Washington (CNN) - Republican voters are split on whether their party's leadership is taking the GOP in the right direction, according to a new national poll. The Washington Post survey released Monday also indicates that Republicans say that Sarah Palin, more than any other leader, best reflects the core values of the party.
According to the poll, 18 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say the former Alaska governor best reflects core GOP values. In second place, 5 points back, is Sen. John McCain of Arizona, last year's Republican presidential nominee, followed by former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at 7 percent, former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney at 6 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 4 percent and conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh at 2 percent. Other current Republican leaders were picked by 1 percent or less of those questioned in the poll.
Palin also tops the list of potential 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls. According to the poll, 17 percent of Republican voters say they'd back last year's GOP vice presidential nominee if their state's caucus or primary were being held today, with Huckabee at 10 percent, Romney at 9 percent and McCain with 2 percent support. Huckabee, Palin and Romney have topped most national surveys of the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
The survey indicates that nearly half the Republicans questioned think Palin's had a good effect on the party, with 1 in 5 saying she's had a bad effect and just over 3 in 10 saying she hasn't made a difference either way. One view those questioned overwhelmingly shared was their opinion of the news media's treatment of Palin: Nearly 9 in 10 respondents said reporter have treated her unfairly.
According to the poll, 49 percent of Republican voters think their party's leadership is taking the GOP in the right direction. That's down from 76 percent in 2005, early in President George W. Bush's second term. The survey indicates that 56 percent of Republicans think it's a good idea for their party to try and work with the Democrats who control Congress and the White House to try and get some GOP ideas into legislation. But far fewer want to see cooperation on health care reform: Just 23 percent say it's a good idea to work with President Barack Obama and the Democrats. More than three out of four say it's best to try and short-circuit Democratic plans entirely.
The survey also indicates that nearly 3 out of 4 Republicans think Obama does not stand for traditional American values.
According to the poll, 27 percent of respondents say Republican candidates for public office should take only conservative positions on issues - but nearly 7 in 10 feel it's ok for GOP candidates to take a moderate position on some issues. The poll's release comes as the Republican National Committee considers a draft resolution sponsored by Indiana RNC member Jim Bopp Jr. that proposes a ten-point ideological platform, and would require GOP candidates to adhere to at least seven of those points in order to qualify for financial assistance from the RNC.
The Washington Post telephone poll of 804 Republicans and GOP-leaning independents was conducted November 19-23. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
From CNN Politics
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Scary, scary, scary. The dumbing down of America was an apparent success.
Enjoy your descent into obscurity, Republicans.
Ron Paul is the only republican that can beat the Democrats. The other neo-cons support the same failed top down tyranny that Bush had.
So blatantly lying and being totally ignorant on core issues best reflects the GOP core values?
Yep, looks about right to me.
"Poll: Palin best reflects GOP core values"
...giving fresh life to the old saying "rotten to the core"
CNN went a whole weekend without a new Palin story. The libertards must have so much pent up anger and frustration. They will really unload on her today.
Sarah Palin..."nice house but nobody's home..."
CNN, do you realize that two of your stories on the Ticker contradict each other? First you have Limbaugh as the most influential conservative. Then you have Palin, who considers herself more a conservative than a Republican, polling as the most representative of the party's core values.
Oh, and as each had about the same percentage of votes – 20% – I'm not sure I'd consider that a clear majority. There are a lot of voices out there and two plus years of jockeying for leadership.
How about a poll on the most influential liberal? Democrat? I'd like to see the results of that one!
Rule one of the RNC: Do as I say and not as I do.
Limbaugh the new republican defacto leader, and Palin as the idealogical leader of the party, now that is just too funny. They both are courting the same fringe base of people who cannot think for themselves, or who are trying to find legitimacy in racism, radical relgious fanaticism, or hatred of those who don't conform to their self righteous standards. Neither will ever see an elected office other than say a senator in a red state where the population is in a coma or worse, reading their bibles. Same amount of brainwaves with both activities. LOL
Are the GOP core values "Do as I say, not as I do?". just asking
So...7% of the GOP thinks that the man who commuted the prison sentence of THE prime suspect in the murders of 4 cops (Mike Huckabee) best reflects the core values of the GOP. And 15% more think that Sarah Palin does?
GOP...R.I.P.!
bring her on .sarah is exactly what this country dont need right now mooooose
I'd say this poll pretty much sums up the collective intelligence of the few right-wing-nuts that are still willing to associate themselves with the all-but-dead GOP. These fools apparently think the quitter from Alaska would be able to garner over 50% percent of the total votes cast in 2012 ... sad morons indeed!
She should replace Michael Steele as the head of the RNC. She can play the same role that Howard Dean has played for the Dem's. Rally the base and be the attack dog.
a chance.....Time to admit that although Obama is a nice guy, electing him was a mistake.......he can't make decisions and doesn't lead....
Sarah Palin/Liz Cheney 2012'.........
The sad part is that she really does best represent their core values. While we "real Americans" struggle to drag this country, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. Have a nice day!
This is complete nonsense. Who in their right mind could possibly say that Palin reflects the GOP's core values? It's proposterous for any Republican to back someone whose writings isn't even hers and picks money over fulfilling the duties essential to supporting/helping/providing for the people of Alaska. She reflects the core values of the GOP, but what about the general politician? Those who are supposed to be helping the nation prosper, not themselves. She will never get elected and everyone should stop speculating.
Palin's core values start with quitting your job, husband quitting his job and pimping people for money. There aren't too many Americans whether Republican or Democrat who have 5 children to support and one with special needs who quit their jobs. If those are core values then America is truly headed in the wrong direction.
I can't imagine anyone could think Palin could be president. They think Obama is slow on decisions I hate to see hou quick she would make the wrong ones.
When a survey shows that 3 out of 4 Repubs think Obama doesn't stand for traditional values, goes to show how dumb they are.
'Palin also tops the list of potential 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls.'
bwa-hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Let us hope!
Palin best reflects GOP core values? So an anti-intellectual, greedy, quitter who plays loose with the truth does this. Please GOP fans of Palin, do some soul searching.
Excuse me, I'm going to cry laughing straight through Obama's second term if they actually think Sarah Palin can go up against him for president.
I't not really sure what there core values are , they laminate about the deficit yet relelect the man that doubled the national debt
Rally about nation building yet they support 2 wars that are doing the very thing
I think most of then are undereducated and listen to a 5 minute sound bite and thats it
I guess if the core GOP values are meaness, selfishness, fake religiosity, warmongering, and hypocracy, she's got it all covered.
values? prohibitionist right-wing nutters is more like it.
Simply laughable that Sarah Palin would represent core values . . . core values of what? Not knowing foreign policy? Not knowning anything about economics? Not knowning anything about telling the truth about an issue? Not knowing that by building a bridge to knowhere you can't claim to be fiscally responsible?
The GOP is nothing but a party of simple minded people led but even more simplistic leaders
Would that core value be doing everything to prevent anything that is good for the people?
I agree, Sarah Pain reflects the core of Republican values – willful ignorance, bigotry, arrogance, and way too much blue eye shadow
Wow. Now this is scary! Palin = Biggest Joke in Politics
If the far-right is what the GOP stands for, then I guess there's no place for a New York moderate.
GOP core values...Unacceptance of individual thought, government contracts to be awarded proportionally to corporations that contribute to the campaign, the complete disregard for individual rights (especially when they interfere with the goals of a major corporation or their stock holders), the use of the military to protect the interests of large corporations, the amount of aid available to individuals in the time of natural disaster is proportional to wealth of that individual, government should be small and bow to the needs of big business, government should be large when denying rights to the individual, ...
Lincoln is turning in his grave. This sorry excuse of a woman, mother and human being represents the gopers? God help us all if this is what our moral compass has sunk to. A quitter, lier, cheater, hater, bigot, uneducated . . . . . . . . . twit is what these people think is their future?
It's disgusting that the repugs would rather see the country fail than work with the President in trying to get us out of the mess the shrub left us.
BTW – darth vader can't run iin 2012. He was already president for two terms!
Come to think of it, ignorance does appear to be a core value for these folks. See Global Warming, Death Panels, the country fo Africa, etc.
"Palin best reflects GOP core values"
And Republicans wonder why they are out of office?
GOPers, She does not have a presidential Quality, her qualification is good for the un educated American who don't have knowledge of other nation wher they are going. President Obama is doing good job for the country. you GOPERS give him some time and remember if you can support him than better keep Quite...............
That's scary!
The title of the article is why the GOP has fallen into irrelevency.
Yes, she does best reflect GOP core values which is why she is not VP today. Republican core values are bad values for the rest of us.
If Palin best reflects the GOP, I feel very badly for them. How sad.
So it's finally official? Isolationist xenophobia coupled with racial and religious bigotry are now the established core values of the party?
Where do the flashcards, winks and hiding behind an American bastardization of European Christianity fit in?
USA! USA!
Don't do it, republican primary voters. She's not the one.
If she is nominated, Obama will be guaranteed his second term. If Sarah Palin could not handle being the governor of Alaska, then why should she be considered for higher office? Don't blow it twice in a row, republicans.
No one believes Palin can be President. Thus, from this I take it no Republican will be President for a while.
"Poll: Palin best reflects GOP core values" Lunacy? Hatred? Misogyny? Lack of education? Intolerance? Lying? Oh, there are so many to choose from!
I agree, Palin is currently the best example of the "average republican" and that's exactly the problem with this country.
She is uneducated in relevant issues
She is willing to do anything to achieve power, regardless of the consecuences to the country
She is commited to accepting bigotry and bullying as a means to achieve power
She is willing to let the country face bankrupcy rather than face the reality of higher taxes
That s why republicans have become a menace to this country. Why did the GOP abandon us?
Smart, bueatiful and a self-made millionaire...
WOW! No wonder progressive liberals slobber hate all over themselves over her.
That is correct – "Republicans say that Sarah Palin, more than any other leader, best reflects the core values of the party"! She is PERFECT! She has all of the necessary qualities of the next Republican Presidential Nominee:
1. She is a QUITTER. Would she quit halfway through her first term if it was just "too hard" to be the POTUS – just like it was too hard to be the Governor of Alaska (which has a larger Elk population than human)?
2. She is INEPT and INCOMPETENT! Republicans = Incompetence!
3. The only Core Values she has are the ones that will benefit her with her crazed base. She has NONE of her own.
She will be the Best Thing for the Democratic Party!
As a life long Republican, Palin is the reason I voted for Obama. If she best represents the values of the Republican party we're in serious trouble. What is wrong with the 17% of those polled who said they would back her if the primary was held today. And wake up people, the media didn't treat her unfairly, she just showed them how stupid she is. When asked what she publications she reads she couldn't even answer the question. My three year old grandson can even tell you what he reads.
CNN can you tell us what your obsession with this idiot is all about? She is a private citizen and frankly no one cares what she does or thinks–if she can even think. Even your competitor, FOX News doesn't publish as much about Palin as CNN does. Maybe I have to start getting my news from FOX.
"The survey also indicates that nearly 3 out of 4 Republicans think Obama does not stand for traditional American values."
What ARE Republican concepts of American Values?
I'm working with things like:
"We the people..."
"Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..."
"With Liberty and Justice For All."
He goes to Church, has a family, a dog and believes that the Constitution should actually be enforced.
The biggest "problem" that I see with President Obama, is not that he makes mistakes, it's that he (unlike "Conservatives," it seems), is willing and able to ADMIT to them, not just his own, personal human failings (which are not so bad), but to those of our citizens, our leaders... Is that REALLY such a "bad" thing?
"the former Alaska governor best reflects core GOP values."
Seriously? They think the GOP is hard wired to willful ignorance, demagoguery and bald faced lies (i.e. "death panels" and "palling around with terrorists")? Wow... who knew.
"more than 3 in 4 say it's best to short circuit Dem plans...." aka obstruction. That's REAL American you faux patriots... What a bunch of whining hypocrits.. PLEASE run and win the nomination Failin Palin...no better way to guarentee a landslide reelection of Obama
Republicans seem to love people that aren't very good with history, math or the English language. So its no wonder that Sarah Palin is respected in that party...
If this is true – Lord help us all.
Off topic but I thought missy's missive was supposed to rocket to the top of all the best sellers list.
Checked the NYT lists yesterday and found Boohoo Beck at number 9 but "Going Rogue, an American LIE" was nowhere to be found.
And yes, I did check the fiction category.
True and we should give her credit for taking a stand and sticking to it. Unfortunately I think America is a little more in the center and we need a viable third party to run our country. No more Democrats or Republicans.
If a business executive could not handle being a VP, then why would you make them CEO? When Sarah Palin abandoned her governorship so that she could go on the Oprah show and book tour, she chose being a celebrity over being a leader. If the republican primary voters nominate her, they will be throwing away their second nomination in a row and Obama's second term will be assured.
She sure does, 1, hypocritical, 2, liars, 3, "I only care about me," 4, Wouldn't recognize Jesus Christ if she met him face-to-face on the street, would probably just think he was another worthless homeless person. 5. " I deserve healthcare, but the poor do not." Yep, she sure does represent their so-called valueless core. ..
...Hmmm! More Sarah Palin/Wolf "Hound" Blitzer/HypocriCNN Love-Lust. Then I Guess The Pied Piper Is The Greatest Musician That Ever Lived, Porcupines Are Sensitive To The Touch, And Liars Make For The Most Trutful Antagonists! All Such Stunning And Pointless Revelations...Just Like This Blog Story.
Oh Golly! She's a HOOT...You Betcha! What a cornball!
18 percent!! If that's the person who most represents the GOP that's pretty sad. They clearly dislike their own reps!
If Miss Wasila '82 is so reflective of family values, where are her children while she's cavorting around the country promoting a book and shoving herself down the throats of the majority of us who already think she's a minimally educated nut job? Seems to me the term hipocrite fits nicely.
I am a republican and neither Rush nor Palin reflect my core values. They, especially Palin, are extremists and should not in any way lead people to believe they reflect the core values of the republican party.
We believe in less government interference into our personal lives, less government spending, work ethic not handouts, you should be able to keep rewards from hard work not give them up in outrageous taxes just because you found what was once the American dream.
If I believed otherwise I would be a democrat. If I believed as Palin does I would be commited. But I do not. I am a proud member of the party of No!
No handouts
No government interference in our private lives, (and that means all parts of our private lives, good and bad such as abortion, healthcare, etc)
No tax increases to the wealthly because they will drive the economy to success
No tax increases to business because they create jobs, (increase taxes and jobs go overseas),
No government bailouts! Either become competitive in the world or fail
If Sarah Palin represents the core values of the GOP, then we must look at the facts and admit that the GOP no longer exists as the party it once was. It has been replaced by something that no longer resembles the party of Lincoln. It has transformed into something that I can not support.
wow! obviously the Republican party as a whole has no idea what their core values are! we know they hate abortion and gays having rights. we know they don't care if everyone has health insurance or not. we know that war and revenge is very important to their core values. and we know that whatever Obama says for the next eight years, they will just disagree because of "their core values."
best of luck picking one of these clowns to lead your party!
With only 22% of Americans claiming to be Republicans, it's clear that the neocons have alienated everyone but the extreme rightwing. This is the group that listens exclusively to Fox and Limbaugh, and are therefore influenced by all their lies and hysterics. The anger is being CREATED, instead of REPORTED, by the rightwing media. Further, it has been documented that the Teabaggers are organized by the insurance industry and cynical politicians who hope to ride that wave to reelection. Unless the mainstream media begin a vigilant "fact-check" on rightwing propaganda, our democratically elected President will have his hands tied and America will continue its downward slide.
sadly the ignorance of these poor republican voters is as stupid as palin's views of how to run the united states of america. if the lacks of palin or beck should ever find themselves behind the desk of the president of this nation neither would have a clue as to what to do . neither person has a clue to how the government runs,policies,negotiations etc. these people are the under-brush of the american voter and will never understand why we should have intelligent,educated leaders that can lead! other countries laugh at such nonsense coming from this smalll,very small percentage of voters.
i am grateful to have such a fine intelligent leader to call our president.
"BLAME THE MEDIA GAME". Well yes, she has a chance to become our next president, as long as she continue to be a guess on fox news. If she wants to play with the big team, she has to play the game. Maybe because she's a woman the media need to take it easy on her. If she think the media is being unfair, put her one on one with Campbell Brown or Rachel Maddow and you will see just whats in her head. No matter what either one of them say, Palin will still say it's the media's fault. This is how she plan to get elected and some of you will fall for it! It's the media, because she's a woman. "BLAME THE MEDIA GAME".
This is such great news!!! Let Palin run in 2012 for the GOP and insure they lose again...I can't stand it...Run Sarah Run....and let the GOP fall further into disarray.
yep... I'm not a conservative...but don't get me wrong... I would be if I were a multi millionaire..
What does this say about what Republicans value? It says to me that they don't value learning or being able to answer questions about where someone gets their values, ideas and information. These are critical questions that help some people make up their minds about a person and if they share some of the same values. We need leaders that show that they can think and be willing to learn about different things.
The Washington Post survey released Monday also indicates that Republicans say that Sarah Palin, more than any other leader, best reflects the core values of the party. WHICH IS HYPOCRITES!
WHICH IS THE RIGHT WING NUTS OF THE REPUBLICANS PARTY AND WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH VOTERS TO GET SARA PALIN ELECTED.
Those core values being reflective of the base – consisting of poorly educated whites with paranoid fears about no longer being anywhere near a majority, who use religion (and guns, and fascination with football and NASCAR) as a palliative against the basic realities that almost everything in society is rapidly passing them by. So, I agree – Palin undoubtedly appeals to the core values – she's simply the same version of that archetype from the south and midwest, except she has a somewhat different accent.
I agree. She does represent the g.o.p. core values of hate, paranoia, xenophobia and ignorance.
A perfect fit for the new Rebirther Tea Party
so the republicans core values are stupidity and ignorance?
Great news for democrats.
And should be President of the United States come 2012.
I hope the GOP nominate her as the party nominee in 2012! President Obama will win reelection in much bigger landslide than he did in 2008!
Why would she even be considered as a nominee is beyond me. If she is unable to finish her duties as Governor, why would we want someone to be President if the going gets a little tough?
I would rather have a president who would be able to see it all the way through than a quitter. Being President is one of the toughest jobs our country offers and we want a quitter in charge?
I do not believe that is a wise decision.
We have tough situations left and right. Although I did not vote for Obama I would vote for him if he runs rather than her, because he is not afraid to keep going as things get tough.
There is no way John McCain should be considered a Conservative. If anyone should be in second place it's Ron Paul. Sarah Palin is number one in my book.
I agree that Palin best represents GOP values, because she has none. She always has and, I assume, always will do whatever is in the best interest of no one but Sarah Palin.
Especially the most essential Republican core value–hypocrisy.
So quitting your term half way through,and Lies are GOP core values?
Gee wonder why the Republican Party is in a downward spiral Sarah.
CNN seems to have an obsession with this hard as nails looking woman with a bee hive? Why is she even relevant? But then again I do understand that she seems to be a commodity of some sort.
Let's hope we can move on from her and onto the 'real' news of the day. She has had her '15 minutes of fame". Lets all move on....
And what core value is that, ignorance?
The 'Dipstick Wearing Lipstick' is only an empty shell.
Isn't anyone wondering why she is not having a book signing in her home state – Alaska?
The answer is – she has no support from this state any longer. The few that did support after the national election have absconded, and for good reason.
Every word and act from this woman screams ignorance. All that is hear from her is complaining. She has yet to come up with an in-depth viable solution to any problem she disses.
The wind rushing between the empty space of her ears gets louder every day.
Thank God the door opened for her to leave Alaska – good riddance!
Palin best reflects why the Democrats will win 2012.
OBAMA 2012!!!!
So the socalled bus tour is only for the staff while Palin jets around the country on a private jet at $4 000/hour taking the bus only for brief stops and media appearances! Everything about this woman is smoke and mirrirs!
I don't know why the Republicans think the press is mistreating her as they do not demand interviews but wait with baited breath to report any musings on her facebook page. Absent from CNN is any demand she be interviews while they avoid any report on her falsehoods, missteps or exaggerations.
An example would be the report on her taking part in the socalled 5km turkey trot WHICH SHE DID NOT FINISH.
Core what? You kidding me?
The most interesting part of this is that 3 out of 4 Republicans think that Obama does not stand for traditional American values. So what do they think he stands for ? With this number it sounds like 3 out of 4 have a problem in understanding what truly is American values. Perhaps they are racist, perhaps they have no idea what the values of Americans are these days. To say that 3 out of 4 believe Obama does not stand for American values tells a whole bunch about themselves. Running successfully for POTUS is not an American value ? Having a beautiful family is not an American value ? Beating the odds and becoming the first African American President is not traditional American value ? Health car for Americans is not an American value ? These poll results seal the deal for me and that is 3 out of 4 Republicans have no idea what the true and current American values are. Obama is one of best stories ever written about traditinal American values. Until the clown show of Republican hopefuls is over no one can take this party seriously. If they had any hope of regaining power they would have a serious contender getting ready instead of sending in the clowns like Palin.
Nobody is perfect, but I like Romney. He's been successful in the private and government sectors. Unfortunately, we will always have those that blindly mistrust his religion, others that are angry that he is wealthy, and others that just
Palin reflects the vaues of the GOP all right. Money, money, money. That's her core value. ChaChing$$$$$$$$$
OK...I understand! Palin = incoherent, unintelligent, vaccous, lost in translation use of language (i.e. word salad), a quitter, hypocrit, takes no responsibility..... but best reflects GOP values.
Why are there still members of the GOP that are above a 6th grade education again? That's the part I don't get!
If Palin is the best the Republicans have to offer, they might as well fold up the tents now. As for being treated unfairly by the media, why is it the media's fault when they report her nonsense in her own words? Not every news outlet operates like Fox News. Some actually are fair and balanced.
LOLOLOLOL!! What a joke1
Hum.....the GOP's "core values" as far as I can tell from the last 30 years are..... anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-social security, anti-universal healthcare, anti-social diversity, anti-religion other than "christian", pro "trickle-down" economics, pro-war, pro-own a gun, pro-big business, pro transfer of wealth from the middle-class and poor to the rich.......no wonder a majority of people don't identify with this fringe group.
Are you asking Republicans these questions? It doesn't matter who the rest of the world thinks is the most influential or has the best qualities, it matters who Republicans think meets their needs. Of course liberals want Limbaugh and Palin to represent the party, it's easier to beat up on them, but their opinions don't matter. Rush Limbaugh does not speak for me.
Sarah Palin best represents true American values that we need again. Expect a President Sarah Palin in 2013!!
Palins painfully pathetic progression to the peak of GOP opinion hill, has us worried. Some of her statements have the tendency to become prevarications, despite panegyrics from her party personna. To us, she seems like a persona non grata, or a prima donna.
If Sarah Palin, more than any other leader, best reflects the core values of the party, I fully understand the split in the Republican Party.
As a conservative that usually votes republican all I can say is strike 1, strike 2, and strike 3 – your out. If this is the best they have then the democratic party will not have a problem of re-electing their socialist leader.
Did they forward the news to her on the plane she's flying around in while pretending to be on a bus tour?