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CBS NEWS POLL

For release: Thursday, May 22
nd
, 2014
6:30 pm



The Veterans Administration Scandal
May 20-21, 2014


As pressure mounts, 45% of Americans think VA Secretary Erik Shinseki should have to
resign over the scandal involving VA hospitals which include allegations that evidence
of long wait times were hidden and patients may have died as a result. 31% dont think
he should resign, and 24% dont know.

More Americans disapprove (45%) than approve (29%) of how President Obama is
handling the controversy, though one in four doesnt have an opinion.

As for who is most to blame for the scandal, 33% blame Shinseki, while 28% blame the
local VA hospitals. Just 17% blame President Obama.

65% of Americans believe that VA hospitals deliberately hid evidence of long wait times
at their facilities, and 62% think that these problems are widespread.

Opinion of the VA among veterans remains more favorable (56%) than unfavorable
(39%).

As pressure mounts on Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, many Americans think
Secretary Shinseki should have to resign over the recent scandal involving the VA. 45% think
Shinseki should have to resign, while 31% dont think he should, and 24% dont know enough to
say. Republicans (56%) are particularly likely to say Shinseki should resign.

Should Eric Shinseki Resign?
Total Reps Dems Ind Veterans
Yes 45% 56% 36% 46% 42%
No 31 23 39 30 38
Dont know 24 21 25 24 21

Americans are also not particularly happy with Shinsekis Commander-in-Chief, President
Obama. More Americans disapprove (45%) than approve (29%) of President Obamas handling
of the problems at VA hospitals. Disapproval rises to 71% among Republicans.

Barack Obamas Handling
of the Problems at VA Hospitals
Total Reps Dems Ind Veterans
Approve 29% 13% 47% 26% 27%
Disapprove 45 71 21 48 54
Dont know 25 16 32 26 19

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Americans are divided as to who they think is most to blame for the problems at Veterans
Administration medical facilities, but Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and the VA (33%)
receive more blame than either local VA hospitals (28%) or President Barack Obama (17%).
About a quarter doesnt have an opinion. .

Who do You Blame Most for the Problems at the VA?
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans
Eric Shinseki and the VA 33% 31% 39% 30% 36%
Local VA hospitals 28 20 30 30 29
Barack Obama 17 30 7 17 18
Dont know 23 19 23 23 17

65% of Americans and 61% of veterans think administrators at VA hospitals deliberately hid
information about how long patients had to wait for medical care at these facilities. Among
those who have heard or read a lot about the story, this rises to 76%.

Did VA Hospitals Deliberately Hide Long Wait Times?
Total Heard or read a lot Veterans
Yes 65% 76% 61%
No 16 12 19
Dont know 18 11 20

62% of Americans believe the problems involving VA medical facilities are widespread; just 23%
think they are limited to a few isolated incidents. Those who have heard or read a lot are
particularly likely to see the problem as widespread (75%), as are veterans (70%).

The Problems at VA Hospitals Are
Total Heard or read a lot Veterans
Widespread 62% 75% 70%
A few isolated incidents 23 19 25
Dont know 15 6 6

Americans split as to the root cause of the long wait times for patients. 42% think the problems
of long waiting times at Veterans Administration medical facilities are the result of not having
enough resources to take care of patients, but 41% think its more a matter of these hospitals
not properly managing their resources. Republicans are more inclined than Democrats or
independents to say the problems are more of a management issue.

Long Wait Times at VA Hospitals Are Mostly Due to
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans
Not having adequate resources 42% 42% 42% 42% 44%
Not properly managing resources 41 47 39 40 43
Other reason/dont know 17 11 20 18 12

Overall opinion of the Veterans Administration itself remains more positive than negative,
though positive views have declined since last fall. 50% of Americans have a favorable opinion
of the Veterans Administration (an 18 point drop from the 68% favorable rating the Pew
Research Center recorded in October 2013).



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Veterans hold slightly more favorable views towards the VA than Americans overall. 56% of
veterans view the VA favorably.

Opinion of the VA
Total Veterans
Favorable 50% 56%
Unfavorable 35 39
Dont know 15 5

____________________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone May 20-21, 2014 among 1,056 adults nationwide. Data collection
was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from
samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the
entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher.
Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of
Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
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CBS NEWS POLL
The Veterans Administration Scandal
May 20-21, 2014

VA-2. Is your overall opinion of the Veterans Administration, the VA, very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly
unfavorable, or very unfavorable?

******* TOTAL RESPONDENTS ********
Total Rep Dem Ind Veterans
% % % % %
Very favorable 17 16 16 18 20
Mostly favorable 33 30 38 31 36
Mostly unfavorable 20 24 20 19 23
Very unfavorable 15 18 11 16 16
Never heard of 4 2 4 5 1
Don't know/No answer 11 9 12 11 4

VA-3. How much have you heard or read about the problems at some Veterans Administration, or VA medical facilities,
including reports about long waits for treatment and the death of some patients a lot, some, or not much?

A lot 40 43 38 40 60
Some 30 30 33 28 19
Not much 25 24 25 25 18
Nothing at all 4 3 4 5 2
Dont know/no answer 1 1 1 1 -

VA-4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the problems at Veterans Administration
medical facilities?

Approve 29 13 47 26 27
Disapprove 45 71 21 48 54
Dont know/no answer 25 16 32 26 19

VA-5. Do you think the problems at Veterans Administration medical facilities are widespread or limited to just a few
incidents?

Widespread 62 70 61 60 70
Limited 23 19 21 26 25
Dont know/no answer 15 11 18 14 6

VA-6.Who do you blame most for the problems at Veterans Administration medical facilities Barack Obama, Eric
Shinseki and the Veterans Administration, or local VA hospitals?

Obama 17 30 7 17 18
Shinseki & Veterans Admin 33 31 39 30 36
Local VA hospitals 28 20 30 30 29
Dont know/no answer 23 19 23 23 17

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VA-6a.Do you think the problems of long waiting times at Veterans Administration medical facilities are mostly due to
the VA not having adequate resources to take care of patients or mostly due to the VA not properly managing the
resources it already has?

******* TOTAL RESPONDENTS ********
Total Rep Dem Ind Veterans
% % % % %
Not having adequate resource 42 42 42 42 44
Not properly managing resources 41 47 39 40 43
Some other reason 4 2 5 4 4
Dont know/No answer 13 9 15 14 8

VA-6b. Do you think administrators at some VA medical facilities deliberately tried to hide information about how long
patients had to wait for treatment at these facilities, or did they not do that?

Did 65 71 65 63 61
Did not 16 13 15 19 19
Dont know/no answer 18 16 21 18 20

VA-7. Given what you know right now, do you think Eric Shinseki, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, should have to resign
as a result of the problems at some Veterans Administration medical facilities or should he remain Secretary of Veterans
Affairs?

Have to resign 45 56 36 46 42
Stay as Secretary 31 23 39 30 38
Dont know/no answer 24 21 25 24 21

vethh Have you yourself or any member of your immediate family ever served in the U.S. armed forces or in the U.S.
reserves?

Yes, myself 8 8 8 8
Yes, family 52 57 51 51
Yes, myself & family 5 4 2 7
No 34 31 39 33
Dont know/no answer * - * -


Unweighted Weighted
Total Respondents 1056

Republicans 260 237
Democrats 330 310
Independents 466 509

Veterans 154 140