(Gallup) Americans Oppose Closing Gitmo, Moving Prisoners to U.S.

Gallup ^ | 12/16/2009 | Frank Newport

[markomalley]

Americans remain opposed to closing the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and moving some of the terrorist suspects being held there to U.S. prisons: 30% favor such actions, while 64% do not. These attitudes could present a significant roadblock for President Obama at a time when he seeks congressional approval to move terrorist suspects from Guantanamo to a converted state prison in northwestern Illinois.

President Obama signed an executive order after his inauguration that called for the closing of Guantanamo, and he recently reiterated his commitment to doing this in his West Point speech on Afghanistan. The plans announced this week represent the first concrete effort to follow through on his promise, but occur in the context of continuing opposition from the American public. About two-thirds of Americans in the Nov. 20-22 poll oppose such a move, virtually the same as measured last May.

Republicans on Capitol Hill this week have been highly vocal in their negative responses to the proposed move. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, for example, was quoted as saying, "The administration has failed to explain how transferring terrorists to Gitmo North will make Americans safer than keeping terrorists off of our shores in the secure facility in Cuba."

McConnell and the other GOP lawmakers who have spoken out against the move are clearly representing the sentiments of rank-and-file Republicans across the country, only 8% of whom favor closing the prison and moving prisoners to the U.S.

[Obadiah]

He doesn’t have to listen, he won.

[RushingWater]

But now when Al Queda points at the map, they will be pointing at the heartland of the USA rather than the tip of a communist-controlled island.

Obama has given them a 2fer opportunity now.

[imskylark]

“These attitudes could present a significant roadblock for President Obama”

Why? He could care less what the people want.

[Lady Jag]

The whole Gitmo fiasco is a perfect illustration of liberalism. It is stupid.

Here's another illustration -

But seriously, most of us want to know why Obama is so ignorant.

[GatorGirl]

Hey, losers (that support this idiotic plan):

He might be “closing” Gitmo but it’s merely reopening under new management in Illinois. And the military won’t be guarding them!

Form over substance, anyone?