A new survey by Rasmussen Reports finds that Americans are clear about where each political party stands on the riots that have rocked the country since the death of George Floyd.
According to the report, 66 percent of likely United States voters believe President Trump identifies more with the police in violent protest situations. Just 11 percent think he identifies more with the protesters, while 15 percent say he tries to be impartial. On the other hand, 60 percent believe most national Democratic leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi identify more with the protesters in violent protest situations. Only 8 percent feel they identify more with the police and 23 percent think they try to be impartial.
66% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Trump identifies more with the police in violent protests situations. Just 11% think he identifies more with the protesters, while 15% say he tries to be impartial... https://t.co/cyfNHA8EWZ pic.twitter.com/Lhr3F3wFIN
— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) August 6, 2020
The results also found that Democrats feel more strongly than Republicans and independent voters that Trump identifies more with the police. By contrast, Republicans are the most confident that Democrats identify more with the protesters.
The survey statistics shouldn’t come as a surprise. President Trump has said he would designate Antifa as a terrorist organization and has repeatedly championed a “law and order” response to the anarchy, sending in federal troops when Democratic leaders in cities like Portland and Kansas City couldn’t or wouldn’t put an end to the unrest.
#BREAKING: President Trump says he may send "more federal law enforcement" to New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, Oakland, and other cities to deal with unrest: "In Portland they’ve done a fantastic job." pic.twitter.com/Pe6aDv6AVt
— The Hill (@thehill) July 20, 2020
Prominent Democrats like Jerry Nadler, on the other hand, have made headlines for refusing to even acknowledge the reality of violent protests. In a viral video, Nadler called the Antifa violence in Portland a “myth.”
I ran into Jerry Nadler in DC and asked him to disavow the Antifa violence/rioting in Portland.
— Essential Fleccas ???? (@fleccas) July 27, 2020
His response?
“THATS A MYTH” pic.twitter.com/veImyE2rju
The liberal media has also insisted on perpetuating the "mostly peaceful protest" narrative, even as cities burn and people lose their lives.
Protesters in California set fire to a courthouse, damaged a police station and assaulted officers after a peaceful demonstration intensified. https://t.co/fUZTABUM21
— ABC News (@ABC) July 26, 2020
But while Americans’ views on Washington partisanship may not be anything new, the impact this perspective could have on their vote come November is worth considering.
A separate Rasmussen poll found that 50 percent of likely U.S. voters believe political leaders in some major cities are encouraging violent protests by stifling police response. Fifty-five percent of all surveyed voters also said that most in the media identify with violent protesters, while a mere 5 percent believe they side with the police. And still another Rasmussen survey reported that 57 percent of “protesters” are criminals taking advantage of the situation.
If the polls are to be believed, it seems the majority of Americans don’t view violence as a legitimate form of protest and are under no illusions about where the Democrats and liberal media stand on the issue of civil unrest. That could come back to bite Democrats in November.