FOR RELEASE:  Friday May 25, 2007

All references must be sourced WNBC/Marist Poll

 

Contact:          Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

 

National Poll:  

The Home Front for U.S Veterans of Iraq

 

This WNBC/Marist Poll reports:

·                  Many Americans are disappointed in the response of the Bush Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs to the needs of veterans returning from Iraq:  Most Americans do not believe either the Bush Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs has done a good job in meeting the needs of the men and women who have returned home from Iraq.  70% disapprove of the job the Bush Administration has done and 65% do not think the Department of Veterans Affairs has done well. 

 

Question Wording:  Overall, do you think each of the following is meeting the needs of veterans from this current war in Iraq very well, well, not very well, or not well at all:

 

 

Very

well

 

Well

Not

Very Well

Not Well

at All

The Bush Administration

 

 

 

 

  Americans

  8%

22%

32%

38%

  Registered Voters

  7%

22%

33%

38%

    Democrats

  2%

  8%

44%

46%

    Republicans

13%

46%

21%

20%

    Independents

  7%

16%

32%

45%

Dept. of Veterans Affairs

 

 

 

 

  Americans

  9%

26%

41%

24%

  Registered Voters

  8%

25%

43%

24%

    Democrats

  9%

20%

43%

28%

    Republicans

  8%

40%

40%

12%

    Independents

  6%

20%

45%

29%

 

 

·                  Respect for U.S. veterans of Iraq is strong:  Most Americans believe veterans home from Iraq are at least as respected, if not more, than veterans from other wars.  43% believe veterans of the current war in Iraq are being shown at least as much respect as those from other wars, and 37% feel they are being given even more.  Only 20% think veterans back from Iraq are not being shown the same respect as veterans from other wars. 

 

Question Wording:  Overall, do you think the veterans from this current war in Iraq have more, less, or about the same amount of respect as veterans from other wars?

 

Americans

More Respect

Less Respect

About the Same

May 2007

37%

20%

43%

 

·                  Many see health and medical care as the greatest need facing the men and women returning from Iraq:  38% of Americans think the most significant need facing veterans of the current Iraq war is adequate health and medical care.  24% believe psychological counseling is the biggest concern, followed by 14% who mention disability assistance, and 5% that point to job training or education.

 

Question Wording:  Which of the following do you think is the biggest need facing veterans today:

 

 

Americans

Need Facing Veterans

Health and medical care

38%

Psychological counseling

24%

Disability assistance

14%

Job training

  5%

Education

  5%

Drug and alcohol counseling

  3%

Housing

  2%

Unsure

  9%

Nature of the Sample: 1,003 Americans

This survey was conducted April 26th through May 1st, 2007.  1,003 adults 18 years of age or older within the continental United States were interviewed by telephone. Telephone numbers were selected based upon a list of telephone exchanges from throughout the nation.  The exchanges were selected to ensure that each region was represented in proportion to its population.  The results of the entire survey are statistically significant at ±3%.  There are 823 registered voters including 279 Democrats, 227 Republicans, and 299 independent voters.  The results for registered voters are statistically significant at ±3.5%.  The margin for error increases for cross-tabulations.