern, while 14 percent point to social issues. They are more likely than Republicans and Americans overall to see illegal immigration as a serious problem 82 percent , doubt the impact of global warming 66 percent and call the bank bailout unnecessary 74 percent.
Fifty-three percent say the Roe v. Wade decision was a bad thing compared to 34 percent of Americans overall , 40 percent oppose same-sex marriage and civil unions compared to 30 percent overall and 30 percent want gun control laws eased compared to 16 percent overall. Ninety-three percent describe the economy as at least somewhat bad, and 42 percent say it is getting worse.
Fifty-eight percent believe America's best years are behind us when it comes to good jobs, compared to 45 percent of Americans overall. Just ten percent say the stimulus package had a positive effect on the economy compared to 32 percent of Americans overall , while 36 percent say it actually made things worse. More than half say it had no impact. Eighty-nine percent say the president has expanded the role of government too much. More than three in four say lowering the federal government is more important than government spending to create jobs.
Yoga used to help kids cope with violence in Chicago. Seeking charges against a Chicago officer. Dismiss Attention The browser or device you are using is out of date. Flagship Blog. A rally against government spending at the Capitol. Tea party supporters make up half of voters in Republican primaries. But an estimated groups are now considered 'active'. In , two tea party leaders in Congress lost re-election. Mark Meadows in Obamacare battle.
There are between 50 and 80 'serious tea party types' in Congress. Democrats have said 'tea party' three times as often as Republicans in Congress. The Center for Public Integrity. Tea party friend Gregg Abbott has sued the federal government 27 times. Abbott, the attorney general of Texas, hopes to succeed Rick Perry as the state's governor. The man behind the shutdown: Is his district turning on him? Tea party makes California inroads Rainbow flags and Republicans.
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