New Poll Finds Mixed Support For Wiretaps

The poll, conducted as President [George W. Bush] defended his surveillance program in the face of criticism from Democrats and some Republicans that it is illegal, found that Americans were willing to give the administration some latitude for its surveillance program if they believed it was intende...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New York times
Main Authors ADAM NAGOURNEY and JANET ELDER, Marjorie Connelly, Marina Stefan and Megan Thee contributed reporting for this article
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, N.Y New York Times Company 27.01.2006
EditionLate Edition (East Coast)
Subjects
Bush, George W
Civil liberties
Electronic eavesdropping
National security
Public opinion surveys
Surveillance of citizens
Terrorism
United States
US
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The poll, conducted as President [George W. Bush] defended his surveillance program in the face of criticism from Democrats and some Republicans that it is illegal, found that Americans were willing to give the administration some latitude for its surveillance program if they believed it was intended to protect them. Fifty-three percent of the respondents said they supported eavesdropping without warrants ''in order to reduce the threat of terrorism.'' The poll found that 53 percent of Americans approved of Mr. Bush's authorizing eavesdropping without prior court approval ''in order to reduce the threat of terrorism''; 46 percent disapproved. When the question was asked stripped of any mention of terrorism, 46 percent of those respondents approved, and 50 percent said they disapproved. President Bush at his news conference yesterday. The latest poll shows that public opinion on Mr. Bush's surveillance program is still unresolved. (Photo by David Scull for The New York Times)(pg. A21)
ISSN:0362-4331