60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll April 18-21, 2013

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1 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll April 18-21, 2013 If you could change it, which of the following songs would you most like to have as our national anthem? 1. God Bless America, 2. America the Beautiful, 3. Born in the USA, 4. My Country Tis of Thee 5. This Land is Your Land, 6. We Shall Overcome or 7. It should remain The Star Spangled Banner. Keep our national anthem the way it is. If given the chance, most Americans would not change the national anthem. Instead, seven in 10 would keep The Star Spangled Banner as the country s official song, though 12% would replace it with Irving Berlin s God Bless America, 4% would opt for Woodie Guthrie s This Land is Your Land, 3% pick Bruce Springsteen s Born with the USA, and 2% pick the civil rights era protest song We Shall Overcome. Just 1% pick My Country Tis of Thee, which has the same melody as the British national anthem (and might cause confusion at Olympic medal ceremonies). Most liberals, moderates, and conservatives all think The Star Spangled Banner should remain as the national anthem, though liberals are the most likely to consider a change. For those who would change the national anthem, God Bless America is the top choice of both moderates and conservatives, while liberals are divided between God Bless America and This Land is Your Land. What Should be the U.S. National Anthem? Total Liberals Moderates Conservatives The Star Spangled Banner 71% 63% 73% 77% God Bless America This Land is Your Land America the Beautiful Born in the U.S.A We Shall Overcome My Country Tis of Thee Generally speaking, do you think politicians who DO NOT wear an American flag pin are less patriotic than other politicians, or don't you think it makes a difference? Most Americans don t think American flag lapel pins are an accurate gauge of patriotism. Although many politicians may be hesitant to be seen without sporting an American flag lapel pin, eight in 10 Americans don t think it makes them less patriotic. Republicans are not as convinced as Democrats and independents. 31% of Republicans think the lack of an American flag pin means a politician is less patriotic than other politicians, compared to 10% of Democrats and independents. Are Politicians Who Do Not Wear an American Flag Pin Less Patriotic? Total Reps Dems Ind Less patriotic 15% 31% 10% 10% No difference More patriotic (vol.)

2 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?: If 18 year olds can fight for their country abroad, they should be able to enjoy a beer at home. If you can hold a gun for your country, you should be able to hold a beer. 71% of Americans agree that if 18 year olds can fight for their country abroad, they should be able to enjoy a beer at home. Most men and women agree, though men are more supportive (76%) than women (65%). Although they include the group that will be most affected, year olds are slightly less likely to agree with this statement than older Americans particularly those 45 and over - who mostly represent the generations that had the opportunity to drink legally between the ages of before the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of If 18 Year Olds Can Fight for Their Country, They Should be Able to Drink at Home Total Men Women Agree 71% 67% 69% 73% 73% 76% 65% Disagree If the U.S. Treasury Department issued a new bill and you could vote for one of the following presidents to be the face of the currency, who would get your vote? - Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, or Jimmy Carter? Ronald Reagan the top choice to be the face of a new bill of currency. If the U.S. Treasury Department issued a new bill and the public could vote on giving it to one of the last six presidents, Ronald Reagan would be the top choice. 38% of Americans pick Ronald Reagan, who as the only deceased president from the list is actually the only one who could be on a new bill of currency under current federal law. Nevertheless, 19% pick the current president Barack Obama, while 15% pick Bill Clinton and 11% pick one-term president Jimmy Carter. The Bush family fares the worst, Just 4% would vote for George W. Bush, and just 2% would vote for his father, George H. W. Bush. Ronald Reagan is the overwhelming choice among Republicans (71%) and he is also the top choice of independents (39%), who pick Bill Clinton second (16%). Democrats opt for Barack Obama first (37%), followed by Bill Clinton (24%). Which President Would You Most Like to See on a New Currency Bill? Ronald Reagan 38% 71% 13% 39% Barack Obama 19 3% Bill Clinton Jimmy Carter George W. Bush George H. W. Bush

3 Which of the following rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution do you think is the LEAST important to you personally? 1. Freedom of Religion, 2. Freedom of Speech, 3. The right to bear arms, or 4. The right to vote. Gun rights are less important to most Americans than voting, speech, or freedom of religion. When asked which right or freedom is the least important to them personally, Americans pick the right bear arms as the least important (36%), followed by freedom of religion (18%), the right to vote (11%), and freedom of speech (8%). 27% couldn t pick a right or freedom from this list that they found the least important. Gun owners are less inclined to give up the right to bear arms. They pick freedom of religion first (24%) and the right to bear arms second (20%), though 38% don t give an answer. Which Right or Freedom is the LEAST important to You? Total Gun-Owners Right to bear arms 36% 20% Freedom of religion Right to vote Freedom of speech 8 8 Don t know Who was Thomas Paine? - 1. An American revolutionary who wrote "Common Sense", 2. The Secretary of State under President Ford, 3. A Caldecott Award winning children's book author, 4. An 18th Century explorer, or 5. The composer of "The Star Spangled Banner"? Most Americans don t know who Thomas Paine was. Most Americans don t know Thomas Paine was the American revolutionary who wrote Common Sense the immensely popular political pamphlet that helped spur on the American Revolution in % correctly identify him, while 9% pick him as the author of The Star Spangled Banner, 3% say he is an 18 th Century explorer, 3% pick him as Gerald Ford s Secretary of State, and 2% pick him as an award-winning children s book author. Four in 10 say they just don t know. Better educated Americans do better. While just 28% of Americans with a high school diploma or less know who Thomas Paine was, nearly two-thirds of college graduates correctly pick him as an American revolutionary. Who Was Thomas Paine? All High School Some College Americans or Less College Grads+ American revolutionary 44% 28% 47% 65% Wrote Star Spangled Banner th Century explorer Ford s Secretary of State Children s book author Don t know

4 Do you think you would ever marry someone you didn't love in order to help them become an American citizen? Few Americans would marry someone they didn t love to make them a citizen. The idea of setting up their own personal amnesty program by marrying a non-u.s. citizen is not appealing to the vast majority of Americans, at least not for any reason other than love. 92% of Americans don t think they would ever marry someone they didn t love in order to help them become an American citizen. Men and women, and Republicans, Democrats, and independents are all in agreement on this point. Would You Marry Someone You Didn t Love to Make Them a U.S. Citizen? Yes 6% 3% 6% 7% No When do you most wish you were NOT American? - 1. All the time, 2. When the government does something I don't agree with, 3. When I'm doing my taxes, 4. When I'm travelling abroad, 5. When I'm watching reality television, or 6. I never wish I wasn't American. Seven in 10 Americans are always proud to be American. Is there ever a time when you wish you were not an American? Seven in 10 Americans say no. As for the rest, 9% say they most wish they weren t American when the government does something they don t agree with, 7% most wish it when they re watching reality TV, 4% pick when they do their taxes as when they most wish they weren t American, and 3% say when travelling abroad. 1% say they always wish they weren t American. 78% of Republicans say they never wish they weren t American, compared to 71% of Democrats and 64% of independents. When Do You Most Wish You Weren t American? Never 70% 78% 71% 64% When gov t does something disagree with When watching reality TV When doing my taxes When travelling abroad All the time

5 How important is it for children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day? Very important, Somewhat important, not too important, not at all important? The Pledge of Allegiance in school is important to all Americans, but more important to Republicans. Most Americans think it is important for children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day. 61% of Americans think it is very important, and another 22% think it is somewhat important. Just 16% think it is not too or not at all important for children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day. That the Pledge of Allegiance was originally penned in 1892 by a socialist - Francis Bellamy doesn t seem to bother most Republicans, who are the most enthusiastic about reciting it in schools. 79% of Republicans think it is very important, compared to 57% of Democrats and 53% of independents. How Important is the Pledge of Allegiance in School? Very important 61% 79% 57% 53% Somewhat important Not too/at all important Have you ever threatened to move to Canada, or not? No matter how bad things get, few Americans have threatened to move to Canada. Have you ever threatened to move to Canada? 92% of Americans say no, while 8% say they have. Large majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents say they have never invoked this threat, though independents (10%) are slightly more likely to have threatened to move to Canada than Democrats (8%), or Republicans (5%). Have You Ever Threatened to Move to Canada? Yes 8% 5% 8% 10% No

6 60 MINUTES/VANITY FAIR April 18-21, 2013 q32 If you could change it, which of the following songs would you most like to have as our national anthem? 1. God Bless America, 2. America the Beautiful, 3. Born in the USA, 4. My Country Tis of Thee 5. This Land is Your Land, 6. We Shall Overcome or 7. It should remain The Star Spangled Banner. *********** TOTAL RESPONDENTS *********** ****** Political Philosophy ****** Total Liberal Moderate Conservative "God Bless America" "America the Beautiful" "Born in the USA" "My Country 'Tis of Thee" "This Land is Your Land" "We Shall Overcoome" "The Star Spangled Banner None of the above (vol.) DK/NA q33 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?: If 18 year olds can fight for their country abroad, they should be able to enjoy a beer at home? ******** Age ******** Total % Agree Disagree DK/NA q34 Generally speaking, do you think politicians who DO NOT wear an American flag pin are less patriotic than other politicians, or don't you think it makes a difference? *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind Less patriotic No difference More patriotic (vol.) DK/NA q35 If the U.S. Treasury Department issued a new bill and you could vote for one of the following past presidents to be the face of the currency, who would get your vote?? Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, or Jimmy Carter? Ronald Reagan Barack Obama Bill Clinton Jimmy Carter George W. Bush George H.W. Bush DK/NA

7 q36 Which of the following rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution do you think is the LEAST important to you personally? 1. Freedom of Religion, 2. Freedom of Speech, 3. The right to bear arms, or 4. The right to vote. ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind Gun Owners % Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech The right to bear arms The right to vote DK/NA q37 Who was Thomas Paine??1. An American revolutionary who wrote "Common Sense", 2. The Secretary of State under President Ford, 3. A Caldecott Award-winning children's book author, 4. An 18th Century explorer, or 5. The composer of "The Star Spangled Banner"? Total No College Some College College Grads+ American revolutionary Ford's Secretary of State Children's book author th Century explorer Composer of "Star Spangled DK/NA q38 Do you think you would ever marry someone you didn't love in order to help them become an American citizen? *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind Yes No Not a citizen (vol.) DK/NA q39 When do you most wish you were NOT American??1. All the time, 2. When the government does something I don't agree with, 3. When I'm doing my taxes, 4. When I'm travelling abroad, 5. When I'm watching reality television, or 6. I never wish I wasn't American. All the time Govt does something disagree When I'm doing my taxes When I'm travelling abroad When I'm watching reality tv Never Not American (Vol.) DK/NA

8 q40 How important is it for children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important DK/NA q41 Have you ever threatened to move to Canada, or not? Yes No DK/NA Total Respondents: 1,072

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