Poll: Majority back relieving McChrystal
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/28/art.mcchrystal.gi.jpg caption="President Obama removed Gen. Stanley McChrystal from his command."]Washington (CNN) - A majority of Americans support President Barack Obama's decision to remove Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, according to a new national poll.
A USA Today/Gallup survey released Monday indicates that 53 percent of the public approves of the move, with three in ten saying they disapprove and 17 percent unsure. Of those who say they are following news reports of the story very closely, approval jumps to 64 percent.
The poll was conducted Friday and Saturday. The president relieved McChrystal of his duties on Wednesday, after the general and his staff were quoted in a Rolling Stone magazine article making comments that appeared to mock top administration officials. Obama named Gen. David Petraeus to replace McChrystal.
According to the poll, Americans are divided on what was the best way to handle the situation. Thirty-eight percent of those questioned say relieving McChrystal was the best move, but 37 percent say it would have been better for president to have reprimanded McChrystal but not remove him from his command. Another 12 percent say Obama should have not taken any action, and 14 percent were unsure.
Of those following the story very closely, 49 percent say removing McChrystal was the best move, with 36 percent saying a reprimand would have been the best move, one in ten saying on action would have been best and six percent undecided.
The survey indicates a partisan divide, with nearly three out of four Democrats approving of Obama's decision to remove the general, while 53 percent of Republicans oppose the move. Forty-nine percent of independents support the president's move, with 31 percent saying they disapprove.
The USA Today/Gallup poll conducted June 25-26, with 1,044 adults questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points.
From CNN Politics
- Why Israel's instability matters to the US
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Untitled
- White House says 50 US officials targeted with spyware as it rolls out new ban of hacking tools
- Supreme Court won't review contempt conviction of anti-Chevron environmental lawyer
- Proud Boy testifies that talk of 'stacking bodies' was locker-room banter
this whole saga is rather hilarious. McChrystal the liberal and Obama supporter cannot control his staff.
so Obama gets rid of him and hires Repub Petraeus who has been considered a potential Repub prezzie candidate for 2012.
very odd. Rolling Stone gets what they want.
If any conservatives felt that this lack of respect for the office of the President should have been tolerated then we know that they are part fo the problem! I already know that they are the problem.
It's amazing–the man who the democrats hated during the Bush years, is all of a sudden a good guy??
What a very sorry excuse we have for a president!
Barack.Hussein.Obama-America's-Benevolent-DICTATOR
_____________________________________________________
Did Obama do away with elections? I guess I missed that news article.
Oh, you're just making crap up with no support. Do you know what a dictator is? I imagine you're just trying to be "funny" but you sound stupid. Mean what you say, say what you mean. If you really think Obama is a dictator, you need help.
Just to clarify – only the media is saying that Obama 'relieved' Gen. McChrystal, when in point of fact, he accepted his resignation – big difference. Being relieved is what Pres. Truman did to Gen. MacArthur. Gen. McChrystal knew that he had made a gross error in judgement and had determined that the only option was to voluntarily resign, which Obama allowed rather than 'relieving' (read "firing") him.
The General and his staff were clearly frustrated. Probably they were just kidding around. Yet there is no excuse for this type of unprofessional behaviour. They should have known better.
Phoenix86 please go back to school and learn something.
McCrystal...just another low-class republican.
People need to learn to appreciate the dissenters......as they point out, the problems, that are in need of correcting.
Worry not about General McChrystal. Fox "News" will grab him in a minute. More "Fair and Balanced" stuff. Ha!
We can blame bush for this -we should not be there in the 1st place.
It’s certainly sad to hear and read some of you “real americans” attempt to justify what General McCrystal has done. It is quite obvious that you have either never served your country in uniform or did so with no honor. It’s equally sad that many of you “real americans” can’t see beyond your own hatred, as you attack our President for everything he does, regardless of what he does. It’s quite evident that you take every action and statement, spinning it to justify your own warped perspective of patriotism.
Personally, I’m proud of President Obama. I don’t agree with all his policies and I could “Monday morning quarterback” on others, but he’s the hardest working representative I’ve had in my 47 years. And he’s keeping most of the promises he’s made to those of who voted for him.
He continues to demonstrate his love of country and his fellow man; truly representing the best attributes of a Christian soul.
Gen. McChrystal knew he was dead meat as soon as his remarks got back to D.C. The Poll is wrong and it's about 85% saying they approve the President decision of removing Gen.McChrystal.
I love these clowns who post who have never been in the military or who let their partisanship (phoenix86) drive their every post. Go back to your right wing hole you crawled out of.
Seriously, put yourself in the General's position. You mouthed off more than once (and might I add your opinion) , given another opportunity, hmmm...you have opinions and share them to the masses....you're out! No one is debating his role in his position, yes he was good, etc however thoughtless in who he spoke to. Whatever happened to think b4 you speak?