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DEL.ICIO.USICYMI: The Golden Rule makes Southerners think twice about torture
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A survey commissioned by Mercer University, shows that Southern evangelicals are more likely to approve of torture than the average American.
But it also shows that, if evangelicals are reminded of the Golden Rule, opposition to torture grows substantially.
The survey was released at the opening of the National Summit on Torture on the university campus in Atlanta. Here’s the AJC piece on the topic.
Click here to see a summary of the poll plus graphics. The following is from a press release:
Among the findings of the poll: close to six-in-ten white evangelicals in the South say that torture can be often (20 percent) or sometimes (37 percent) justified in order to gain important information. This compares to roughly half (48 percent) of the general public who believe that torture can be justified, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll (February 2008).
A majority (52 percent) agree with the Golden Rule argument against torture—that the U.S. government should not use methods against our enemies that we would not want used on American soldiers. This movement represents a 14-point increase from the 38 percent of white evangelicals who initially said that torture is rarely or never justified. Appeals to three other moral and theological frames did not significantly influence views on torture.
A majority (53 percent) of white evangelicals in the South believe that the government uses torture as part of the campaign against terrorism, despite repeated claims made by government officials that the U.S. does not engage in torture. Only about one third (32 percent) say that the U.S. does not use torture as a matter of policy.
Among white evangelicals in the South who are registered voters, 65 percent support Republican John McCain, 14 percent support Democrat Barack Obama, and 21 percent remain undecided. These findings are consistent with the recent Time Magazine poll (Aug. 4) that showed 66 percent supporting McCain, 17 percent supporting Obama, and 17 percent undecided among white evangelicals nationwide.
Two thirds of John McCain’s supporters say torture can often or sometimes be justified, compared to only 46 percent of Obama supporters and undecided voters.
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Comments
By Analchord
September 12, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
This is proof that poll results are manipulated by how the question is phrased, and also the population sample being polled.
Ask the people milling around on the church steps on sunday with the preacher standing amoung them how well they liked the sermon. 100% will say it was good. Only 35 percent will say it was bad. and of course, 67 percent wont answer cause they’re in a hurry to be first in line at the dunkin’ donuts shop across the street.
“More accidents in church parking lots are caused by Dunkin Donuts than the Lord ever dreamed of”. (billy Graham 1962)
Demagogue
A Poem by Carl Sandburg’s retarded nephew, Cooljay
Demagogues come
On little p-p-pigs feet
It’s ticket is looking
at unstarwarred cities
p-p-pawns unsilo’d launches
and ends in Moveon.org
By Grading Wooten
September 12, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Cynthia McKinney is to the lunatic fringe on the left what Sarah Palin is to the lunatic fringe on the Right.
Palin is part of a movement to secede Alaska from the USA. She thinks the Bush Doctrine is “one in the hand is worth two in the bush”. (Hey, isn’t that what got her daughter in trouble)?
Cynthia McKinney thinks W lied to the American people about WMDs and the Saddam Hussein/Al Queda connection. Cynthia McKinney thinks that Cheney and Bush were warned by the FBI and the CIA about plans Al Queda had to fly planes into skyscrapers. Cynthia McKinney thinks that Bush knew about the sleeper cells of Al Queda taking flying lessons and living quiet lives as hockey moms and dads.
Cynthia McKinney thinks Bush has been the worst president we’ve ever had bar none.
But Sarah Palin thinks that if she can see a country, she can pack her foreign policy resume with that country. Well, sarah, I see england, I see France, but how many have seen your daughter’s underpants……
Sarah Palin thinks we should not educate our underaged, unmarried daughters about sex. I guess Sarah’s Secret is Victoria’s Secret.
John McCain was tortured as a POW. Sarah Palin feels tortured by NOW.
Obama 08: Aint no secrets.
By Maryanne
September 12, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Obama does have a big secret. Check it out here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVeFVtcdSYY
By Ph.D candidiate
September 12, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
The poll is not valid or reliable. A.K.A. a joke.
By I am going to BURN
September 12, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
The more Nigg$rs that get elected the better my WHITE ROBE &OOD LOOK. Grandma(because no HOOD RAT realty raises her babies) why is that black man hanging formthe basketball goal? Well, Gabajukkie in my day they hangedNIGG..S from Trees but now there no trees left so they pick the next best that MONKIES hand around.
By Gritz-n-Gravy
September 12, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
All u honkees running to the gas station shouting drill baby drill, I’m preyty sure u don’t realize that the oil we drill has to go onto the World market for sale. Look at it like this, when your at the football game and you sit down to pee that goes on the world market with every other rednecks pee hence that is a drop in the bucket ‘nuff said vote Palin
By Apostled
September 13, 2008 5:54 AM | Link to this
Palin thinks that if she can just see a country, then she can pack her foreign policy resume with it. Well, I see England, I see France, I see her unmarried, underaged daughter Bristol’s underpants…..
bwa haw
(that is a good one, no?)
By Vic
September 13, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
The Poll is probably skewed because people who get tortured and most journalists probably have unliste phone numbers.
By Barbara's Bush
September 13, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
Lord what have I wrought thru my loins a boy is born and he be a evil-doer
By Barbara's Bush
September 13, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
Lord what have I wrought thru my loins a boy is born and he be a evil-doer
By Barabara Bush
September 13, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
Why is Obama down in the polls? I thought he was the “messiah?” What is happening? It is time to re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-reintroduce Obama. America does not know him. Maybe we should have another convention. Sure, it is out-of-the-box but that is what we need. America does not understand how wonderful Obama is.
By George
September 13, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
I have gotten several emails about Obama being on the DL. The emails claim that Obama had a gay sex affair with some Chicago limo driver named Larry Sinclair. Is there any truth to the claim that Obama is a homo?
By Barabara Bush
September 13, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
Yes. I have heard that too for years here in Chicago.
By Manny
September 13, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
Here is the footage of the man Obama had the affair with. Check it our for yourselves:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVeFVtcdSYY
By Barbara's Bush
September 13, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
According to Lynda who lives down the street from someone named Al, Sarah Palin had sex with a bullmoose while her husband was plowing snow, I’m sure its true because all hearsay is the truth, just like my boy GW he calls God directly from the oval office.
By Will Jones
September 13, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
Hey, Racist, fascist traitors who support the Bush3 follow-up by “Married to the Mob” McCain and his Hitler-in-Drag w/lipstick…get back to us about your scurrilous lies when the evidence you have rises to the level of 9/11-committing draft-dodger Bush2’s $200/hr homosexual prosititute “Jeff Gannon”/James Guckert’s coming to the White House for “overnights,” signed into the Secret Service’s official social entrance logbook 202 times in a two year period, OK?
You pervert hypocrite supporters of Bush, Larry Craig, Mark Foley and the rest of the GOP closet-queens destroying Our Country are done. Can you not hear “the bell” tolling for thee?
Death for Treason
By Barbara's Bush
September 14, 2008 3:27 AM | Link to this
Footage of Palin’s immorality:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVeFVtcdSYY
By Wackolibhack
September 14, 2008 3:35 AM | Link to this
It is Bush’s fault that Obama is on the DL. It is Bush’s fault that there are September surprises. It is Bush’s fault that if Obama DL’ness is made public that it will be a game-ender. I hate Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By SparklePonyRainbow
September 14, 2008 3:45 AM | Link to this
So what if Obama is gay. That is btwn he and his family. Obama is Hope and Change. I do not care if he Hopes for sausage and will Change into a tailored suit. I loves me some Obama.
By Mom of Wacko
September 14, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry my boy keeps spittin’ up his meds, looks like we will have to go back to a depository
By george
September 14, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
I also cruise gay friendly web-sites fishing for compliments
By Copyleft
September 15, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Evangelicals obviously don’t know what they believe—but by golly, they sure do believe it awful hard!