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1997 Polling On Race Relations
Conducted 6/5-8 surveyed 1,137 adults; margin of error +/- 3 percent (release 6/12).
MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM FACING THE COUNTRY?
NOW 1/97 3/95
Economic issues 17% 21% 19%
Foreign affairs 2 2 3
Social issues 64 60 55
Crime 14 16 18
Moral decline 13 9 6
Health care 2 3 4
Race/civil rights 3 5 2
Education 6 7 2
Drugs 11 13 9
Poverty/hunger 5 7 5
9/94 1/94 1/93
Economic issues 13% 19% 44%
Foreign affairs 4 4 5
Social issues 68 68 35
Crime 26 31 4
Moral decline 6 9 5
Health care 9 7 6
Race/civil rights 2 2 2
Education 2 2 2
Drugs 8 6 5
Poverty/hunger 5 5 5
RACE RELATIONS IN U.S. ARE...
(NOW)
NOW BLACK WHITE
Excellent 1% 2% 1%
Good 30 23 31
Not good 46 42 46
Poor 22 34 19
RACE RELATIONS IN U.S. ARE...
(3/92)
ALL BLACK WHITE
Excellent 2% 2% 2%
Good 30 19 32
Not good 45 48 44
Poor 21 30 20
SHOULD BLACKS AND OTHER MINORITIES GET
PREFERENCE IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TO MAKE
UP FOR PAST INEQUALITIES (NOW)
NOW 6/91
ALL BLACK WHITE ALL
Yes 24% 49% 17% 22%
No 73 48 81 76
DO YOU HAVE A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND
WHO IS (WHITE/BLACK)?
NOW 3/81
BLACK WHITE BLACK WHITE
Yes 83% 71% 69% 54%
No 17 29 31 46
IN RECENT YEARS ANYONE BROUGHT (WHITE/BLACK)
HOME FOR DINNER?
ALL BLACK WHITE
Yes 44% 59% 40%
No 56 41 59
IN RECENT YEARS ANYONE BROUGHT (WHITE/BLACK)
HOME FOR DINNER?
4/87 4/77
Yes 31% 23%
No 69 77
HAS CLINTON MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN
RACE RELATIONS?
ALL BLACK WHITE
Yes 44% 71% 38%
No 46 24 50
WILL HE MAKE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN FUTURE?
ALL BLACK WHITE
Yes 49% 71% 43%
No 43 23 48
CBSConducted 6/10-11 surveyed 1,021 adults; margin of error +/- 3 percent. Subsamples: 253 Republicans, 286 Democrats, 282 Independents, 741 Whites, 172 Blacks.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IMPROVING RACE RELATIONS
TO OUR FUTURE?
ALL WHITE BLACK
Very important 38% 32% 71%
Somewhat important 55 62 26
Not important 5 5 2
HOW MUCH DOES CLINTON CARE ABOUT NEEDS AND
PROBLEMS OF BLACKS?
ALL WHITE BLACK 5/92
Great deal 27% 26% 39% 12%
Some 52 52 48 46
Not much 13 14 10 21
WHY IS CLINTON FOCUSING ON RACE RELATIONS?
ALL WHITE BLACK
Really cares 36% 31% 47%
Place in history 50 53 43
Both equally 2 2 1
SIMPSON TRIAL'S EFFECT ON RACE RELATIONS
BELIEVE O.J. IS...
ALL GUILTY NOT GUILTY
Positive effect 14% 13% 16%
Negative effect 36 38 35
No effect 40 39 41
CAN ANY PRESIDENT "SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE"
RACE RELATIONS?
No 50%
Yes 44
FOX NEWS/OPINION DYNAMICSConducted 10/15-16 surveyed 902 registered voters; margin of error +/- 3 percent (release, 10/31).
ARE RACE RELATIONS IN THE U.S. GETTING BETTER?
ALL WOMEN MEN WHITE BLACK HISPANIC
Yes 42% 43% 43% 44% 34% 44%
No 36 36 37 35 52 24
DO WHITES TREAT BLACKS DIFFERENTLY
THAN THEY TREAT OTHER WHITES?
ALL WOMEN MEN WHITE BLACK HISPANIC
Yes 65% 61% 67% 64% 78% 82%
No 22 25 20 23 14 12
PRESIDENT SHOULD FOCUS ON WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING FIRST?
Note: Open-ended question
ALL MEN WOMEN
Balanced budget 12% 15% 10%
Campaign finance reform 1 2 1
More welfare reform 7 5 8
Immigration 1 1 1
Health care 8 5 11
Crime/drugs 14 14 14
Environment 1 1 --
Medicare reform 4 4 4
Social Security 4 5 3
Race relations 2 2 1
Economy/jobs 9 9 10
Other/don't know 37 37 37
GALLUP/CNN/USA TODAYConducted 12/18-21 surveyed 1,005 adults; margin of error +/- 3 percent (release, 12/22).
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE STATE OF
RACE RELATIONS?
NOW 1/97
Very satisfied 6% 7%
Somewhat satisfied 37 42
Not too satisfied 35 30
Not at all satisfied 18 19
CLINTON JOB APPROVAL ON RACE RELATIONS Approve 54% Disapprove 26
HOW MUCH OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S DREAM HAS BEEN FULFILLED TODAY All of it 1% A great deal 20 A moderate amount 53 Not very much 23 None of it 1NEW YORK TIMES/CBS Conducted 12/6-9 surveyed 1,258 adults; margin of error +/- 3 percent. Oversample of 424 CA adults (Cal); margin of error +/- 5 percent. Oversample of 173 blacks (Black) (release, 12/13).
WHAT WORD OR PHRASE COMES TO MIND WHEN
YOU HEAR "AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?"
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL 4/95
Equal rights 14% 13% 23% 16% 9%
Discrimination 11 12 4 13 6
Doesn't work 3 4 3 4 2
Racism 2 2 2 4 1
Minorities 2 2 1 1 4
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR A COMPANY TO HAVE
A RACIALLY DIVERSE WORKFORCE?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Very important 40% 32% 77% 44%
Somewhat important 32 36 13 30
Not too important 15 17 3 13
Not at all important 10 11 5 9
IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION NECESSARY TO ENSURE
COMPANIES HAVE RACIALLY DIVERSE WORKFORCE?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Necessary 44% 38% 80% 46%
Not necessary 51 57 17 49
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR A COLLEGE TO HAVE
A RACIALLY DIVERSE STUDENT BODY?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Very important 43% 36% 76% 52%
Somewhat important 35 39 15 25
Not too important 12 13 5 10
Not at all important 9 10 2 10
IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION NECESSARY TO ENSURE
MORE BLACK DOCTORS?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Necessary 29% 24% 65% 31%
Not necessary 63 69 28 62
WHO HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING AHEAD IN
TODAY'S SOCIETY?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
White people 43% 39% 63% 47%
Black people 5 7 1 3
Equal 46 49 30 46
IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE LAWS TO PROTECT MINORITIES
FROM DISCRIMINATION?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Necessary 69% 65% 88% 70%
Not necessary 27 31 9 28
WAS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE LAWS 30 YEARS AGO TO
PROTECT MINORITIES FROM DISCRIMINATION?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Necessary 88% 87% 91% 90%
Not necessary 9 9 7 6
WHAT BOTHERS YOU MOST ABOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Unworthy go ahead 21% 24% 3% 22%
Discrimination 16 16 14 20
Doesn't work 9 8 19 9
Quotas 4 5 1 7
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Opportunities 40% 39% 45% 47%
Equal rights 4 4 6 5
Fixes past
discrimination 2 2 6 2
Generally positive 2 3 0 2
SHOULD PREFERENCE BE GIVEN WHERE THERE HAS
BEEN JOB DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACKS IN THE
PAST?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL 2/96
Yes 35% 31% 62% 34% 29%
No 52 57 23 52 61
HAS YOUR RACE EVER HELPED OR HURT YOU
REGARDING A JOB OR PROMOTION?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL 12/96
Helped 9% 7% 21% 10% 7%
Hurt 12 8 26 13 11
Not factor 77 83 46 73 77
WITH EQUALLY QUALIFIED COLLEGE APPLICANTS,
ACCEPT MINORITY TO ACHIEVE RACIAL BALANCE OR
RACIAL BALANCE SHOULD NOT BE FACTOR?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Accept minority 20% 20% 25% 21%
Race is not a factor 69 69 63 64
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
End now 12% 13% 0% 17%
Phase out 40 45 17 35
Continue 41 35 80 40
WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IN AVERAGE COMPANY WHEN
EQUALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE COMPETE FOR A JOB?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Black hired 19% 22% 3% 14%
White hired 47 41 83 48
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS IN HIRING OR
PROMOTING OR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS BE CONTINUED
OR ABOLISHED?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Continue 41% 35% 80% 41%
Abolish 47 52 14 49
SHOULD EMPLOYERS OR COLLEGES USE OUTREACH
PROGRAMS TO HIRE MINORITY WORKERS OR FIND
MINORITY STUDENTS?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Favor 60% 56% 80% 66%
Oppose 27 30 8 25
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
PROGRAMS?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Leave them 24% 21% 36% 24%
Change them 43 41 56 38
Abolish them 25 30 3 27
IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO SELECT AN EQUALLY
QUALIFIED MINORITY OVER A WHITE?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Good idea 32% 31% 38% 35%
Bad idea 38 38 36 35
WHICH IS A BIGGER PROBLEM IN THE WORKPLACE?
BLACKS LOSING OUT BECAUSE OF DISCRIMINATION OR
WHITES LOSING OUT BECAUSE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Blacks losing 35% 31% 63% 39%
Whites losing 34 39 10 29
TO MAKE UP FOR PAST DISCRIMINATION, DO YOU FAVOR
PROGRAMS WHICH GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO
RACIAL MINORITIES?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Favor 26% 21% 51% 29%
Oppose 65 70 36 61
TO MAKE UP FOR PAST DISCRIMINATION, DO YOU
FAVOR PROGRAMS WHICH IMPOSE QUOTAS FOR RACIAL
MINORITIES?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Favor 19% 15% 48% 22%
Oppose 72 78 37 69
TO MAKE UP FOR PAST DISCRIMINATION, DO YOU FAVOR
PROGRAMS WHICH MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS TO HELP
MINORITIES?
ALL WHITE BLACK CAL
Favor 55% 50% 80% 58%
Oppose 39 44 11 35
PEW RESEARCH CENTERConducted 11/12-16 surveyed 1,200 adults; margin of error +/- 3 percent. Subsamples: 601 adults (denoted by *), margin of error +/- 4.5 percent; 599 adults (denoted by **), margin of error +/- 4.5 percent (release, 11/21).
IS THERE PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THE PROBLEMS
FACING THIS COUNTRY?
MAKING LOSING
PROGRESS GROUND
AIDS* 48% 22%
Pollution 38 27
Welfare system* 38 34
Budget deficit 32 29
Racial/ethnic conflict 31 27
Good paying jobs** 31 37
Public education* 26 46
Crime* 24 44
Poverty/hunger** 18 37
TIME/CNNConducted 10/1-2 by Yankelovich Partners, surveyed 1,282 adults; margin of error +/- 2.7 percent. Subsamples: 623 Democrats, +/- 4 percent; 392 Republicans, +/- 5 percent (release, 10/6).
MAIN PROBLEM FACING COUNTRY TODAY
NOW 6/97 5/97 2/97
Crime 15% 15% 14% 14%
Morals/values 11 12 14 11
Drugs 8 9 9 8
Politicians/gov't 6 8 6 4
Unemployment/jobs 7 7 6 7
Economy 5 7 3 3
Budget deficit 6 5 10 10
Education 4 5 6 7
Homelessness/poverty 4 5 5 4
Health care 3 3 2 2
Racism/race relations 4 3 3 6
9/96 1/96 8/95 1/95 10/94
Crime 11% 9% 16% 20% 19%
Morals/values 10 8 13 14 10
Drugs 8 4 5 6 4
Politicians/gov't 9 13 15 13 13
Unemployment/jobs 5 7 6 6 9
Economy 5 7 5 6 6
Budget deficit 8 18 8 7 4
Education 4 1 1 2 2
Homelessness/poverty 3 3 2 3 3
Health care 4 4 2 2 4
Racism/race relations 2 2 3 2 1
FIRE WHITE TEACHER AND KEEP BLACK TEACHER
TO MAINTAIN RACIAL DIVERSITY IF BOTH
EQUALLY QUALIFIED WITH SAME SENIORITY?
ALL WHITE BLACK
Yes 32% 33% 36%
No 51 53 49
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