Poll: Thumbs down on Vladimir Putin, Russia

politico.com ^ | February 13, 2014 | TAL KOPAN

[ilovesarah2012]

With all eyes on Sochi for the Winter Olympics, Americans hold the lowest view of Russia and its president that they’ve had in two decades, according to a new poll. Sixty percent of Americans view Russia unfavorably, the most since 1994, according to Gallup’s poll out Thursday. Their favorable view of Russia nearly ties the low set in 1999 during the bombing in Chechnya and conflict in Kosovo: Today, just 34 percent of Americans view Russia favorably, near the 33 percent set in 1999.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also registered his lowest marks since first becoming president in 1999, per Gallup’s polling. Americans view Putin unfavorably 63 percent to 19 percent, continuing a trend that has grown since Gallup began polling on the Russian leader.

The low view of Russia follows a fall poll from Gallup that found Americans consider Russia an enemy rather than ally for the first time in 14 years, the culmination of a souring relationship between the two nations that has involved Russia harboring National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, opposite positions on Iran and Syria, anti-gay laws that worried Americans about crackdowns during the Olympics and a publicly frosty relationship between President Barack Obama and Putin.

[maxwellsmart_agent]

I don’t beleive the poll. I want to see all aspects of how and where they took the poll and what they asked.

[Romulus]

You can count me with the 34 percent. I like Putin and am grateful for his leadership.

[grumpygresh]

At least Putin is not an enemy of his country. 0-bama hates the original concept of America.

[ilovesarah2012]

I agree.

[elpadre]

They are following the Obama line - he does have the bully pulpit.

[afsnco]

To the extent Russia is following God’s commands on this issue, I’m a huge fan. Morality ain’t determined by majority vote. That’s solely God’s AOR.

[woodbutcher1963]

I absolutely agree. However, there is something about Putin I still like. I guess it is because he is a man’s man, as opposed to our resident commander-in-chief.

[Ohioan]

The media is trying to make Putin look bad in order to make 0bama look good.

I think that it may go deeper than that. Putin has turned Russia back towards its heritage; back towards traditional moral values; back towards a sense of pride in their own nation.

Our media, largely brainwashed by the Academic Left, feel threatened by such a turn.

Frankly, I seriously doubt that the Gallup poll was based upon an objective methodology. Hell, I frankly doubt that most Americans have any clear opinion on Putin.

William Flax

[mac_truck]

I’m guessing Russian is your first language.

Guess again dumbass.

[Augustinian monk]

Here’s the deal. All the criticisms I read of Putin could have been said for a lot of anti-communist dictators/strongmen propped up the U.S. during the cold war.

[1rudeboy]

Can’t hear you, you have your nose up Putin’s backside.

[1rudeboy]

Yeah, I heard that from my college professors also.