Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Republicans More Supportive of Free Press Rights for Adults than Democrats

The Pew Research Center (PRC) finds that Republicans are much stronger supporters of a free press for adult readers than Democrats are.

In January, 2015, PRC polled Americans on the Charlie Hebdo case.
About three-in-four Americans (76%) have heard at least a little about the attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center, conducted January 22-25 among 1,003 adults. Of these, a majority (60%) says that it was okay for Charlie Hebdo to have published cartoons that depict the Prophet Muhammad, but nearly three-in-ten (28%) do not support the magazine’s decision to publish this material – saying it was not okay.
The main reason stated against free press rights in the Hebdo case was that religious beliefs should be respected (35%) and second that the cartoons were "offensive/politically incorrect/not appropriate" (31%).

Groups most likely to support free press rights in affirming that publishing the cartoons was okay: White Republicans (74%), White mainline Protestants (72%), white Catholics (71%), white Non-Hispanics (70%), college grad+ (69%).

Those least likely to support free press rights by denying that publishing the cartoons was okay: Non-White Democrats (49%), Non-Whites (48%), high school or less (36%), 18-29 year olds (35%), Democrats (35%),

a public school library
Interesting that PRC has run polls on free press rights in public school libraries since 1987. Americans were polled on whether books that contain dangerous ideas should be banned from public school libraries.

In 2012 59% of Democrats and Independents were opposed to banning books compared to 49% of Republicans who were opposed.

In 2012 72% of 18-29 years olds were against banning books in public school libraries. In the 50-64 age group 54% disagreed with banning library books.

Whites have been the racial group with the highest opposition to banning books in public school libraries from 1987 to 2012 (61% in 2012). Blacks 41% in 2012. Hispanics 36% in 2012.

In terms of educational groups, college graduates have always been the group most against banning public school library books (75% in 2012). The least likely are high school graduate or less (40% in 2012).

In 2012 60% of White mainline Protestants were against banning books with dangerous ideas from public school libraries. Religiously unaffiliated Americans have been the strongest opponents of banning books since 1987 (80% in 2012).

Comparing the two sets of surveys (2012 anti-book banning from public school libraries and 2015 right of publishing Charlie Hebdo cartoons) gives an interesting summary of Americans' support for free press for adults (Charlie Hebdo) versus free press for children (public school library books).

- Democrats are a little less likely to support free press rights for adults than for children (55% to 59%)
- Republicans are very much more likely to support free press rights for adults than for children (70% to 49%)

- Those 18-29 years old are much less likely to support free press rights for adults than free press rights for children (54% to 72%)
50-64 year olds are much more likely to support free press rights for adults rather than for children (67% to 54%)

- Whites are more likely to support free press rights for adults than for children (70% to 61%)
- Non-Whites are a little less likely to support free press rights for adults than for children (37% to 39%)

- College graduates are less likely to support free press rights for adults than for children (69% to 75%)
- High school graduates or less are more likely to support free press rights for adults than for children (48% to 40%)

- White mainline Protestants are much more likely to support free press for adults (72%) than for children (60%)
- Religiously Unaffiliated Americans are much less likely to support free press rights for adults than for children (62% to 80%)


4 comments:

MAX Redline said...

The vegetational system seems to be doing a great job of dumbing down the students. The plan's working.

T. D. said...

Yep. They are more concerned with the right to information of those younger than themselves who cannot vote than with their own rights. Not too bright. But, hey, no child left behind! Common Core! Political correctness!

MAX Redline said...

Just don't vaccinate the little snowflakes. That science is bad, but man-made global warming is totally true.

I had to re-educate our daughter because the school system had her convinced that Columbus was an evil guy who killed the Indians. Unreal.

T. D. said...

The school system (even private schools) are a caveat emptor thing. I have two nieces at a Christian school, and they get the same global warming propaganda as everyone else. (The older one told me that polar bears were dying off.) I'm sure much of their curriculum is the exact same thing taught in public schools. The only difference is they have some specifically Christian classes. Sigh.