Survey: Half of Americans say pat-downs go too far

[liberal N proud]

WASHINGTON — Half of Americans say the enhanced passenger security pat-downs at U.S. airports go too far, according to a poll published on Tuesday just before the busy holiday travel season.

But nearly two-thirds of those surveyed in the Washington Post-ABC News poll support the new full-body security-screening machines at the airports, as most say they put higher priority on preventing terrorism than protecting personal privacy.

The poll found that 50 percent said the new pat-down searches were unjustified, while 48 percent supported them and 2 percent had no opinion.

<snip>

The poll found no significant differences between Democrats and Republicans on the issue. Most people said the new screening methods would not influence their decisions about whether to fly.

The poll was conducted on Nov. 21 among a random national sample of 514 adults, and there is an error margin of five percentage points.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40338587/ns/travel/

[mwb970]

1. My usual method of forming an opinion won't work here.

I've noticed that republicans are always wrong on every issue. So, I listen to what they say and just assume that the diametrically opposite view is the correct one. Inconveniently, "the poll found no significant differences between Democrats and republicans on the issue". So now I don't know what to think.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. Principles are always good.

I wouldn't want anything as abstract as someone's religious-preference groping around inside my panties just to curiously see what is going on inside why would I want something as material and immediate as a stranger's hand?

[katnapped]

7. Because it DOESN'T apply in this case

We can't say it was a total outrage when Bush did it, but we need to look the other way because "Team O" approves of it. Doesn't work that way!

More a matter of the "stopped clock right twice a day" saying than anything else.

[seabeyond]

9. for years republicans were support tsa. dems were the ones callig out on rights.

it has just been recent that repugs are now agreeing with dems...

that may help

[customerserviceguy]

2. Five hundred people with landlines who are home during the day

who probably don't fly in the first place, doesn't constitute a valid sample.

[liberal N proud]

4. I wondered why they were not polling at the airports

[liberal N proud]

5. Dupe

[FarPoint]

6. I believe the anti-TSA jargon is the product of

right wing smear.....all is about fear, be afraid, the good olde boys will save the Constitution crowd.....I'm fine with the scanner and the pat down.....Everything they attack is to attack this President and Democrats...I will not fall for the scam....

[katnapped]

8. So in which case

You're A-OK with your rights being stripped away little by little (because "our side" says it's acceptable)?

[FarPoint]

11. I am just fine with the patdown and the

scanner.........no problem, look forward to doing my part next month when I fly to Tuscon. Yea...if you say you believe it is a right issue...then so be it.....I call it safety with 100% acceptance. I imagine improvement can and will be made. If I discover any area's of improvement, I will suggest them appropriately. I do not find it in any way share or form intrusive. Heck, I did find that soap suds enema I had given to me by the nurse at the hospital last year to be intrusive though.....I didn't cry that my rights were violated....Do you think I should of said so? Invasion of privacy???? Maybe.

[seabeyond]

10. i believe the cheerleading of gropes and naked scans are the sheep.

so????

[liberal N proud]

12. But they are searching your body without probably cause or due process

It is a violation of your Constitutional rights.