Majority Say January 6th Was An Attack On Democracy, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; About A Quarter Of U.S. Still Not Planning To Get Vaccinated
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With lawmakers divided over whether to form an independent 9/11 style commission to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, a majority of Americans (55 percent) say they view the events of January 6th as an attack on democracy that should never be forgotten, while 39 percent say too much is being made of the storming of the U.S. Capitol and it is time to move on, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea- ack) University national poll of adults released today. There are stark political divides on this question.
Democrats say 84 - 12 percent and independents say 54 - 42 percent that the January 6th storming of the Capitol should never be forgotten, while Republicans say 74 - 18 percent that too much is being made of it and that it is time to move on.
Asked whether each political party is acting in the best interests of democracy, Americans say ...
- Republican Party: 59 percent no, 34 percent yes;
- Democratic Party: 49 percent no, 44 percent yes.
"Does 1/6 warrant the same in-depth study as 9/11? It's been an open question with an independent investigation being weighed, and more than half of Americans consider the violence at the Capitol an attack on the very foundation of the country," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
COVID-19 VACCINES
As U.S. health officials and states make a big push to get COVID-19 vaccines into people's arms, slightly less than 1 in 4 Americans (23 percent) say they do not plan to get vaccinated, and 72 percent say they plan to or have already been vaccinated. That compares to an April survey which found 27 percent of respondents said they did not plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and 68 percent said they planned to or had already been vaccinated.
In today's poll, Republicans represent the largest listed group saying they do not plan to get vaccinated at 37 percent. Last month, that number was 45 percent.
Among respondents who have children under 16 years of age, which is a much smaller group compared to the number of total respondents, 42 percent say they are planning on having their children receive a COVID-19 vaccine once they are eligible, 44 percent say they do not plan on having their children receive the vaccine, 3 percent say their children under 16 years of age have already been vaccinated, and 12 percent did not offer an opinion.
"The frenzied rush to roll up the sleeve slams into a parental wall as more than 4 in 10 parents signal their pre-sixteen kids will not be getting the vaccine jab," added Malloy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gets a slightly positive grade on its handling of mask guidelines as 49 percent of Americans approve of the way the CDC is handling the guidelines and 44 percent disapprove.
Americans say 73 - 24 percent that they plan to spend Memorial Day weekend much like the way they did before the coronavirus pandemic.
Most also say 79 - 20 percent that they do not plan to travel this Memorial Day weekend. And a majority (60 - 38 percent) say they are not willing to travel overseas at this time.
ABORTION & THE SUPREME COURT
Views on abortion remain fairly consistent in the nearly two decades Quinnipiac University has polled on this issue.
Today, 25 percent of Americans think abortion should be legal in all cases, 32 percent say it should be legal in most cases, 23 percent say it should be illegal in most cases, and 14 percent say it should be illegal in all cases.
In June 2003, 21 percent of adults said abortion should be legal in all cases, 33 percent said it should be legal in most cases, 24 percent said illegal in most cases and 17 percent said illegal in all cases.
Americans agree 63 - 28 percent with the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion.
In 2003, Americans agreed with the decision 62 - 35 percent.
A majority of Americans, 61 - 28 percent, say they do not think it's likely that the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to choose an abortion will be overturned within the next few years.
UFOs & SPACE TRAVEL
Next month, intelligence agencies are expected to deliver a report to Congress about unidentified aerial phenomena, commonly known as UFOs. This report comes after the U.S. acknowledged there have been unexplained sightings by military aircraft. Asked what they think these sightings are, 42 percent of Americans say they think they are man-made aircraft, 35 percent say they think they are aircraft from another world, and 22 percent did not offer an opinion.
On a different topic, the prospect of space tourism for private citizens is becoming a reality through private companies. Americans were asked if they would want to take a trip into space if they were given the opportunity. A majority (65 - 34 percent) say they would not want to travel to space. By similar numbers, a majority say (66 - 32 percent) that if the Moon and Mars were colonized in their lifetime, they would not want to travel there.
"Go figure... the two political parties, so sharply divided on virtually everything on earth, find common ground in the mysteries of space. Thirty-six percent of Republicans and Democrats believe something or someone not of this earth has been visiting, and about 3 in 10 are ready to strap in and blast off into space," added Malloy.
1,316 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from May 18th - 24th with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 36. Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Legal all cases 25% 5% 39% 25% 17% 34% 30% 19% Legal most cases 32 17 37 40 31 32 40 28 Illegal most cases 23 46 10 17 27 18 22 26 Illegal all cases 14 25 7 10 16 11 5 19 DK/NA 7 6 6 8 9 5 3 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Legal all cases 34% 24% 22% 19% 17% 28% 23% 27% 34% Legal most cases 29 34 28 37 32 33 32 36 27 Illegal most cases 23 22 26 21 29 22 25 17 14 Illegal all cases 11 14 15 15 17 13 15 8 18 DK/NA 4 6 9 8 6 5 6 10 7 -
Question 37. In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Agree 63% 35% 83% 65% 56% 70% 74% 57% Disagree 28 57 12 25 31 24 23 37 DK/NA 9 8 5 10 12 6 3 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Agree 66% 61% 63% 61% 57% 68% 63% 75% 55% Disagree 20 30 30 33 37 28 32 15 24 DK/NA 14 9 7 6 6 4 5 10 21 -
Question 38. Do you think it's likely that the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to choose an abortion will be overturned within the next few years, or don't you think so?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Likely 28% 22% 33% 29% 25% 31% 29% 26% No 61 70 55 60 65 57 62 66 DK/NA 11 8 12 12 10 12 9 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Likely 27% 30% 26% 33% 24% 30% 27% 35% 28% No 59 60 64 57 68 62 65 46 57 DK/NA 14 10 10 10 8 9 8 20 15 -
Question 39. As you may know, a number of states, including Georgia and Florida, have passed new voting laws. Supporters of these laws say they were necessary to protect election integrity. Critics of these laws say they make it more difficult for people to vote. In general, do you support or oppose these new laws?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 39% 75% 11% 43% 47% 31% 37% 49% Oppose 49 16 78 44 42 56 59 40 DK/NA 12 9 10 13 10 13 4 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 33% 43% 47% 34% 52% 39% 45% 13% 37% Oppose 50 46 44 58 41 52 47 71 46 DK/NA 18 11 9 8 7 9 8 15 17 -
Question 40. Which comes closer to your point of view: it is necessary to pass new voting laws to protect election integrity or it is not necessary to pass new voting laws because elections in the United States are already secure?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Necessary 50% 82% 26% 53% 55% 45% 40% 59% Not necessary 43 14 68 41 38 48 57 35 DK/NA 7 3 6 7 7 7 3 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Necessary 52% 54% 54% 40% 58% 48% 53% 29% 54% Not necessary 41 40 43 53 38 47 43 62 37 DK/NA 7 7 4 7 4 6 5 9 9 -
Question 41. Do you think that the Republican party is acting in the best interests of democracy, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 34% 80% 10% 28% 40% 29% 29% 47% No 59 16 83 64 53 64 69 49 DK/NA 7 4 6 8 7 8 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 27% 33% 41% 38% 44% 37% 40% 9% 30% No 61 62 55 56 53 59 56 83 52 DK/NA 12 4 4 7 3 4 4 8 17 -
Question 42. Do you think that the Democratic party is acting in the best interests of democracy, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 44% 9% 81% 39% 36% 52% 56% 34% No 49 90 14 52 57 41 41 61 DK/NA 7 2 6 9 7 7 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 34% 48% 46% 52% 32% 50% 42% 63% 42% No 52 49 50 44 65 45 55 25 41 DK/NA 13 2 4 4 3 4 4 12 17 -
Question 43. Which comes closer to your point of view: the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th was an attack on democracy that should never be forgotten, or too much is being made of the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th and it is time to move on?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Never be forgotten 55% 18% 84% 54% 48% 61% 65% 44% Time to move on 39 74 12 42 46 32 33 51 DK/NA 6 8 4 4 6 6 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Never be forgotten 57% 56% 49% 57% 43% 58% 51% 81% 50% Time to move on 36 41 44 36 53 37 44 12 40 DK/NA 7 3 7 7 4 5 5 6 10 -
Question 44. Which comes closest to your situation: you are not planning to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or you are planning to receive or have already received a COVID-19 vaccine?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Don't plan to 23% 37% 12% 26% 26% 21% 10% 29% Plan to/Already 72 57 87 67 67 76 88 65 DK/NA 5 6 1 7 7 4 2 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Don't plan to 25% 31% 24% 11% 24% 21% 23% 19% 27% Plan to/Already 71 63 71 87 70 75 73 78 69 DK/NA 4 5 5 2 6 4 5 4 5 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Don't plan to 20% 27% 25% 20% 21% 19% 30% Plan to/Already 80 66 69 74 73 77 64 DK/NA 1 7 6 6 6 4 6 -
Question 45. Do you have any children under the age of 16?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 24% 24% 23% 27% 26% 23% 25% 19% No 74 75 77 71 71 77 74 80 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 2 - - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 25% 61% 12% 2% 25% 18% 21% 31% 34% No 74 39 88 98 74 82 78 69 61 DK/NA 1 - - - 1 - - - 4 -
Question 45a. (If yes/have kids <16 yrs q45) Are you planning on having your children under the age of 16 receive a COVID-19 vaccine once they are eligible, or not?
ADULTS................... YES/HAVE KIDS <16 YRS Q45 Tot Men Wom Yes 42% 38% 46% No 44 46 41 ALRDY RECEIVED(VOL) 3 1 4 DK/NA 12 14 9 -
Question 46. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the CDC is handling mask guidelines?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 49% 31% 62% 49% 45% 52% 50% 46% Disapprove 44 64 29 45 48 41 47 47 DK/NA 7 5 8 6 7 7 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 47% 49% 48% 52% 42% 52% 47% 55% 51% Disapprove 46 46 46 37 52 42 47 38 39 DK/NA 7 5 6 11 6 5 6 7 10 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Approve 49% 52% 45% 51% 54% 43% 49% Disapprove 43 41 48 41 37 52 46 DK/NA 8 7 6 8 9 5 5 -
Question 47. Are you willing to travel overseas at this time, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 38% 41% 36% 39% 45% 32% 44% 38% No 60 58 60 60 54 66 55 61 DK/NA 2 1 4 1 1 2 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 50% 48% 37% 19% 50% 31% 40% 28% 31% No 46 51 62 80 49 67 58 72 65 DK/NA 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 - 4 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 39% 37% 40% 35% 40% 44% 29% No 59 61 59 63 57 54 71 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 2 - -
Question 48. Do you plan to travel this Memorial Day weekend, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 20% 21% 18% 21% 24% 16% 24% 20% No 79 77 82 78 74 84 75 78 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 23% 25% 18% 12% 29% 15% 22% 7% 18% No 76 75 80 87 70 84 77 91 82 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 18% 25% 19% 18% 17% 21% 21% No 81 74 80 81 82 78 78 DK/NA - 1 2 1 1 1 1 -
Question 49. Do you plan to spend Memorial Day weekend much like the way you did before the coronavirus pandemic, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 73% 86% 62% 76% 77% 69% 75% 80% No 24 13 36 21 21 28 23 17 DK/NA 3 1 2 3 2 3 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 66% 75% 77% 77% 84% 73% 78% 61% 58% No 31 23 20 20 14 24 19 36 39 DK/NA 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 70% 75% 74% 71% 70% 74% 79% No 24 23 24 27 27 25 19 DK/NA 6 2 3 1 3 1 2 -
Question 50. As you may know, private investors have made the prospect of space tourism a reality. If given the opportunity, would you want to take a trip to space, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 34% 33% 29% 39% 44% 24% 37% 34% No 65 66 71 60 55 75 63 66 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 1 1 - - AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 53% 39% 26% 14% 47% 24% 35% 20% 38% No 46 61 73 85 52 76 64 80 62 DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - - -
Question 51. As you may know, there are plans to colonize the Moon and Mars. If this happened in your lifetime, would you want to travel to the Moon or Mars, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 32% 31% 27% 38% 40% 25% 34% 32% No 66 67 71 61 58 74 65 68 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 54% 37% 24% 13% 42% 23% 32% 24% 36% No 45 61 75 86 57 76 67 76 62 DK/NA 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 - 2 -
Question 52. As you may know, the United States government has acknowledged there have been unexplained sightings of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, which are more commonly known as UFOs, by military aircraft. Do you think they are man-made aircraft of unknown origin or do you think they are aircraft from another world?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Man-made aircraft 42% 43% 43% 44% 44% 41% 48% 43% From another world 35 36 36 34 33 37 27 33 DK/NA 22 21 21 22 23 22 25 25 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Man-made aircraft 41% 45% 44% 38% 46% 43% 44% 46% 42% From another world 43 30 37 35 30 31 31 38 42 DK/NA 16 25 19 27 24 26 25 16 16 Mltry Hshld Man-made aircraft 43% From another world 31 DK/NA 26