The price that politicians pay for scandals
Becoming caught up in a serious ethics scandal isn’t necessarily a career-ender for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. It turns out only about a quarter exit the political stage through resignation or retirement. The rest choose to seek re-election despite the blot on their records—and two-thirds of them win. This scandal scorecard comes […]
America’s Global Image Remains More Positive Than China’s
While publics around the world believe China’s economic power is rising, it has not led to more positive ratings for the country.
Polling’s mixed message for 2014, 2016
At midyear, the national opinion polls provide little indication of which way the political wind is blowing looking ahead to 2014, and 2016. Most of the key public opinion measures are mixed, or uncertain.
Describing Obama, Bush in a word
Public views of Barack Obama today are very different from those of George W. Bush at about this point in his second term. Obama’s job rating is in positive territory, while Bush’s tilted negative. But a look at the one-word descriptions of the two men finds some common ground. Most notably, the word incompetent appears high on the one-word list for each.
For African Americans, discrimination is not dead
America’s struggles with race and racism are never completely out of the news. But it is hard to remember when a series of stories have given this issue such resonance, whether in the rulings of the Supreme Court on affirmative action and voting rights, a tense trial in a Florida courtroom and even the racially insensitive comments of a celebrity chef.
Obama seeks to improve economic ties with South Africa as China edges in
President Obama’s trip to South Africa this week aims to strengthen economic ties between the two countries at a time when China’s growing economic presence in the region has added a new dynamic. According to the European Commission, in 2011, China accounted for a larger share of South Africa’s trade than the U.S. did. And the […]
Obama Job Approval Holds Steady
Barack Obama’s job approval rating has changed little in the past month, despite a series of recent controversies. In part, Obama is benefiting from improving views of the economy – the share rating the nation’s economy as excellent or good has doubled over the past year.
In Germany, they still love Obama
On Wednesday, Barack Obama returns to Berlin, home to one of the more dramatic moments from his first presidential campaign. In July 2008, speaking beneath the city’s 200-foot-tall Victory Column, Obama pledged to heal the transatlantic divisions that had erupted during then-President George W. Bush’s time in office. “The walls between old allies on either […]
Balancing Act: National Security and Civil Liberties in Post-9/11 Era
Since 9/11, Americans generally have valued protection from terrorism over civil liberties, yet they also have expressed concerns over government overreach and intrusions on their personal privacy.
Under Obama, Egyptians’ views of U.S. worse than under George W. Bush presidency
Today marks four years since a newly elected President Barack Obama spoke to a packed, enthusiastic audience of students at Cairo University, calling for “a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world.” Four years later, much has changed in Egypt, but anti-Americanism persists.
