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CBS NEWS POLL For release: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 6:30 pm ET Disapproval, Criticism of President on Bergdahl Prisoner Exchange
June 8-9, 2014
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More Americans disapprove (45%) than approve (37%) of the prisoner swap in which Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was released by the Taliban in exchange for five prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay.
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President Barack Obama’s approval rating on handling Bergdahl’s release is just 35%, and 72% think he should have notified Congress before authorizing the prisoner exchange.
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56% of Americans think the U.S. paid too high a price in the agreement to get Bergdahl released; just 28% say the terms were reasonable.
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While four in ten don’t have an opinion as to whether Bergdahl deliberately abandoned his post in Afghanistan, 35% of Americans (and 43% of veterans) think he did. Just over a week after U.S. soldier Sgt. Bergdahl was freed by the Taliban, 45% of Americans disapprove of the deal that released him in exchange for five Taliban members, while 37% approve of it. About one in five do not have an opinion. Views differ by political party: most Republicans disapprove of the deal, while just over half of Democrats approve. Among those who have served in the military, 55% disapprove of the prisoner swap.
Views on Prisoner Exchange
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans Approve 37% 22% 53% 33% 31% Disapprove 45 65 27 47 55 Don’t know 18 13 20 20 14 Americans give the President low marks for his handling of the release of Sgt. Bergdahl – just 35% approve, while 49% disapprove. He gets support from Democrats -- 61% approve of his handling of the matter, but most Republicans disapprove.
President’s Handling of Bergdahl Release
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans Approve 35% 12% 61% 28% 31% Disapprove 49 76 26 51 57 Don’t know 16 12 13 21 12 The President has been criticized by some members of Congress for not informing them of the prisoner exchange. The poll finds a clear majority - 72% - think the President should have notified Congress; that includes most members of his own party.
Should President Obama have Notified Congress about Prisoner Exchange?
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans Yes 72% 86% 55% 77% 71% No 20 9 36 15 27
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Historically, CBS News Polls have often shown that Americans prefer a President seek the approval of Congress on military matters. There are reports that Bergdahl left his military base in Afghanistan before his capture, but many Americans (40%) have yet to form an opinion on whether he deliberately abandoned his post. Among those with an opinion, 35% think Bergdahl deliberately left (including 43% of military veterans), while 25% say he did not.
Do You Think Bergdahl Deliberately Left His Post in Afghanistan?
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans Yes 35% 51% 27% 34% 43% No 25 19 34 22 20 Don’t know 40 30 39 45 37 Most Americans - 56% - think the U.S. paid too high a price in the agreement to get Bergdahl released. Among veterans, that figure rises to 65%. Republicans and independents think the deal cost the U.S. too much, while Democrats are more divided: 42% think the terms of the agreement were reasonable, but almost as many – 39% -say the U.S. paid too high a price.
U.S. Agreement to Get Bergdahl Released
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans Reasonable 28% 15% 42% 24% 23% U.S. paid too high a price 56 75 39 58 65 Don’t know 17 10 19 18 13 Some Americans express concern about terrorism amid the release of Taliban prisoners. 49% think the prisoner exchange will increase the threat of terrorism against the U.S., while 40% think it will have no effect. Only 3% think this exchange will result in a reduced threat of terrorism against the U.S.
Impact of Prisoner Exchange on Threat of Terrorism Against the U.S.
Total Reps Dems Inds Veterans Increase 49% 69% 35% 48% 58% Decrease 3 3 5 2 0 No effect 40 21 53 39 29
____________________________________________________________________________________ This poll was conducted by telephone June 8-9, 2014 among 1,013 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 Results based on the sample of veterans is plus or minus eight points. 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 Sgt. Bergdahl and the Prisoner Exchange June 8-9, !"#
Q1. As you may know, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier who was being held captie by the !aliban, was released in e"change #or #ie !aliban members who were being held by the U.S. at $uantanamo Bay prison. %o you approe or disapproe o# this e"change&
$$$$$ %O%&L 'ESPON(EN%S $$$$$
!otal 'ep %em (nd )et * * * * * Approe 3+ 22 3 33 31 %isapproe - 2+ -+ %on/t know0o answer 1 13 2 2 1- Q2. %o you approe or disapproe o# the way Barack 4bama is handling the situation inoling the release o# Sgt. Bergdahl& Approe 3 12 1 2 31 %isapproe -5 + 2 1 + %on/t know0o answer 1 12 13 21 12 Q3. %o you think 6resident 4bama should or should not hae noti#ied 7ongress be#ore he authori8ed the prisoner e"change& Should +2 ++ +1 Should not 2 5 3 1 2+ %on/t know0o answer 5 2 Q-. %o you think 9the terms o# the United States agreement with the !aliban to get Sgt. Bergdahl released were reasonable:, or do you think 9the U.S. paid too high a price in the agreement with the !aliban:& 'easonable 2 1 -2 2- 23 6aid too high a price + 35 %on/t know0o answer 1+ 1 15 1 13 Q. ;rom what you<e heard or read, do you think Sgt. Bergdahl deliberately abandoned his post in A#ghanistan be#ore he was captured by the !aliban, or not& =es 3 1 2+ 3- -3 o 2 15 3- 22 2 %on/t know0o answer - 3 35 - 3+