Why do so many Republican lawmakers seem to be driven by an irrational, almost hysterical disgust for President Obama? It may have something to do with GOP officials reflecting the feelings of Republican voters.
Republicans believe that President Obama poses a greater imminent threat to the United States than Russian President Vladimir Putin or Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday.
The poll asked respondents a series of “How much of a threat does _____ pose to the United States?” questions, filling in the blank with a variety of leaders, countries, and phenomena (such as global warming).
Most Americans, naturally, do not see their president as a national threat, but when the results are broken down by party affiliation, more than a third of self-identified Republicans said they consider Obama an “imminent” threat to the United States. An additional 16% said they consider the president a “serious threat.”
Republicans were concerned about Putin, Assad, and North Korea — they’re just more concerned about the U.S. leader.
As for the political parties, Republicans were less fearful about the threat posed by Democrats in general, but only by degree — nearly half of GOP voters in the survey consider Dems either an “imminent” or “moderate” threat.
And what about the inverse? A little less — roughly 42% — of Dems said they see Republicans as an “imminent” or “moderate” threat.
Good to know.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."