2007-03-28-皮尤-Democrats_Fail_to_Impress_in_First_100_Days_28页_127kb

Summary of the Pew Research Center Survey on Congressional Leadership and Military Care

Core Content

This report from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, released on March 29, 2007, outlines public opinion on the performance of the Democratic-led Congress in its first 100 days, as well as broader attitudes toward the military, military leaders, and the government's handling of veterans' care.

Main Findings

Congressional Leadership

• Public Approval of Democratic Leaders: Pluralities approve of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with 48% approving of Pelosi and 48% of Reid.
• Policy Performance: Slightly more Americans disapprove of Democratic policies (42%) than approve (37%), indicating mixed public sentiment.
• Comparison to 1995: Democrats are less controversial and less visible than Newt Gingrich was in 1995, who had a 44% approval rate for his policies and 43% disapproval. In contrast, 21% of the public don't know enough about Pelosi to rate her.
• Party Image: The Democratic Party's image has improved relative to the GOP. 47% believe Democrats can better manage the federal government, compared to 31% for Republicans. Democrats also lead by 18% in perceived honesty and ethics.

Military and Veterans' Care

• Military Favorability: 77% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the military, down from 84% in January 2007. This is the first time since 9/11 that favorable ratings have slipped below 80%.
• Military Medical Care: Public opinion is sharply negative about the government's care for returning soldiers. Only 26% rate it as excellent or good, while 65% think it is only fair or poor.
• Walter Reed Scandal Impact: The scandal has led to widespread criticism, with 57% of Americans believing the problems at Walter Reed are common, not unusual. Democrats and independents are more likely to see the problems as systemic.
• Blame Allocation: Most blame the Bush administration (35%) or Congress (24%) for the Walter Reed issues, rather than top military leaders or hospital officials. Only 10% of the public blames top military officials.

Presidential Candidates

• Moderate Perception: Giuliani and McCain are seen as more moderate than Newt Gingrich and George W. Bush. They are rated as close to the middle on a six-point ideological scale.
• Iraq War Impact: The Iraq war has not significantly influenced the presidential nomination process. Supporters of both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have similar views on troop withdrawal, and Republicans who favor McCain and Giuliani also share similar opinions on troop levels in Iraq.

Congressional Accomplishments

• Low Awareness: Only 22% of Americans can cite important actions by Congress, with 16% mentioning the Iraq war and troop withdrawal. Democrats' domestic policy priorities, such as minimum wage increases, have received little attention.
• Historical Comparison: In 1995, 28% of the public cited congressional accomplishments, with balanced budget and welfare reform being prominent. Today, the number is lower, and the focus remains on Iraq-related issues.

Congressional Investigations

• Public Reaction: The Democrats' increased investigative activity has not sparked significant backlash. 35% think Congress is spending too little time on investigations, while 31% think it is too much. 25% believe the current level is appropriate.
• Partisan Views: Republicans are more likely than Democrats or independents to think Congress is spending too much time on investigations.

Party and Leadership Perceptions

• Democratic Leadership Advantage: Democrats are seen as stronger leaders (41% vs. 36%) and better able to manage the government (47% vs. 31%) compared to Republicans.
• Bush Approval: George W. Bush's job approval is at 33%, with 27% saying he is handling relations with Democrats about right. A majority (43%) would like to see more compromise.

Support for Troops

• Government Support: Only 21% believe the U.S. government provides adequate support to soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, while 51% think the public gives enough support.
• Partisan Differences: Conservative Republicans (35%) are more likely than liberal Democrats (12%) to believe the government gives enough support to troops.

Veterans' Perspective

• Engagement with Walter Reed: Veterans are more informed about the Walter Reed scandal, with 60% of male veterans having heard a lot about it, compared to 37% of non-veterans.
• Opinions Align with General Public: Veterans' views on military care and government support are largely similar to those of non-veterans.

Key Information

• The Democratic Party's image has improved significantly compared to the Republican Party, especially in terms of management, honesty, and ethics.
• Public opinion on the military remains largely positive, but the military's image has declined slightly since 9/11.
• The Walter Reed scandal has raised concerns about military medical care, with many believing it reflects a broader issue.
• Congressional investigations have not drawn strong opposition, and Democrats are seen as more responsive to public concerns.
• The Iraq war remains a central issue, but it has not strongly influenced the presidential nomination process.
• Most Americans believe the government is not doing enough for returning troops, though there are notable partisan differences in this perception.