Scary new Harris Poll: 67 percent of GOP believe Obama is a socialist. 57% say he is a Muslim

[Douglas Carpenter]

Opinion: Scary new GOP poll

by John Avlon

67 percent of Republicans (and 40 percent of Americans overall) believe that Obama is a socialist.

The belief that Obama is a “domestic enemy” is widely held—a sign of trouble yet to come.

57 percent of Republicans (32 percent overall) believe that Obama is a Muslim 45 percent of Republicans (25 percent overall) agree with the Birthers in their belief that Obama was "not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president" 38 percent of Republicans (20 percent overall) say that Obama is "doing many of the things that Hitler did" Scariest of all, 24 percent of Republicans (14 percent overall) say that Obama "may be the Antichrist." These numbers all come from a brand-new Harris poll, inspired in part by my new book Wingnuts. It demonstrates the cost of the campaign of fear and hate that has been pumped up in the service of hyper-partisanship over the past 15 months. We are playing with dynamite by demonizing our president and dividing the United States in the process. What might be good for ratings is bad for the country.

The full results of the poll, which will be released in greater detail tomorrow, are even more frightening: including news that high percentages of Republicans—and Americans overall—believe that President Obama is "racist," "anti-American" "wants the terrorists to win" and "wants to turn over the sovereignty of the United States to a one-world government." The "Hatriot" belief that Obama is a "domestic enemy" as set forth in the Constitution is also widely held—a sign of trouble yet to come. It's the same claim made by Marine Lance Corporal Kody Brittingham in his letter of intent to assassinate the President Obama.

This poll is the latest and most detailed evidence of the extent to which Wingnuts are hijacking our politics. It should be a wakeup call to all Americans and a collective reminder, as we move past health-care reform, that we need to stand up to extremism.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/dailybeast/20100323/ts_dailybeast/7269_scarynewgoppoll

[msongs]

1. 67% of democrats WISH he was lol nt

[truedelphi]

5. yes that does put it in perspective. n/t

[Scurrilous]

2. The Anti-Christ?

Wow!

Those people are @#$%&* up.

[upi402]

3. and 100% batshit looney

:wow:

[Double T]

4. Look what an army of RW conservative talking heads will buy you.

RW nutcase rethugs will believe anything if you tell them enough times.

[Puzzler]

6. Let me guess... one of the questions was "Is Obama a Socialist?"

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Saddam was responsible for the twin towers attack

18 percent believe the sun revolves around the Earth

http://www.gallup.com/poll/3742/New-Poll-Gauges-Americans-General-Knowledge-Levels.aspx

[David__77]

8. Oh I wish he wanted socialism.

I love all this socialism vs. capitalism talk. It's stupid of the right wing.

[dkf]

9. The right calls Obama a socialist and he spends his presidency trying to prove them wrong

He will govern center right to appease them.

[Uben]

10. 90% of them believe in the Easter Bunny

...so what's new?

[LynnTheDem]

11. And 98% of all republicans are

the dumbest MFers on the planet.

Obviously.

[City Lights]

12. Loon E. Toonz!

:crazy: + :dunce: = :scared:

[ingac70]

13. Those numbers are actually lower than before. n/t

[Douglas Carpenter]

14. one more kick

[gratuitous]

15. Will this generate the same backlash as the Research 2000 poll?

The Daily Kos didn't commission this Harris poll, so maybe everyone will ignore it, especially since it says that basically Republicans are stupid. Across the board, and without exception.

[AsahinaKimi]

16. It be interesting to see how many of them thought

People and Dinosaurs lived at the same time.