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Subscribe to RSSNEW YORK -- This Saturday marks one month since Occupy Wall Street protesters set-up camp at Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan. Since then the demonstrations have spread to dozens of cities across the country. This weekend, a global day of protests is planned, and organizers say they expect events to be held in more than 800 cities in 71 countries.
Clearly, the movement appears to be growing. Now we have some new information about how the rest of the country views what’s happening in Zuccotti Park and beyond.
From an NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll released Wednesday:
- 37% of the country tends to support the movement; 18% oppose; 25% have no opinion. That’s more than those who say they support the Tea Party -- just 26% say they support it, while 64% say they do not.
- The movement is most popular in the Northeast, where people tend to support it 48%-15%. It is least popular in the South where 30% support, 22% oppose.
- Perhaps counter-intuitively, the movement has its highest support among the highest income earners, (those making more than $75,000 year): 40% support, 24% oppose. Among the poorest, however, it is also popular (less than 30K year): 35% support, 11% oppose.
- Among ethnic groups, the protests are popular among African-Americans, 41% support, 7% oppose; among Hispanics 35% support, 15 oppose; among Whites 37% support, 18% oppose.
- Among political parties, unsurprisingly, the movement is most popular among Democrats (56%-6%), and least popular among Republicans, where a plurality do not support 17%-34%. Independents support 34%-17%.
Since the demonstrations started there have also been nagging questions about what protesters believe in, and what they want. Early last week New York Magazine conducted an informal survey of 100 protesters at Zuccotti Park to gauge their views on everything from President Obama to capitalism. A few snippets are below.
What do you think of Obama?
- I believed in him, and he let me down: 40
- He’s doing great: 1
- I never believed in him: 27
- He’s doing the best he can: 22
Did you vote in the 2010 midterm elections?
- Yes: 39
- No: 55
- No, but only because I wasn’t 18:
Rank yourself on the following Scale of Liberalism:
- Not liberal at all: 6
- Liberal but fairly mainstream (i.e., Barack Obama): 3
- Strongly liberal (i.e., Paul Krugman): 12
- Fed up with Democrats, believe country needs overhaul (i.e., Ralph Nader): 41
- Convinced the U.S. government is no better than, say, Al Qaeda (i.e., Noam Chomsky): 34
For more from the field on Occupy Wall Street, check out msnbc.com's Field Notes blog.
*** UPDATE *** We checked to see how the supporters and opponents of Occupy Wall Street broke down in their approval or disapproval of President Obama.
Those who tend to support the protesters, said they approved of the president's job 61%-35%.
Those who tend to oppose the protesters, did not approve of the president's job by an 11%-88%
Those with no opinion were 42%-49%.
The margin of error on this question is +/-3.55%.
Leave a Comment:
I support them. We currently have a government of the wealthy, by the wealthy and for the wealthy. The police are their enforcers. There is beginning to be a new wind bloing and it is about time.
Isn't Soros one of the richest men in the world?? I think he is worth about $22 billion now....isn't this the Democrats new puppet master??
Aren't Charles and David Koch EACH wealthier than George Soros? Doesn't EACH OF THEM spend more than Soros on political activities? Plus the activities of other Conservative funders like Richard Mellon Scaife? Plus Rupert Murdoch who runs an ENTIRE MEDIA EMPIRE for the benefit of the Conservative Movement?
I realize Conservatism requires a bogeyman at all times to keep their movement focused, but you don't want to start this. You lose on the facts.
OK.....Have you ever heard of Warren Buffet?? ...Liberals don't like the facts!
Of course I've heard of Warren Buffett. He was a hero to Conservatives until he asked the government to raise his taxes.
You've presented no facts. What political operations is he funding and in what amounts? If you do not have that information you're just name dropping.
Why he most certainly has, John! Look at his User Name!! It speaks volumes.
BlameObama
At least my generation had balls. This 'trust fund' generation is soft and weak. Maybe a few batons to the head will knock some sense into them and they will get off their asses and do something productive for once. Instead of mommy and daddy always supporting them.
Of course this 'hand out' movement will be popular, lord forbid these 'entitlement' babies actually pay their dues like the rest of us did.
There is no polling figure for:
Did you vote in the 2010 midterm elections?
So the banks should adhere to the terms of the contract--which hurts them as well because foreclosure costs money and empty houses cost money but it is ok for state governments like Wisconsin not to adhere to the terms of the union contracts--Is that what you really think?
MRWSR......Like the way things are? Must be on the government tit, or one of the "special" people that don't pay any income tax. Enjoy it while it lasts.
How do you destroy an enemy? Divide and conquer. News information is so convoluted we are purposely confused. This is the position those in power want you to be in - (Confused). Their time is ending. Time is past do for reformation. Lines are being drawn in the sand. Beware of the government infiltrators. Choose carefully which side you plan to stand with.
Tea Party rallies have no booze, or drugs no rap concerts, no slug outs with the police. You don't get to spit on a common worker and slap him around. Cursing like a sailor is discouraged, no free sex. Of course the wall street protest will be more exciting right until the mixture of booze drugs and people being pumped up leads to a bunch of injury's, and deaths.
The protestors of the 60's are leaving out the part of the innocent bystanders heads being bashed in and the death tolls. Research the The Kent State shootings in 1970, people not involved at all in the protest were killed as a result of the protesters getting out of control. I then read of parents who comment here proud of taking their children to the protests. If the protest goes south and your child is hurt, or killed. You can explain your great parental wisdom to the child, however you will get on the national news and be known world wide as the parent who put their kid in harms way.
People pay big bucks to see violence, so of course these protest are popular, they could lead to bloodshed, a free for all fight as it is slowly escalating to that point.
" Research the The Kent State shootings in 1970, people not involved at all in the protest were killed as a result of the protesters getting out of control."
Uh, no. The Kent State Massacre occurred when armed National Guard fired 67 rounds at unarmed, peaceful students who weren't even near them. Sorry, but you can't rewrite history to suit yourself.
Politicians are amazing on their views of protestors
Nancy Pelosi: 'God bless' Wall Street protesters 10/6/2011 www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65368.html
Nancy Pelosi 10/09/2007
"I had, for five months, people sitting outside my home, going into my garden in San Francisco, angering neighbors, hanging their clothes from trees, building all kinds of things -- Buddhas? I don't know what they were -- couches, sofas, chairs, permanent living facilities on my front sidewalk."
Unsmilingly, she continued: "If they were poor and they were sleeping on my sidewalk, they would be arrested for loitering, but because they have 'Impeach Bush' across their chest, it's the First Amendment."
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902006.html
Nancy Pelosi orders arrests of Protestors.
March 22, 2007: several Code Pink protestors were arrested outside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.Code Pink was protesting that the majority Democratic Party had not stopped war funding.
thehill.com/homenews/news-archive
What good are these numbers really? The numbers mean nothing. What an idiotic poll. 17%-34% and they use these numbers to prove people support the protesters can you say the pole is skewed!!!!!
Wow, critical thinking really has left the general population.
Since the middle class arose in this country, they have been the buffer between the rich and the poor. No wonder it's citizens earning more than $75k that are the biggest supporters - they're watchng those below them fall like barley before a tempest. It's "healthy" self-interest (invoking the language of the Right here).
As suspect as the numbers are, most of the libertarians who left the TP in disgust (for being co-opted by the very forces they're against) are now solid supporters of OWS.
Must be rough for you waiting for the Rapture to know that you have indeed been left behind.
The Occupier's on Wall Street are more in tune with President Obama's fight for change. The Occupy movement is a fight against TeaParty Republicans in Congress who are only looking for the best interest of the 1%'ers/the Rich. President Obama's Jobs Bill is a major support for the 99%'ers/ the everyday common worker & the blue collar worker. Teabaggar Republicans could care less about creating jobs for the US, they only want to protect the Corporate Elites who feed 110% off greed and selfishness. The Democratics support the Occupy on Wall street protestors, and the Occupiers' support President Obama's Jobs Bill. WE DEMAND THAT THE TEAPARTY REPUBLICANS VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENTS JOBS BILL OR THEY WILL DEFINITELY BE VOTED OUT OF CONGRESS BY THE 99%'ERS ASAP!!! The 99%'ers out number the 1%'ers and the Teabaggars all over the USA- East coast to West coast. So Occupier's, continue to FIGHT THE POWER against these 1%'ers and the Teabag Republican Party, and take back America from these greedy selfish Teabaggin' idiots. If these Teabaggar Republican supportors make less than $1 million annually, they are some of the most unintelligent individuals that have existed on this earth. These Teabaggars are a perfect example of why the US Educational system has failed... And Oh yeah, President Obama will definitely win a 2nd term of Presidency. Obama/Biden 2012!!!
Occupy Wall Street' more popular than Tea Party ....LOL another liberal lie
Lets see the occupy wall street sheep, doing the dirty work for the ones that wants to destroy the country. Using Nazi's, commies, union thugs and now brain washed students. What bothers me the most are the students that seems they don't see the over all picture of being used.
Spread the wealth lol, what happened to earn your wealth. Maybe we should take the "A" grade student that worked hard to get the A. And give him a C then give the lazy student that has a " F" a "C"... Being its the same idea taking from the rich and spreading the wealth.
Bottom line is once they destroy the country by dividing us. The country will then be invaded and we will then see the mistakes of being used, (played like a fiddle).
Here is something to give some thought to (united we stand divided we fall).....
Can't help that the facts have a Liberal bias, miakoda...then again that seems to be the case more often than not.
John A is a man with a plan...go, guy, go!
Look at me , I carry a meaningless sign and demonstrate about meaningless stuff that people ignore! Oh boy, I am popular!
Basically, the tea baggers had their 15 minutes.
Now, they're all but irrelavant.
These polls are a crock. I know people who went to the occupy Wallstreet, said they couldn't believe how small it was. The Obama media has it all hyped up. The people there are mostly low lifes. People crapping on cop cars, smoking pot, throwing trash in the streets, having sex in public, women going topless, and piss everywhere. Even the Nazi and Commy groups were joining it. Some democrat family group was even paying people 300 to 600 dollars a week to stay down there. Grass roots.....right. The only grass is the grass they're smoking. And if anyone believes Obama has a jobs bill, then they havn't read the bill. It's a TAX bill and another half trillion dollars in spending to fix bridges and roads. I thought that was what the $1 trillion in stimulus was for in 2009. I want to see the receipt for that money first. Nothing but a slush fund is what it was. Money to pay unions who in return send a portion of the union dues back to the democrat party. You people need to wake up because Obama's got your number if you think he's going to help this economy. He and the Dems are mostly why we had the home mortgage crisis that got us into this mess in the first place.
Angry, and ignorant, is no way to go through life.
I suggest cutting down the consumption of right wing squawk radio..
Didn't Obama have 2 of his 3 years in office with a Democrat majority in Congress?? Wouldn't this be a ticket to "change" whatever he wanted with little or no resistance? ...Obama has failed!! ...time to go in 2012!!
No, he had 10 weeks during which Congress was in session. Republicans tied up the seating of Senator Franken for 6 months out of spite for losing his Minnesota race, then Senator Kennedy became too ill to serve and was eventually replaced by Senator Brown.
In spite of that limited time window here is a list of 100 things the Obama Administration accomplished just by March, 2010. http://simplifythepositive.blogspot.com/2010/03/100-accomplishments-of-president-barack.html
Next empty talking point, please.
Are you serious?? ...That list of 100 failed "announcements or proposals" is more hilarious than the 13 demands of the OWS crowd! Holy @!$%#, Obama is done in 2012...stick a fork in him now!!
When "Hope" turns to "Despair", blame the person responsible....Blame Obama!
Awwww, poor BlameObama has nothing but outrage when presented with the facts.
Unfortunately, Obama and the Dems do have quite a number of blamable moments. But ignoring the complicity of BOTH Parties, particularly the previous several administrations, is shallow in context to those W Bush-continuity programs the Obama Administration has been aparty to keeping in place in the name of bipartisanship...
Not recognizing Obama's Corporatist Leanings is inexcusable. More of the Same Old Same Old. They ALL feed from the Lobbyists' Trough.
It appears that the 'bipartisan ship' only sails in one direction though.
Peace
THIS IS THE THEME SONG FOR THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA:
PUSSY MARIJUANA (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - BY DAVID SABASTIAN
Let's face it...the Theocratic Evangelical Aryan (TEA) Party was based on a fraud when the kook Sean Hannity pasted together various videos from different seasons and different gatherings to claim that the TEA Aryans' get together back in 2009 was bigger than they claimed...and it took Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart to call Hannity to task for his media fraud...and the deceitfully lying Hannity had to publicly apologize on his show for the "error in editing." Guffaw. So much for Hannity representing any kind of "values."
But, that put the TEAryan Party over the top and it was on its way, based on the media fraud by Hannity and the FOXNEWSNUTswork...
In the 2010 election, less than 20% of the registered voters voted...and less than half of them voted for the TEAryans. That means less than 10% of the registered voters voted for them, but being the bullies they are and the cowards that GOPpers like Boehner and McConnell are...the bullies have intimidated the GOP cowards into submission to their extreme right wing Aryan agenda.
It's all based on a fraud!
The Theocratic Evangelical Aryan (TEA) Party calls itself a party.
That begs the question: "Why don't they register as such, pay their fair share of dues in organization, identify their Party Platform and Planks...and let the American voters decide..."
...instead of hiding like cowards behind the Republican Party and destroying it from within?
The Tea Party has one advantage over OWS and that's that they've organized into ACTION, not just protest and their ACTION elected representatives that made changes, albeit negative ones, to the political scene. OWS needs to do the same.
OK then lets vote for it. Who is in sympathy with the TParty, vs who is in sympathy with the brandnew OWS party?
Other opinion polls have been published, try this one and see where the 99% fall.
Its funny how when the Tea Party started they were called a bunch of racist and hate mongers. Though no evidence ever turned up to back that up. Now we have Occupy Wall street the Democratic version of the tea party spewing hateful thing about Jews and anybody not agreeing with them. I am all for this Free Expression that we have been told this is but SHAME ON YOU to the liberals and Democrats that have failed to stand up and say something now that the shoes on the other foot. If this had been said by a Tea Party member you would have been up in arms for the Government to step in and do something to stop this hate speech. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU
They should occupy Terrorist Embassies in DC and their mosques instead of Wall Street! 9/11 started all this and they want us to blame our governmet! don't you get it? this is all enemy plan WAKE UP !!!!!!