---
title: "The Dark Side"
description: "A small majority says torture is rarely or never justified."
date: "2009-03-09"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2009/03/09/the-dark-side/"
---

# The Dark Side

The new administration has pledged to take America in a new direction in facing threats to national security and preventing terrorism, but President Obama inherits a country that is politically split on one of the most controversial debates from the Bush administration, torture. A small majority says torture is rarely (20%) or never (31%) justified, but more than four-in-ten say torture is often (16%) or sometimes (28%) justified. Opinions about torture have been consistent over the past three years. The division is also political. While 43% of Democrats say torture is never justified, just 15% of Republicans and 30% of independents hold that view. A majority of Republicans — 65% — say torture is often or sometimes justified. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1125/terrorism-guantanamo-torture-polling)