Search Results

This special topic poll, conducted October 28-29, 2005, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. The focus of this poll was to ascertain the feelings and opinions of respondents surveyed about the federal grand jury's indictment of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney. Libby was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury in connection with the case in which the identity of an undercover Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent was disclosed to news reporters. Respondents were asked if the charges against Libby represented a serious crime, or just a minor/technical one, and whether the prosecution's case was based on facts or political motivations. Given what respondents had read and heard concerning the involvement of President George W. Bush, Karl Rove (advisor to the president) and Vice President Cheney, they were queried on whether any of these men did anything wrong in connection with the case and whether their actions were considered illegal or unethical, but not illegal. Respondents were also asked if they approved of the way in which President Bush was handling his presidency and of the general ethical issues in government. Demographic variables include political party affiliation, age, gender, and the percentage of respondents that were Black, Hispanic, and Asian.