Americans Have Grown More Supportive Of Torture

[muriel_volestrangler]

Republicans especially, to no-one's surprise:

Data shows that popular opinion on the use of torture by the U.S. government has subtly shifted since 2004, when Pew Research Center began polling Americans on the subject. Pew asked whether torture used against suspected terrorists to gain important information is justified, finding a majority of respondents (53 percent) said torture could never or only rarely be justified. But over the next five years, public opinion slowly reversed.

By November 2009, a slight majority of Americans said for the first time that torture could sometimes be justified.

In Pew’s 2011 report — its most recent — 53 percent said the U.S. government’s use of torture against suspected terrorists to gain important information can often (19 percent) or sometimes (34 percent) be justified, marking a turnaround from 2004.
...
There are stark differences in opinion on torture along party lines. A large majority of Republicans (71 percent) said torture could be at least sometimes justified, compared with 51 percent of independents and 45 percent of Democrats, according to Pew research.



http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/senate-torture-report-public-opinion/

[riverbendviewgal]

1. watchin Tweety at the moment

He seems to be gung ho on torture. .

[Thinkingabout]

2. What do you expect of the republicans, just as there is lots of nasty events between

the haters and Muslims or middle easterners. Torture is not acceptable, we have signed the Geneva convention saying we will not do this, we do not want this happening to Americans. We have lots of cruel treatment in the US, happening everyday on the streets, to condone torture should not be happening.

[Solly Mack]

3. Sick, sick people.

[mstinamotorcity2]

4. To me when you

torture you breed enemies.

[moondust]

5. Moral midgets. n/t

[Katashi_itto]

6. No Surprise from a political party that allows Police to brutalize and murder it's own population.

[Maedhros]

7. Democrats at 45%

Part of the reason I parted ways with the Democratic Party.

[etherealtruth]

8. Not this American

Aside from the moral horror that torture is ... it is also ineffective. How does one support this ...?

[Dawson Leery]

9. An immature and brutish nation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/12/10/the-subtle-damage-to-the-cia/

[chowder66]

10. I am losing my ever-loving mind...

Americans more supportive of Torture

Gun Rights Are Favored Over Gun Control For First Time In 20 Years
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/10/gun-rights-poll_n_6304740.html

White People are more confident local police treat races equally
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/10/white-police-poll_n_6302614.html

Who the hell are these people?

[AnnieBW]

11. 5+ Seasons of "24" Did Their Job

Yep, those 5+ seasons of torture porn called "24" did their job. We now view torture not just as a necessary evil, but as a way to get ratings. Thank you, Joel Surnow.

[PowerToThePeople]

12. pieces of shit have grown more supportive of torture.

[spanone]

13. republican party: the party of torture. how endearing.

and 45% of democrats?....all fucked.