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Commentary: A Wake-Up Call for Washington
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Commentary: A Wake-Up Call for Washington
by Scott A. Lauf,
May 1, 2002
CitizensLobby.com recently tabulated the first results of our on-line poll to gauge the sentiments of American citizens on contentious issues that many so-called professional pollsters are too afraid to address. Rather than ask Oprah-esque questions on how one "feels," we asked people what they wanted their elected officials and policymakers to "do" about major crises challenging the United States today. The results conclusively revealed that many Americans strongly favor `America first' policies on immigration, foreign policy and trade that will protect our borders, our country and our sovereignty.
On immigration and border security, respondents overwhelmingly favor militarizing our borders (74%), deporting all illegal aliens (87%), and imposing a moratorium on legal immigration (67%). These stunning percentages should put to rest permanently any future scheme by congressional leaders or the White House to push for amnesty again. In particular for GOP leaders and the White House, it would be political suicide in the '02 and the '04 elections if they tried to work in tandem with Daschle and the Dems in sneaking through another 245(i) extension or a new "guestworker" program.
On the questions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, respondents were fairly divided on what policies served America's national interests. Despite the elitist assumption that neo-cons like Bill Kristol, William Bennett and Gary Bauer are the true voices for U.S. policy towards Israel, these gentlemen do not represent the majority views of Republican and conservative voters, let alone non-Republican voters. Likewise, there is very little sympathy for the Palestinians, as many folks rightfully view Arafat and his cronies as despicable thugs and terrorists. At the moment, we believe President Bush is taking the right approach by treading carefully in this volatile situation and working to create a new structure for peace.
While many Americans have mixed views over the Israelis and Palestinians, the vast majority oppose using U.S. troops to defend Israel (69%) or to be stationed as peacekeepers in the Middle East (90%). The Army's recent peacekeeping study that called for 20,000 U.S. troops on the West Bank and Gaza, as reported in the Washington Times several weeks ago, should be permanently shelved. The American people understand what the potential long-term dangers are for our troops, and they have also reflected upon the painful disasters of Bill Clinton's "nation-building" and "peacekeeping" missions in Somalia, Haiti and the former Yugoslavia.
A slight majority favor overthrowing Saddam Hussein, and over two-thirds favor legislation sanctioning assassination of foreign leaders and terrorists. President Bush does have the backing of the people to attack Iraq, as he does with his military actions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, I believe he should not rule out other options of ousting Saddam. And most importantly, before invading Iraq (which may happen early next year), he must seek the approval of Congress.
On whether the U.S. should withdraw from the United Nations, a surprising 85% favored this action. This should provide a boost to Rep. Ron Paul's (R-TX) American Sovereignty Restoration Act (H.R. 1146), which calls for U.S. withdrawal from the U.N.
As for Red China, 72% support revoking Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Most Americans correctly view China as a threat to our national security and economy, and PNTR is a debate that Congress must renew in the immediate future.
On a rather interesting note, when asked what the greatest threats to America are today, Tom Daschle and the Democratic party were seen as more dangerous than Arab terrorists and radical Islam! Perhaps this is an angry but legitimate response to the continuing obstructionism of Daschle and his fellow Dems in the Senate.
One final note about the answers. Since most respondents identified themselves right-of-center in their philosophy and party affiliation, these results clearly serve more as a wake-up call to the leaders of the GOP than to the Democrats. However, when we examined the results separately by ideology and party, the results did not change more than 2-3% (less than the average margin of error for many polls). Even for the self-described moderates, Democrats, independents, Libertarians, and, yes, the few liberals and Green party members who responded, their answers were right in tune with the majority, especially on immigration.
In closing, we believe these survey results are a poignant and relevant sampling of the true sentiments of American citizens who are frustrated that their views are often ignored by Washington's elites. Yes, we the people have spoken. It is now time that our elected officials heed our advice.
Scott A. Lauf is the Executive Director of Citizenslobby.com.
To contact Mr. Lauf, e-mail lauf@citizenslobby.com.
http://www.citizenslobby.com/oped.htm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
by Scott A. Lauf,
May 1, 2002
CitizensLobby.com recently tabulated the first results of our on-line poll to gauge the sentiments of American citizens on contentious issues that many so-called professional pollsters are too afraid to address. Rather than ask Oprah-esque questions on how one "feels," we asked people what they wanted their elected officials and policymakers to "do" about major crises challenging the United States today. The results conclusively revealed that many Americans strongly favor `America first' policies on immigration, foreign policy and trade that will protect our borders, our country and our sovereignty.
On immigration and border security, respondents overwhelmingly favor militarizing our borders (74%), deporting all illegal aliens (87%), and imposing a moratorium on legal immigration (67%). These stunning percentages should put to rest permanently any future scheme by congressional leaders or the White House to push for amnesty again. In particular for GOP leaders and the White House, it would be political suicide in the '02 and the '04 elections if they tried to work in tandem with Daschle and the Dems in sneaking through another 245(i) extension or a new "guestworker" program.
On the questions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, respondents were fairly divided on what policies served America's national interests. Despite the elitist assumption that neo-cons like Bill Kristol, William Bennett and Gary Bauer are the true voices for U.S. policy towards Israel, these gentlemen do not represent the majority views of Republican and conservative voters, let alone non-Republican voters. Likewise, there is very little sympathy for the Palestinians, as many folks rightfully view Arafat and his cronies as despicable thugs and terrorists. At the moment, we believe President Bush is taking the right approach by treading carefully in this volatile situation and working to create a new structure for peace.
While many Americans have mixed views over the Israelis and Palestinians, the vast majority oppose using U.S. troops to defend Israel (69%) or to be stationed as peacekeepers in the Middle East (90%). The Army's recent peacekeeping study that called for 20,000 U.S. troops on the West Bank and Gaza, as reported in the Washington Times several weeks ago, should be permanently shelved. The American people understand what the potential long-term dangers are for our troops, and they have also reflected upon the painful disasters of Bill Clinton's "nation-building" and "peacekeeping" missions in Somalia, Haiti and the former Yugoslavia.
A slight majority favor overthrowing Saddam Hussein, and over two-thirds favor legislation sanctioning assassination of foreign leaders and terrorists. President Bush does have the backing of the people to attack Iraq, as he does with his military actions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, I believe he should not rule out other options of ousting Saddam. And most importantly, before invading Iraq (which may happen early next year), he must seek the approval of Congress.
On whether the U.S. should withdraw from the United Nations, a surprising 85% favored this action. This should provide a boost to Rep. Ron Paul's (R-TX) American Sovereignty Restoration Act (H.R. 1146), which calls for U.S. withdrawal from the U.N.
As for Red China, 72% support revoking Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Most Americans correctly view China as a threat to our national security and economy, and PNTR is a debate that Congress must renew in the immediate future.
On a rather interesting note, when asked what the greatest threats to America are today, Tom Daschle and the Democratic party were seen as more dangerous than Arab terrorists and radical Islam! Perhaps this is an angry but legitimate response to the continuing obstructionism of Daschle and his fellow Dems in the Senate.
One final note about the answers. Since most respondents identified themselves right-of-center in their philosophy and party affiliation, these results clearly serve more as a wake-up call to the leaders of the GOP than to the Democrats. However, when we examined the results separately by ideology and party, the results did not change more than 2-3% (less than the average margin of error for many polls). Even for the self-described moderates, Democrats, independents, Libertarians, and, yes, the few liberals and Green party members who responded, their answers were right in tune with the majority, especially on immigration.
In closing, we believe these survey results are a poignant and relevant sampling of the true sentiments of American citizens who are frustrated that their views are often ignored by Washington's elites. Yes, we the people have spoken. It is now time that our elected officials heed our advice.
Scott A. Lauf is the Executive Director of Citizenslobby.com.
To contact Mr. Lauf, e-mail lauf@citizenslobby.com.
http://www.citizenslobby.com/oped.htm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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