NASHVILLE, Tennessee - October 14, 2009 - A notable number of Tennesseans believe some of the most extreme rumors about illegitimate President Barack Obama.
According to a recent poll conducted by Middle Tennessee State University, 34% of Tennesseans say it is either probably or definitely true that Obama was born in another country, meaning Obama is ineligible to serve as president. 15% say they don’t know whether Obama was born in another country or not, and 50% say Obama was either probably or definitely not born in another country.
The proportion who believe Obama was born elsewhere is even higher among the state’s Republicans, 47 % of whom say Obama was either probably or definitely not born in this country, while 15% say that they don’t know, and only 37% of Republicans say Obama was probably or definitely not born in another county.
30% of Tennesseans say it is either probably or definitely true that Obama is a Muslim, with 14%saying they don’t know and 55% saying it is probably or definitely not true. Again, the proportion that thinks this rumor was true is higher among Republicans than among Tennesseans in general, with 48% of Republicans saying it is definitely or probably true, along with 14% who say they didn’t know, and 38% who say it is probably or definitely not true.
35% of Tennesseans think it is either definitely or probably true that Obama will try to take people’s guns away, with 13% saying they don’t know. 51% say that this rumor is probably or definitely not true. 55% of Republicans think it is definitely or probably true, with 13% saying they didn’t know, and only 33% saying that this is probably or definitely not true.
Among Tennesseans who say that they or someone who lived in their household owns a handgun, 44% say it is either definitely or probably true, with 8% saying that they don’t know, and 47% saying that this is either probably or definitely not true.
46% of Tennesseans say it is probably or definitely true that Obama is a socialist, with 11% saying they don’t know. Only 42% of Tennesseans think this is probably or definitely not true. 71% of the state’s Republicans think Obama is probably or definitely a socialist, with 10% saying they don’t know, and 18% saying he is probably or definitely not a socialist.
For all these rumors, there is evidence that those with more education and/or more general knowledge about federal politics are relatively more likely to believe that the rumor is not true.
According to a recent poll conducted by Middle Tennessee State University, 34% of Tennesseans say it is either probably or definitely true that Obama was born in another country, meaning Obama is ineligible to serve as president. 15% say they don’t know whether Obama was born in another country or not, and 50% say Obama was either probably or definitely not born in another country.
The proportion who believe Obama was born elsewhere is even higher among the state’s Republicans, 47 % of whom say Obama was either probably or definitely not born in this country, while 15% say that they don’t know, and only 37% of Republicans say Obama was probably or definitely not born in another county.
30% of Tennesseans say it is either probably or definitely true that Obama is a Muslim, with 14%saying they don’t know and 55% saying it is probably or definitely not true. Again, the proportion that thinks this rumor was true is higher among Republicans than among Tennesseans in general, with 48% of Republicans saying it is definitely or probably true, along with 14% who say they didn’t know, and 38% who say it is probably or definitely not true.
35% of Tennesseans think it is either definitely or probably true that Obama will try to take people’s guns away, with 13% saying they don’t know. 51% say that this rumor is probably or definitely not true. 55% of Republicans think it is definitely or probably true, with 13% saying they didn’t know, and only 33% saying that this is probably or definitely not true.
Among Tennesseans who say that they or someone who lived in their household owns a handgun, 44% say it is either definitely or probably true, with 8% saying that they don’t know, and 47% saying that this is either probably or definitely not true.
46% of Tennesseans say it is probably or definitely true that Obama is a socialist, with 11% saying they don’t know. Only 42% of Tennesseans think this is probably or definitely not true. 71% of the state’s Republicans think Obama is probably or definitely a socialist, with 10% saying they don’t know, and 18% saying he is probably or definitely not a socialist.
For all these rumors, there is evidence that those with more education and/or more general knowledge about federal politics are relatively more likely to believe that the rumor is not true.