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The Spectacle Blog
Americans support the use of airport body scanners by a 2-to-1 margin, but a slight plurality think that pat downs go too far, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll.
The poll finds that 64 percent favor the scanners, compared to 32 percent who oppose them; 50 percent say the agressive pat downs go to farr, compared with 48 percent who say they’re justified.
That said, the opponents of the pat downs are a bit more passionate about their feelings: “Among all adults 37 percent are strongly opposed, vs. 29 percent who strongly support the pat-down rule.”
View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/11/22/poll-americans-okay-with-body
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Albert| 11.22.10 @ 6:45PM
They didn't poll me. I object. I simply will not go through either a scanner or a "pat down." I guess that means I will not fly. Fine with me. What the Americans who were polled were NOT told by the pollsters was, both scanners and pat downs are simply not necessary. El Al Airlines uses no such procedures and they do just fine. How about another poll, this one where participants are first INFORMED of alternative procedures and their effectiveness, vs. the invasive and relatively ineffective scan and grope of the TSA. Then see how many Americans support this policy.
CalMark| 11.22.10 @ 7:07PM
Who cares? It's still unconstitutional, police state stuff. An old-fashioned idea, but we right-wing non-intellecutals are throwbacks like that.
ABC/Post poll. Both big-time Obama shills. Yeah, that's probably an objective poll, all right.
Anyway, didn't your boss, R. Emmett, write last week that 81% are in favor? Quite a deviation. Seems like the pro-police state propaganda is breaking down.
Finally, are they polling travelers who actually have to go through this, or the usual suspect liberals who cheerlead any loss of liberty?
PCC| 11.22.10 @ 7:09PM
Political correctness and inept government management (but I repeat myself) is to blame for this absurd situation.
It's all about striking the right balance between airline security and passenger treatment. Even before this latest outrage, the balance has been way out of whack.
First, we need reinforced cockpits. That alone greatly reduces the potential mayhem of a hijacking.
Second, put an air marshal or air marshals on every plane.
Third, flight attendants should possess a high level of security training. If that means ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen serving the drinks, that's fine by me. They couldn't do much worse than the surly old union battleaxes the airlines employ now.
Finally, perform only random screening at the airport. TSA spends 98% of its resources screening people who are obviously not terrorists. Of course, let TSA pull over anybody they want, but common sense dictates that they should leave the fat businessmen, skiers, truck drivers, mothers, grandmothers and children alone. Let 'em keep their cosmetics, water bottles and nail clippers, too.
zeye| 11.22.10 @ 7:10PM
Until they poll only those that fly at least once a year, and break the polling group out by their flying frequency, these polling numbers are meaningless.
What relevance the opinion of the non-flying public, never subject to this violation, and who are uninformed of the ineffectual nature of these scanners?
Red Phillips | 11.22.10 @ 8:13PM
I have a hard time believing these numbers. I have only talked to a couple of people who weren't outraged. What were the people asked? Were they just asked if they support the new "body scanners" or were they explained that these body scanners actually picture you NEKKID? If a 2 to 1 margin thinks that's OK then I fear for my country.
bsuden| 11.22.10 @ 11:05PM
Hmm. Let me see. John Boehner, Joe Biden, Geo. W. Obama hisself, Janet Napolitano, Michael Chertoff and the rest of the ruling class/usual suspects/Congress don't have to put up with it. Yup, the polls show nobody is agin it.
But the scanners wouldn't have stopped the underwear bomber.
But even Israel doesn't buy these machines from Mike to put in their airport. Mebbe they know something we don't?
Don't matter. People feel - heavy emphasis there - safer.
And the rest of us don't bother flying.
(Tyrell ought to be ashamed of himself. I remember his column from long ago about the hurricane warnings on the coast which he ignored, while everybody else evacuated because govt. said so.)
Curly Smith| 11.23.10 @ 7:04AM
What did the poll say about using full body scanners at mall entrances? Do we somehow believe that terrorist activity is confined to airplanes when malls during the busy shopping season are such target rich environments? Yes we do! If only we'd had a full body scanner in Times Square... oh wait, it's scheduled for next year...
Bob K.| 11.23.10 @ 7:16AM
OK Mr. Klein,
What do YOU think a poll run by the Washington Post/ABC is worth?
Tim the Enchanter| 11.23.10 @ 10:29AM
Fourth Amendment: read it, understand it, live it.
Dale Cord| 11.23.10 @ 10:35AM
Its one thing to allow the mafia to seat one of their own in the oval office, but then again another to pay attention to their batten disrespect for the law of our land "The American Constitution". By following and obeying their criminal dictations is nothing short of cowardliness in the face of the enemy. You do not allow any government or organized crime to reduce you to their slaves mentally or physically! WAKE UP you cowardly morons. Don't you know just by shear numbers you are invincible if we all unite as one? How on Gods green earth, do you think we won our Independence from the evil monarch of England and WWI AND WWII? We fought together to take what is rightfully ours "freedom" from the oppressors who would Rape and kill you and your children. A great statesmen said it many centuries ago, and it should ring loud and clear in every true American's ears; " IF YOU SACRIFICE YOUR LIBERTIES SET FORTH HERE IN THESE DOCUMENTS TO PROTECT YOU AND THE GENERATION TO COME FOR SECURITY, " THEN YOU DESERVE TO LOSE THEM FOREVER.
JmsA| 11.23.10 @ 11:20AM
This is part and parcel of the ongoing conditioning of Americans to live in a police state.
james wilson| 11.23.10 @ 11:41AM
This is one of those "ask a stupid question get a stupid answer". The first question should instead be, do you want to end the TSA and go to Israeli style profiling? Then you will find an accurate percentage for the remaining numchucks who find groping or radiation an appropriate first line of defense.
JFGalt | 11.23.10 @ 12:46PM
Just remember the good Germans that stood idly by as Jewish friends and neighbors were loaded onto trucks and trains for "relocation".
While you and your fellow citizens are at the airport being harassed do you pray to be allowed to be one of the ones chosen to pass through somewhat unmolested and for them to pick the other guy to head off to the gas chamber? Next time-See yourself in line and then think about the documentaries or movies that you have seen.
Look familiar? Where is this all going? Where will it end. Mission creep for TSA. Exaggerating it here - that's probably what the good Germans thought while they watched the loading process.
Remember-we are no safer - for ever action we take that cost millions of dollars-they have a way around it that costs them $10. The provacateur has the edge. This is all a farce to enrich the politically connected vendors and to force us to submit to the will of some unelected officials. Did you elect anyone in TSA? Did your representative have any say in the writing of TSA rules? No - TSA dictates according to their plans without fear and anything you do against it will be held against you.
darcy| 11.23.10 @ 4:36PM
Nonsense. And I'm sure polling Germans in 1939 would have "proven" what a wonderful leader Adolp Hitler was.
The poll means nothing except as an indication of how determined our illegitimate government will go through propaganda to subdue a recalcitrant public.
darcy| 11.23.10 @ 4:39PM
What a poorly crafted sentence.
The revision: The poll means nothing except that it betrays how far our illegitimate government will go -- through propaganda -- to subdue an alarmed and recalcitrant citizenry.
john| 11.23.10 @ 8:31PM
THIS IS WORTH REPEATING:
Dale Cord| 11.23.10 @ 10:35AM
Its one thing to allow the mafia to seat one of their own in the oval office, but then again another to pay attention to their batten disrespect for the law of our land "The American Constitution". By following and obeying their criminal dictations is nothing short of cowardliness in the face of the enemy. You do not allow any government or organized crime to reduce you to their slaves mentally or physically! WAKE UP you cowardly morons. Don't you know just by shear numbers you are invincible if we all unite as one? How on Gods green earth, do you think we won our Independence from the evil monarch of England and WWI AND WWII? We fought together to take what is rightfully ours "freedom" from the oppressors who would Rape and kill you and your children. A great statesmen said it many centuries ago, and it should ring loud and clear in every true American's ears; " IF YOU SACRIFICE YOUR LIBERTIES SET FORTH HERE IN THESE DOCUMENTS TO PROTECT YOU AND THE GENERATION TO COME FOR SECURITY, " THEN YOU DESERVE TO LOSE THEM FOREVER.
Red Phillips | 11.23.10 @ 11:03PM
Zogby has different numbers. 61% oppose body scans.
http://www.nader.org/index.php.....Grows.html