Public Opinion Shifts in Favor of Clinton's Haitian Policy

Strategic Insights -

Following President Clinton's televised appeal for US public support of his threatened invasion of Haiti, a USA Today/CNN poll found a significant increase in support for his policy. The telephone poll of 371 adults, conducted before and after Clinton's 15-minute Oval Office address, revealed that supporters outnumbered opponents by a margin of 56 percent to 41 percent. The Gallup poll also found that the prevention of human rights abuses was the most popular justification for US military intervention, with 67 percent of respondents deeming it a goal worthy of US action.

Key Takeaways:

  • The USA Today/CNN poll found that supporters of Clinton's policy increased from 35 percent before the speech to 53 percent after, while disapprovers decreased from 49 percent to 43 percent.
  • The poll also found that 40 percent of respondents agreed before the speech that the US should send troops if other diplomatic efforts fail, increasing to 56 percent after the speech.
  • The prevention of human rights abuses was deemed the most important reason for the threatened invasion, with 67 percent finding it a worthwhile justification.
  • The need to reduce the flow of Haitian refugees to the US was backed by a margin of 56 percent to 43 percent, and the need to promote democracy in Latin America was backed 55 percent to 43 percent.
  • However, the need to maintain US credibility was deemed insufficient justification, with 58 percent of respondents saying it did not warrant the use of US troops.
  • 66 percent of those surveyed found Clinton's overall rationale in the speech as 'somewhat convincing' or 'very convincing.'
  • 63 percent of respondents said Clinton should obtain prior approval from Congress for the dispatch of troops to Haiti.

Statistics:

  • 56 percent of respondents supported Clinton's policy after his speech, up from 35 percent before.
  • 53 percent of respondents approved of Clinton's handling of the Haitian situation after his speech, up from 35 percent before.
  • 56 percent of respondents agreed that the US should send troops if other diplomatic efforts fail, up from 40 percent before.
  • 67 percent of respondents deemed halting human rights abuses a worthwhile justification for the threatened invasion.
  • 56 percent of respondents backed the need to reduce the flow of Haitian refugees to the US.
  • 58 percent of respondents said US credibility did not warrant the use of US troops.

Sources:

  • USA Today/CNN poll, [undated]
  • Gallup poll, [undated]
  • White House statement, [undated]