Misunderstanding Obama?

YouGov
October 14, 2010, 8:16 PM GMT+0

President Barack Obama’s approval rating has remained below 50% all year. This week’s Economist/YouGov Poll is no exception. 43% of Americans approve of the way he is handling his job overall, while 51% disapprove.

His biggest problem is the economy. Nearly six in ten still describe the country as being in a recession or even a depression – even though the recession has “officially” ended. More than half still say that it will take more than two years for the economy to recover completely. Most do not expect many new jobs to be created anytime soon.

But the President has also been dogged by the fact that many Americans hold misconceptions about him – misconceptions fueled by partisanship and educational differences. Significant numbers of Americans say that he is a socialist (37%), that he was not born in the United States (23%), and that he is a Muslim (24%). One in four (26%) say he is not a Christian.

Percent of respondents believing the following statements about Barack Obama are true.

TotalRepublicans

Barack Obama is a socialist

37%

67%

Barack Obama was born in the United States

56%

34%

Barack Obama is a Muslim

23%

42%

Barack Obama is a Christian

46%

16%

Percent of respondents believing the following statements about Barack Obama are true.

TotalHS or LessSome CollegeCollege Grad

Barack Obama is a socialist

37%

37%

36%

38%

Barack Obama was born in the United States

56%

44%

61%

70%

Barack Obama is a Muslim

23%

29%

24%

13%

Barack Obama is a Christian

46%

36%

48%

59%

And when Republicans are asked those questions, the numbers increase. 67% of Republicans think President Obama is a socialist, 42% say he was NOT born in the United States, and 42% believe he is a Muslim. Half – 50% – say he is not a Christian.

Those are political answers. But there are also enormous educational differences on these questions, especially those dealing with birthplace and religion (there is little difference on the question of whether or not he is a socialist). 70% of college graduates believe the President was born in the United States, while only 44% of those with high school education or less do. 29% of those with a high school diploma say he is a Muslim, something believed by just 13% of those with college degrees. Most of those with college degrees believe Obama is Christian, while just 36% of those with a high school diploma agree. Very few say the President is both a Muslim and a Christian. Somewhat more say he is neither.

One problem Americans may have in assessing the President’s religious preference is that few think of his as religious. Only 15% say they would use that term to describe the President; twice as many (35%) say this is a term they would NOT use.

Image Source: The White House Blog

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