WND/WENZEL POLL
Scientific tally shows 2 of 3 like state legislation to require proof
By Bob Unruh
© 2011 WorldNetDaily
Editor's note: This is another in a series of monthly "WND/WENZEL POLLS" conducted exclusively for WND by the public-opinion research and media consulting company Wenzel Strategies.
Not even one person in 10 believes Barack Obama has shown that he is eligible to be president of the United States, according to a stunning new scientific poll that also reveals political Independents have less tolerance than even Republicans for his efforts to obfuscate the issue.
"The shocking result in this survey is that just 9 percent said they believe Obama has met the requirements to prove he was born in the United States and is therefore qualified to be president," said Fritz Wenzel, chief of Wenzel Strategies, which conducted the assessment.
"Even when you combine those who say such questions are not valid with those who believe he has satisfied the requirements, it still falls short of equaling the percentage who said he should step forward and prove his birth origin once and for all," he said.
Wenzel Strategies, an independent public opinion research firm based in Ohio, conducted a nationwide telephone poll using a randomly selected sample of all adults. Thesurvey , including 1,095 respondents, was conducted March 15-17, 2011, and carries a confidence interval of 95 percent and a margin of error of +/- 2.93 percentage points.
"The question of whether Barack Obama is eligible to hold the office of president is remarkable in that so many people are aware of the questions that remain unanswered. The survey shows that 77 percent are aware of the issue, and another 12 percent said they are unsure, which likely means they know a little but not enough to articulate details," Wenzel said in his analysis of the results.
"Given the level of interest that the American public now devotes to politics, especially in an off-election year, this finding is remarkable. It speaks volumes about Obama's unwillingness or inability to satisfy this question once and for all," he said.
It was back in June 2009 when Wenzel asked the simple question, "Are you aware of questions raised about Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility for the office of president?" and 51.3 percent responded yes.
This month, 77 percent of the Democrats who responded said they are. Nearly 82 percent of the Republicans are, and almost 69 percent of the Independents. Overall, 76.8 percent said yes, and another 11.7 percent said they were unsure. Only 11.5 percent said there were not aware of the questions.
"Half of those surveyed said they believe these questions about Obama's legitimacy as president are either troubling or should be satisfied by Obama. In fact, more people want Obama to prove his legitimacy – 42 percent – than believe that the lingering questions are not valid – 32 percent," Wenzel said.
That division is 41.9 percent who say Obama should prove his birth story, including 60.9 percent of Independents, 58.6 percent of Republicans and 13.2 percent of Democrats.
Another 7.9 percent the questions are troubling
"What is most interesting is the response on this question of Independent voters: Fully 61 percent of Independents said they want Obama to prove once and for all his birth origin, which is a higher percentage than even among Republicans. Men are also somewhat more skeptical than women," Wenzel said.
"At a time when this country faces dramatic problems both here at home and around the world, it does harm to Obama's credibility and undermines the confidence of the American people to have this question hanging out there," Wenzel explained. "One can only imagine the storm of controversy that might ensue if we discover definitively after his presidency is over that he was not qualified to hold office. The resignation of Richard Nixon would pale by comparison in terms of undermining public confidence in government."
"A corollary issue to the Obama birth certificate is the question about Obama's refusal to release educational records, which could hold some clue as to his birth origin and early citizenship," Wenzel said. "Two-thirds of all respondents want those records released, while the other third of respondents oppose the release of those records. It remains unclear why Obama will not comply with any requests to show those records to the public."
Only 26 percent strongly opposed the release of the records. Nearly 50 percent strongly favored release and another 17 percent said the president should release the records.
"The bottom line on these early-life records of Obama is that this issue lives on, regardless of how derisive some have been toward the so-called 'birther' movement," Wenzel said. "Obama supporters, particularly those in the national news media who have protected the president on this issue, have tried to ostracize those who still have doubts about Obama's birth, but try as they might, they have done little to quell the questions in the minds of the American public. This issue is far from over."
"Evidence of that springs from the strong support that the national telephone survey found among Americans for state laws that require candidates for president to prove they are constitutionally qualified to hold the office – before they will be allowed to appear on that state's presidential ballot," Wenzel said.
"Fully 65 percent said they support such state bills, while just 24 percent said they oppose such state measures. Huge majorities of both men and women agree with these state proposals and it is popular in every region of the nation," he said.
"The clear implication from this polling data is that Americans like the idea that, in the absence of full disclosure by presidential candidates and a press corps interested enough to ask and pursue tough questions, state governments will do their own vetting of presidential candidates," he said.
WND has reported that such proposals already have been made in 13 states, although several of the initiatives have been detoured by politics inside of committee meeting rooms.
Another recent poll, of only members of the GOP, said only about 30 percent believe Obama was born in the U.S.
The Public Policy Polling found that only 28 percent of the Republicans surveyed believe Obama was born in the U.S. while 51 percent do not. Another 21 percent say they are not sure.
"Any thought that the birther theory has been put to rest can be thrown out the window," Dean Debnam, the president of the Democratic-leaning polling firm, told Politico at the time.
"That view is still widely held in Republican circles," he said.
Other polls in recent months have shown Americans to be increasingly skeptical of Obama's official narrative:
* A survey by Angus Reid Global Monitor, a division of Vision Critical Group, in October 2009 found three in 10 people in the U.S. believed Obama to be a foreigner.
"While only 13 percent of Democratic Party supporters believe Obama was not born in the U.S., the proportion rises to 25 percent among independents and 51 percent among Republican Party backers," the report said.
* Then in January 2010, another WND/Wenzel Poll revealed on the one-year anniversary of Obama's tenure in office that fully one-third of Americans refused to believe Obama was a "legitimate president," with another 15.8 percent saying they were not sure.
Barely half the voters, 51.5 percent, said they believed the president legitimate even though he had not yet produced the documentation proving his constitutional eligibility. Even 14.6 percent of the Democrats said they did not consider him legitimate.
* In May 2010, a WND/Wenzel Poll revealed that 55 percent of Americans wanted Obama to release all records relating to his childhood and his education, including "college records, Harvard Law School papers, passport records, travel records, and other similar documentation."
"Asked what should be done should it be found that Obama does not meet the qualifications to be president, 59 percent said he should be removed from office, and 35 percent said all bills signed into law by Obama should be repealed," the poll's analysis revealed.
* By last June, other media were beginning to put their toes in the waters of the controversy. A 60 Minutes-Vanity Fair poll revealed only 39 percent of respondents believe Obama was born in Hawaii as he claimed in his book.
"A shocking 63 percent – very nearly two-thirds of us – went out on a limb and stated for the record that we believe in the United States. It's enough to make you proud to be an American – or 63 percent proud, at any rate."
But that figure included those who said they believe he was born in Kansas or some other unknown state, which still would conflict with Obama's story.
* Last August, a poll by CNN said 6 of 10 people were uncertain Obama was born in the U.S. The poll said only 42 percent believe Obama "definitely" was born in the U.S.
The CNN report said that, "Hawaii has released a copy of the president's birth certificate – officially called a 'certificate of live birth.' And in 1961 the hospital where the president was born placed announcements in two Hawaiian newspapers regarding Obama's birth."
However, the online image released by the Obama campaign during his presidential race actually is called a "Certification of Live Birth," and those documents under the rules in the state of Hawaii were available for children not born in the state.
The Constitution requires a president to be a "natural-born citizen," which is not the same as a "citizen."
Other Wenzel Poll questions revealed a large majority of Americans – nearly 66 percent, including 86 percent of Republicans and 75 percent of Independents – believe the country is on the wrong track.
They also give Obama a "poor" grade for his job performance, by about the same margin.
And they believe many of the drilling and energy production restrictions in the U.S. now should be lifted and are split on the idea of more nuclear plans.
If you are a member of the media and would like to interview Fritz Wenzel about this story, please e-mail.
Read more: Only 9% believe Obama has documented eligibility http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=276865#ixzz1HFhv6pGj
Showing posts with label Fritz Wenzel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fritz Wenzel. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, August 5, 2010
CNN's bad news for Obama: 6 of 10 doubt U.S. birth story
BORN IN THE USA?
Poll numbers for those questioning eligibility status continue to rise
By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
A new poll by CNN, whose editorial commentary largely supports President Obama and his policies, delivered some bad news on his apparent birthday today: 6 of 10 people are uncertain the president was even born in the United States.
The poll was taken July 16-21 of 1,018 adults, including 335 Democrats and 285 Republicans. It has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The question was: "Do you think Barack Obama was definitely born in the United States, probably born in the United States, probably born in another country, or definitely born in another country?"
Definitely in the United States got the vote from 42 percent of the respondents and probably in the United States another 29 percent.
But that leaves almost six of 10 Americans uncertain about the president's birth – and therefore his eligibility under the U.S. Constitution to be president.
Sixteen percent said Obama probably was born in another nation, and 11 percent said he definitely was born somewhere other than the U.S.
Breaking it down, 64 percent of Democrats believe he definitely was born in the U.S., leaving more than one in three Democrats not sure. For independents, 37 percent believe he definitely was born in the U.S., leaving some two in three unsure. For membersof the GOP, not even one in four (23 percent) believes Obama definitely was born in the U.S.
Fully 41 percent of the GOP believe he definitely or probably was born outside the United States. That's nearly 30 percent for independents.
"It's surely not what the leader of the free world wants for his birthday. But, for a stubborn group of Americans, conspiracy theories about President Obama's birthplace are the gifts that keep on giving," CNN said.
"Not surprisingly, there are big partisan differences, although a majority of Republicans thinks Obama was definitely or probably born here," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said in the CNN report.
CNN reported that "Hawaii has released a copy of the president's birth certificate – officially called a 'certificate of live birth.' And in 1961 the hospital where the president was born placed announcements in two Hawaiian newspapers regarding Obama's birth."
However, the online image released by the Obama campaign during his presidential race actually is called a "Certification of Live Birth," and those documents under the rules in the state of Hawaii were available for children not born in the state.
Also, the newspaper notifications were published based on information provided by the state that would have been generated automatically had anyone at that time decided that a United States citizenship was preferable to that of another country and stated that the child was born in Hawaii.
On the CNN forum page, participants suggested many reasons for people to doubt Obama's birth.
"Some poeple (sic) have way too much time on their hands,, (sic) this is a lost cause indicative of terrified Republicans who know they're going to be on the political sidelines for the next decade," said one.
"That's about in line with the percentage of racists in America. The racists will always contend that he is not qualified to be president becasue (sic) he is not a citizen. What a joke," wrote another.
"Wow, the level of ignorance prevelant (sic) in this country is simply staggering," added a third.
WND previously reported when a new "60 Minutes"–Vanity Fair poll revealed that only 39 percent of respondents believe Obama was born in Hawaii as he wrote in his book.
The magazine boasted, "A whopping 63 percent – very nearly two-thirds of us – went out on a limb and stated for the record that we believe in the United States. It's enough to make you proud to be an American – or 63 percent proud, at any rate."
But that included those who say they believe he was born in Kansas or another state, which still would conflict with Obama's narrative.
It was only a month earlier when a WND/Wenzel Poll revealed 55 percent – or almost that same 61 percent of Americans who don't believe Obama's Hawaii birth story – want him to release all records relating to his childhood and his education, including college records, Harvard Law School papers, passport records, travel records and other similar documentation.
Questions about Obama's eligibility to be president, exacerbated by his refusal to answer questions, release ordinary background documentation and his extraordinary legal maneuvers to keep his background hidden, have been on the radar of a number of top-level investigative reporters and news organizations since before his election.
Essentially, while the Constitution requires a president to be a "natural born citizen," which is not the same as a "citizen," none of the questions about Obama's qualifications – or lack thereof – under that requirement have yet been answered.
At the time Fritz Wenzel of Wenzel Strategies said, "Simply put, this question about Obama's legitimacy as president is undermining everything he does in the minds of millions of Americas."
"Asked what should be done should it be found that Obama does not meet the qualifications to be president, 59 percent said he should be removed from office, and 35 percent said all bills signed into law by Obama should be repealed," Wenzel said.
The WND/Wenzel poll said when asked about whether Obama's background documentation – the school records, birth records and others – should be released, the 55 percent who said yes included more than 82 percent of the GOP, 55 percent of independents and nearly 28 percent of Democrats.
Further, another 17.1 percent of Americans said Obama should release some of his documentation, making it nearly three in four Americans who want the president to unlock the steel door on some or all of his background information.
Despite his campaign promises of transparency while in office, there has been no shortage of disputes over secrecy in the Obama administration. He's already argued in court for more secrecy in the White House, claimed his work is "privileged" and apparently got rid of an inspector general who was applying heat to a friend.
The WND/Wenzel poll revealed 52 percent of Americans believe Obama is hiding something and 39 percent suspect he was not born in the U.S., frustrating efforts of the Obama administration to paint so-called "birthers" as a right-wing fringe.
"Even among Democrats, nearly one in four – 22 percent – said they either suspect he was not born in the U.S. or that they are not sure on the question," Wenzel reported.
Last October, a poll revealed three in 10 Americans believe Obama is a "foreigner," and more than a year ago, a poll revealed the ranks of the so-called "birthers" growing.
A recent CBS–New York Times poll found 58 percent of Americans think he was born in the USA.
Poll numbers for those questioning eligibility status continue to rise
By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
A new poll by CNN, whose editorial commentary largely supports President Obama and his policies, delivered some bad news on his apparent birthday today: 6 of 10 people are uncertain the president was even born in the United States.
The poll was taken July 16-21 of 1,018 adults, including 335 Democrats and 285 Republicans. It has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The question was: "Do you think Barack Obama was definitely born in the United States, probably born in the United States, probably born in another country, or definitely born in another country?"
Definitely in the United States got the vote from 42 percent of the respondents and probably in the United States another 29 percent.
But that leaves almost six of 10 Americans uncertain about the president's birth – and therefore his eligibility under the U.S. Constitution to be president.
Sixteen percent said Obama probably was born in another nation, and 11 percent said he definitely was born somewhere other than the U.S.
Breaking it down, 64 percent of Democrats believe he definitely was born in the U.S., leaving more than one in three Democrats not sure. For independents, 37 percent believe he definitely was born in the U.S., leaving some two in three unsure. For membersof the GOP, not even one in four (23 percent) believes Obama definitely was born in the U.S.
Fully 41 percent of the GOP believe he definitely or probably was born outside the United States. That's nearly 30 percent for independents.
"It's surely not what the leader of the free world wants for his birthday. But, for a stubborn group of Americans, conspiracy theories about President Obama's birthplace are the gifts that keep on giving," CNN said.
"Not surprisingly, there are big partisan differences, although a majority of Republicans thinks Obama was definitely or probably born here," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said in the CNN report.
CNN reported that "Hawaii has released a copy of the president's birth certificate – officially called a 'certificate of live birth.' And in 1961 the hospital where the president was born placed announcements in two Hawaiian newspapers regarding Obama's birth."
However, the online image released by the Obama campaign during his presidential race actually is called a "Certification of Live Birth," and those documents under the rules in the state of Hawaii were available for children not born in the state.
Also, the newspaper notifications were published based on information provided by the state that would have been generated automatically had anyone at that time decided that a United States citizenship was preferable to that of another country and stated that the child was born in Hawaii.
On the CNN forum page, participants suggested many reasons for people to doubt Obama's birth.
"Some poeple (sic) have way too much time on their hands,, (sic) this is a lost cause indicative of terrified Republicans who know they're going to be on the political sidelines for the next decade," said one.
"That's about in line with the percentage of racists in America. The racists will always contend that he is not qualified to be president becasue (sic) he is not a citizen. What a joke," wrote another.
"Wow, the level of ignorance prevelant (sic) in this country is simply staggering," added a third.
WND previously reported when a new "60 Minutes"–Vanity Fair poll revealed that only 39 percent of respondents believe Obama was born in Hawaii as he wrote in his book.
The magazine boasted, "A whopping 63 percent – very nearly two-thirds of us – went out on a limb and stated for the record that we believe in the United States. It's enough to make you proud to be an American – or 63 percent proud, at any rate."
But that included those who say they believe he was born in Kansas or another state, which still would conflict with Obama's narrative.
It was only a month earlier when a WND/Wenzel Poll revealed 55 percent – or almost that same 61 percent of Americans who don't believe Obama's Hawaii birth story – want him to release all records relating to his childhood and his education, including college records, Harvard Law School papers, passport records, travel records and other similar documentation.
Questions about Obama's eligibility to be president, exacerbated by his refusal to answer questions, release ordinary background documentation and his extraordinary legal maneuvers to keep his background hidden, have been on the radar of a number of top-level investigative reporters and news organizations since before his election.
Essentially, while the Constitution requires a president to be a "natural born citizen," which is not the same as a "citizen," none of the questions about Obama's qualifications – or lack thereof – under that requirement have yet been answered.
At the time Fritz Wenzel of Wenzel Strategies said, "Simply put, this question about Obama's legitimacy as president is undermining everything he does in the minds of millions of Americas."
"Asked what should be done should it be found that Obama does not meet the qualifications to be president, 59 percent said he should be removed from office, and 35 percent said all bills signed into law by Obama should be repealed," Wenzel said.
The WND/Wenzel poll said when asked about whether Obama's background documentation – the school records, birth records and others – should be released, the 55 percent who said yes included more than 82 percent of the GOP, 55 percent of independents and nearly 28 percent of Democrats.
Further, another 17.1 percent of Americans said Obama should release some of his documentation, making it nearly three in four Americans who want the president to unlock the steel door on some or all of his background information.
Despite his campaign promises of transparency while in office, there has been no shortage of disputes over secrecy in the Obama administration. He's already argued in court for more secrecy in the White House, claimed his work is "privileged" and apparently got rid of an inspector general who was applying heat to a friend.
The WND/Wenzel poll revealed 52 percent of Americans believe Obama is hiding something and 39 percent suspect he was not born in the U.S., frustrating efforts of the Obama administration to paint so-called "birthers" as a right-wing fringe.
"Even among Democrats, nearly one in four – 22 percent – said they either suspect he was not born in the U.S. or that they are not sure on the question," Wenzel reported.
Last October, a poll revealed three in 10 Americans believe Obama is a "foreigner," and more than a year ago, a poll revealed the ranks of the so-called "birthers" growing.
A recent CBS–New York Times poll found 58 percent of Americans think he was born in the USA.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Shocker! Most Americans know of Obama eligibility questions
WND/WENZEL POLL
Despite near media blackout on coverage, 49.3% 'troubled,' think he should release birth certificate
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
 President Obama |
Editor's note: This is the second of a series of monthly "Freedom Index" polls conducted exclusively for WND by the public opinion research and media consulting company Wenzel Strategies.
WASHINGTON – It may be the issue few in the media dare address, but a new scientific public opinion survey of a cross-section of Americans shows they are not only aware of questions about Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility for office, but almost half are either "troubled" by the questions or believe he should release all relevant documents including his long-form birth certificate.
Asked if they are aware of the questions raised about Obama's constitutional eligibility for office, 51.3 percent answered affirmatively, while only 18.7 percent said no. Another 30 percent said they were unsure.
"Our polling shows that the questions surrounding Barack Obama's eligibility to serve as president clearly strike a nerve across America, probably because it is a problem that everybody understands," said pollster Fritz Wenzel. "Every American citizen has a birth certificate, and once in a while we all have to produce them to get a drivers license or gain entrance to school. Everyone understands the simple rules – if you don't produce it, you don't get in. And while Obama did get in to the White House, nearly half the country's adults – 49 percent – are troubled by this issue and still want him to produce his official long-form birth certificate."
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