by Mark Silva
Some are getting through the controversy over "harsh interrogation techniques'' better than others:
President Barack Obama, apparently, is faring well with the public in his disavowal of terrorist interrogations authorized by the Bush administration and revelation of the Justice Department memos that justified it, and even the CIA, which carried out "water-boarding'' and more, is above water in the polls.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, is struggling with a loss of public support - not faring much better than Republicans in Congress lately.
These are among the findings of a new Gallup Poll released this morning, which echo the soaring public disapproval of the job that the House speaker from California is performing shown in a CNN Opinion Research Poll earlier this week - 48 percent overall disapproval for the speaker, up from 22 percent in January in the CNN poll.
Pelosi, Gallup reports, is "losing the public relations game.''
The Gallup Poll finds that 47 percent of those surveyed disapprove of the way that Pelosi has handled "the matter concerning the government's use of harsh interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects.'' The speaker, who has claimed that she was not told by the CIA of its water-boarding when she was briefed on the interrogations in September 2004 - the CIA says she was told - also has accused the agency of lying to her and systematically misleading congressional leaders.
Only 31 percent say they approve of Pelosi's conduct.
The president, by contrast, holds the support of 59 percent of those surveyed on the subject, with 29 percent disapproving - also a reflection, perhaps, of his own overall job approval, which has stood above 60 percent in most surveys and does in the Gallup Poll's daily tracking -- 65 percent this morning.
The CIA: 52 percent approval, 31 percent disapproval.
Democrats in Congress: 44 percent approval, 40 percent disapproval.
Republicans in Congress: 45 percent disapproval, 40 percent approval.
"Sixty percent of Americans say they are following the news about the government's use of harsh interrogation techniques closely,'' Gallup's Jeffrey Jones reports, " including 22 percentwho say they are following it "very closely."
"Republicans (66 percent) are slightly more likely than independents or Democrats (each 59 percent) to be following the matter closely.''
The May 19 survey finds "Pelosi largely losing the public relations game, as she gets a significantly more negative review for her handling of the matter than do the other major players in the controversy, including the CIA,'' Jones notes.
''Also, notably, Americans are much more critical of Pelosi's handling of the matter than they are of the broader group of the Democrats in Congress she leads as speaker of the House.''
The results come from a survey of 997 adults conducted Tuesday, with a possible margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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Comments
Speaker Pelosi, from the beginning of her term, as Speaker of our House, has been sniped at, lied about and, in general, character-assassinated, by the bigots and rabid radicals of the right !! They resented a a woman, a liberal and a Californian, as our Speaker. They have lied, distorted, misled and they resent the fact, that they, the " Republicans " no longer are in a position, to lie to America, from such a lofty perch !! Look at the likes of Getrich, and how he twisted that august body, to stoop to impeach a President for, at worst, immature behavour !! Or his hissy fits, about having to enter Air Force One, from another point of entry, other than the President's. I will not bother you with his boorish behavour towards his bed-ridden wife, or any other, of his piccadilloes. He made for a very poor example of The Speaker of our House of Representatives !! In so many different ways.
Then, there was the notorious Congressman Livingston, hand picked by Getrich, who became Speaker-elect, only he resigned in disgrace, before even ascending to the Office. These are just two of the " Republicans " answer to, what makes for a good Speaker and they have the witlessness to open their mouths against Madame Speaker !! This recent version of the " Republicans ", sure are a confused lot and they are dumbfounding our nation, with their bickering, snide remarks and just, out and out, lying !! I really hope they will get it together, real soon. America needs a sensible opposition, to assist the majority in power, with good council and commonsense. Unfortunately, at the moment, these " Republicans ", have neither !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | May 21, 2009 7:30 AM
Pelosi should demand the release of the transcripts of her single ( that's a hard one to believe, as congressional members many times send aides so they have deniability of being actually informed or briefed) CIA briefing and Obama should declassify that specific memo so this could be cleared up ASAP. AG Holder, who vowed to keep an independent Justice Dept., should them follow with an investigation on the lying charges, Pelosi or CIA, then let the chips fall. The average folks have a sense, from Pelosi's scattered and anxiety riddled comments and behavior, that she is not being truthful. I think she has become a very effective poster girl, highlighting the best characteristics of a liberal Democrat.
Note to Mark; Those savvy "tea-baggers" that you subtly mocked, while downplaying their message, sure made a point by rejecting all taxes in Tues. Calif.. votes. Do you dismiss our "little movement" now, as we intend to follow up with the same rejection of the Dems. and Obama's policies of big taxes and spending. Where are your comments on the implications of this total rejection as you continue to support and hype these Obama policies? These polls about Obama are misleading, so lets have a little coverage of what an actual poll, in this case a real vote, reflects. Conservative comeback is in the wind!
Posted by: bubba Porter | May 21, 2009 7:41 AM
Unfortunately for the democrats Pelosi remains an albatros.
And if it is constantly hammered home that she is third in line for the presidency; people will really revolt against her.
It is reallly bothersome that she has attacked the CIA, questioning their veracity to protect herself. Very ineffective leadership.
Perhaps, more worrisome is the fact that Pelosi sent an aide to get the information. All this after 9/11. She couldn't get her butt to the meeting.
Don't like the idea that an aide is given such sensitive information. No wonder there are leaks of information in the government. It is not such a tighly run ship as the public thinks. Our enemies could get this information could easily penetrate the government and be included in groups that get sensitive information.
Now, that is a real threat and that needs to be corrected. It actually is quite scary, the flippancy of representatives.
Would like to know how many representatives send their aides to VIP meetings with CIA, FBI especially so soon after 9/11. It's a little bit of arrogance.
Begone Pelosi, begone. You do not protect this country.
Posted by: syl | May 21, 2009 8:49 AM
Don't like the idea that an aide is given such sensitive information. No wonder there are leaks of information in the government.
Posted by: syl | May 21, 2009 8:49 AM
This is a really good point- there is no way congresspeople are so busy with the amount of time off, recesses, and short in session times that they need to send an aide to a meeting that I am sure required a pretty high security clearance.
Posted by: heartburn | May 21, 2009 10:27 AM
yaaaaawwwwwwwwwnnnnnnn, the GOP is so desperate, look at us! why isn't anyone listening to us!? pay attention to us! it's all Nancy's fault, cry me a RIVER republicans. Al Franken is an American hero. With his rapier wit, keen sense of humor, intelligence and vision for a cleaner, brighter, safer more prosperous America and future, with this extra superior Democrat, the US Government for the first time in years will have some integrity back. Bush is a MORON, as filthy, greedy, lying, corrupt, evil, disgusting, foul smelling, ugly, ignorant, foolish, destructive, anti progressive, anti life, polluting, racist, traitorous, ill intentioned, war mongering, selfish, arrogant republicans all are. Thank God and Jesus Christ for United States Senator Al Franken, the good Lord has saved us and answered our prayers.
Posted by: Democrats 08 | May 21, 2009 10:49 AM
Would this then be a rejection of Ms. Pelosi's "on-going culture of corruption"?
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | May 21, 2009 12:03 PM
The dumbest speaker in perhaps the history of this nation.
Posted by: Terry | May 21, 2009 12:07 PM
All I see are lefties defending what is an indefensible position. Pelosi is nothing but a self serving idiot who takes you all for Dumb asses. I guess she's right as you keep coming to her defense!
Look into the stocks she owns and how she votes. Her talk about the CIA lying was just another partisan self serving kick the republicans tactic.
Wake up you blind and ignorant people. The first post is a PRIME example of a kool-aid drinker who has bought all the lies.
Posted by: Chris | May 21, 2009 12:39 PM
Whacked-out Don "I need no stinkin brains" Fitzgerald is at it again. Sorry, Don, this is Pelooni's deal and no one else's. Her story has changed multiple times about what she knew and didn't know. Records confirm, as well as Leon Panetta, that Pelooni, in fact, was told of the waterboarding in 2002.
Also, Don, you say Pelooni has been under unfair attack since taking office as Speaker. Sort of like the unfair attacks on Newt Gingrich and Denny Hastert, huh? Or about the attacks on Sarah Palin?
And, Don, we conservatives are bigots because we oppose Nancy as Speaker because she is a woman, yet the conservatives overwhelmingly supported Sarah Palin for VP?
Ahhh, reason, intelligence, common sense rule again and once again the Loons on the Left are mindless losers.
Posted by: John D | May 21, 2009 3:02 PM
They are all lairs.
The Republicans know that Pelosi will never be investigated. Which is why they are making all the noise. They are just posturing.
Can you imagine what would happen if there really was an investigation?
They are all implicated and should all be fired.
Posted by: Chris Ronk | May 22, 2009 2:08 PM