How do you "spin" a poll result that shows 2/3 of the American people oppose your position and have for a long time?
As noted here, the Gallup Poll released a survey on the death penalty last week. Gallup's title for their report is, "In U.S., Two-Thirds Continue to Support Death Penalty: Little change in recent years despite international opposition."
How does the "nonpartisan" Death Penalty Information Center report the same survey? "Gallup Poll: Support for Death Penalty Remains Near 25-Year Low."
There was a bump in support for the death penalty during the horrifically high crime years of the late-80s to early-90s. Since the crime drop of the 90s, "yes" answers on Gallup's generic question have come down to a lower but still very high 2/3 and remained remarkably stable. DPIC maintains its claim that support is "down" by cherry-picking the bump as its point of reference. See previous post here.
A better-phrased question asks whether the death penalty is imposed too often, about right, or not often enough. Unlike all the other phrasings, this one does not imply that the respondent is being asked to specify a single punishment for all murderers. (If that were really the question, I would say LWOP myself.) Support for the death penalty at its present scope or greater has been steady at 3/4 of the population for the entire nine years Gallup has asked the question.
As noted here, the Gallup Poll released a survey on the death penalty last week. Gallup's title for their report is, "In U.S., Two-Thirds Continue to Support Death Penalty: Little change in recent years despite international opposition."
How does the "nonpartisan" Death Penalty Information Center report the same survey? "Gallup Poll: Support for Death Penalty Remains Near 25-Year Low."
There was a bump in support for the death penalty during the horrifically high crime years of the late-80s to early-90s. Since the crime drop of the 90s, "yes" answers on Gallup's generic question have come down to a lower but still very high 2/3 and remained remarkably stable. DPIC maintains its claim that support is "down" by cherry-picking the bump as its point of reference. See previous post here.
A better-phrased question asks whether the death penalty is imposed too often, about right, or not often enough. Unlike all the other phrasings, this one does not imply that the respondent is being asked to specify a single punishment for all murderers. (If that were really the question, I would say LWOP myself.) Support for the death penalty at its present scope or greater has been steady at 3/4 of the population for the entire nine years Gallup has asked the question.
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