Oklahomans Weigh in on What is a Threat to Our Democracy
Since the Democratic Party has had a tough time running on the economy this election year, Biden has turned to demonizing the Republicans, and more specifically Trump Republicans, as a threat to our democracy ((121) FULL SPEECH: Biden delivers address outside Independence Hall on 'extremist threat to democracy' - YouTube)
"Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic," President Joe Biden said at a speech in front of Independence Hall in early September.
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Curiously, we would have liked for Biden to be more specific in his speech about the Republican policies that he considers a threat to our democracy, but his speech was short on specifics. Instead, we compiled a list of 14 public policy issues on both sides of the political spectrum to test with likely voting Oklahomans.
So, what do Oklahomans think is a threat, or even an extreme threat, to our democracy? As it turns out, Oklahomans believe the Democratic Party is more of an extreme threat to our democracy than Republicans are in the public policies that we tested.
Democrats has proposed several ideas in the last few years, such as packing the Supreme Court, eliminating the electoral college, defunding the police, limiting 2nd Amendment rights, and criminal justice reforms that release felons convicted of violent crimes.
None of them polled well. In fact, all of them had near fifty percent or higher of Oklahomans who believed the Democratic policy was an extreme threat to our democracy.
[QUESTION] Packing the Supreme Court with justices because the majority party doesn't like the opinions of the current Supreme Court. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 64.0%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 15.2
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 13.9
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 6.8
Nearly 65 percent of Democrats believed packing the court was a threat to our democracy and 46 percent believed it was an extreme threat.
[QUESTION] Eliminating the electoral college because the candidate who won the presidency didn't also win the majority of the popular vote. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 49.4%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 13.1
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 27.1
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 10.4
Nearly 55 percent of moderates believed eliminating the electoral college was a threat to our democracy.
[QUESTION] The concept of "Defunding the Police." Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 59.5%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 13.4
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 23.1
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 3.9
Just over 44 percent of Democrats believed defunding the police was a threat to our democracy and almost 41 percent of Biden voters. Also, nearly 70 percent of moderates thought it was a threat as well.
[QUESTION] Limiting the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 49.8%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 13.3
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 34.4
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 2.5
Fifty-five percent of men and 45.6 percent of women believed limiting the 2nd Amendment to law-abiding gun owners was an extreme threat to our democracy. Similar results with those voters 55-64 and over the age of 65, with 49.5 percent and 50.9 percent respectively, agreeing that limits are an extreme threat to our democracy.
[QUESTION] Enacting criminal justice reforms that release felons convicted of violent crimes. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 47.4%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 26.8
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 17.7
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 8.2
Just over 50 percent of Democrats believed the release of violent criminals was a threat to our democracy, and 65.9 percent of moderates.
On the other hand, a few Republican public policies tested, such as voter ID, purging voters rolls, or tightening absentee voting, were not seen as an extreme threat, or even much of a threat at all, to our democracy.
[QUESTION] Requiring valid picture identification of individuals before voting. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 6.9%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 15.9
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 73.6
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 3.6
Nearly half of Democrats agreed with 91 percent of Republicans that voter ID was NOT a threat to our democracy, even 47.3 percent of Biden voters. Moderates as well weren't convinced it was a threat with 69.3 percent.
[QUESTION] Proactively purging voters from state voter rolls who may have passed away, moved to another state or have been incarcerated. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 8.1%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 8.7
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 77.7
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 5.5
Just over 61 percent of Democrats and 58.8 percent of Biden voters did not think that purging voter rolls was a threat to our democracy.
[QUESTION] Tightening the regulations surrounding absentee voting process. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 14.7%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 15.9
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 64.4
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 4.9
A little more than 56 percent of moderates did not think that absentee voting regulations were a threat to our democracy, including 72.8 percent of men and 58.2 percent of women.
While it is not a Democratic policy, Biden's refusal or inability to secure the southern border is seen as a threat to our democracy by Oklahomans.
[QUESTION] Not securing the southern border which allows drugs and foreign terrorists to easily cross the border. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 53.9%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 16.0
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 27.2
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 2.8
More than 53 percent of Independent voters believed that not securing the border was a threat to our democracy. Eighty-six percent of Republicans believed it was an extreme threat. Among moderates, 54.5 percent thought it was a threat.
Another issue the Republicans have complained about, the censoring the freedom of expression on social media, which has on many cases, mostly happened to Republicans and conservatives and not Democrats and liberals was also seen as a threat to our democracy.
[QUESTION] Censoring the freedoms of expression of individuals on social media websites. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 45.6%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 25.9
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 23.0
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 5.5
More than 76 percent of voters aged 25 to 34 believed that online censored speech was a threat to our democracy, and 61 percent of those aged 35 to 44. Slightly more than 63 percent of Independents agreed.
Another issue that is just beginning to be talked about is the purchasing of American farmland or areas of natural resources by foreign governments. It was seen as an extreme threat to our democracy.
[QUESTION] Allowing foreign governments to buy American farmland or areas of natural resources. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 63.9%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 25.6
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 7.7
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 2.8
While an astonishing 97.5 percent of Republicans believed foreign government ownership of our farmland was a threat, 76.3 percent of Democrats agreed, and 93.4 percent of Independents.
While there are still investigations on-going into the 2020 election, Oklahomans did weigh in that some of the accusations being made, if true, are extreme threats to our democracy. In fact, the political prosecution of one political party while not the other garnered the highest percentage as an extreme threat to our democracy of all of the statements that we polled.
[QUESTION] Allowing the American justice system to only pursue possible crimes committed by individuals of one political party but not the other. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 82.5%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 8.7
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 3.5
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 5.2
A whopping 70.3 percent of Democrats believed this was an extreme threat to our democracy and 81.6 percent of Independents as well. Among Republicans, it was 90.3 percent. Even 80.4 percent of Biden voters agreed.
[QUESTION] The current presidential administration wire tapping or spying on the campaign of opposing party's candidate. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 69.1%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 12.8
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 9.4
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 8.7
Over 76 percent of Independents thought campaign spying was a threat, as well as 62.2 percent of Biden voters.
Perhaps one of the most impactful results of these questions hits voters' pocketbooks, their quality of life and, in their opinion, is a threat to our democracy as well. In fact, just a few days ago while eating ice cream, Biden said he had little concern for a weakening dollar but more concern for the rest of the world. ((121) Joe Biden, Eating His Ice Cream Cone In Portland: "Our Economy Is Strong As Hell" - YouTube)
[QUESTION] Excessive governmental spending that weakens the US dollar and increases inflation of fuel, food and essentials. Do you think this:
1. Is an extreme threat to our democracy: 52.0%
2. Is somewhat of a threat to our democracy: 20.3
3. It is not a threat to our democracy: 22.6
4. Don’t Know/Undecided: 5.1
Over 51 percent of Independents believed excessive government spending causing inflation was a threat to our democracy, with over 62 percent of moderates as well. More than half of women and 54.2 percent of men also agreed about inflationary governmental spending being a threat. Even a strong majority of every age group of likely voting Oklahomans believed it was a threat to our democracy.
About the Poll
SoonerPoll.com, Oklahoma’s public opinion pollster, asked these questions of Oklahoma likely voters in an exclusive poll for News9 and Newson6 in Tulsa.
The scientific study was conducted from October 4-6, 2022 with 301 likely Oklahoma voters selected at random statewide from a dual-frame of both landline and SoonerPoll's proprietary online panel. The landline sample was collected using IVR (Interactive Voice Response). The sample was weighted by party, gender, and congressional district in order to reflect the Oklahoma likely voter population for a general election. The weighting was conducted using a 'layered technique.'
The sample reflects the traditional demographical profile of the Oklahoma likely voter with roughly half of respondents identifying as conservative and nearly a third identifying as Moderate. The study has a Margin of Error (MoE) of ±5.65 percent.
A complete description of the methodology can be found here.
