Filed under: Democrats, Republicans, Poll Watch, Congress, Conservatives, Islam
Opinions fall largely along party lines regarding Rep. Peter King's hearings examining the threat of radical Islam in America, with Republicans much more likely to say they are appropriate, according to a new poll.The USA Today/Gallup survey found that 52 percent of all Americans said they support the New York Republican's exploration of the issue, compared to 69 percent of Republicans. Just 40 percent of Democrats said the hearings are appropriate.
Gallup said independents' views were similar to the national average, with 51 percent supporting King.
King heads the House Homeland Security Committee, which is holding hearings Thursday that critics say scapegoats Muslim Americans for the threat of terror attacks on U.S. soil.
Pollsters went on to ask a series of questions about the whether specific characteristics apply to Muslims living in the U.S. Those results also showed a Republican-Democratic split.
According to Gallup:
- Forty-three percent of Republicans say Muslims are "supportive of the United States," while a majority of independents and Democrats agree.
- Half of Republicans say Muslims are too extreme in their religious beliefs, while well less than half of independents (37 percent) and Democrats (25 percent) agree.
A minority of all groups, regardless of party affiliation, said Muslims in America are sympathetic to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, although Republicans are somewhat more likely to share that belief.
Read the complete results of the USA Today/Gallup poll here.