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Americans Concerned WikiLeaks Release Will Hurt U.S., Survey Finds

1 year ago
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Will the WikiLeaks document dump now dominating the world's headlines hurt U.S. relations overseas? Most Americans say yes, according to a new survey out Friday.

The CBS News poll found that of those respondents familiar with the now-notorious release of hundreds of thousands of sensitive diplomatic documents, 60 percent believe it will have a damaging impact.

About three-quarters of the public has heard about the WikiLeaks release, the poll found.

Political affiliation had little impact on the results. Fully 74 percent of Republicans say making the secret information public will hurt the U.S., and 52 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of independents agreed.

CBS News pollsters also asked respondents whether they believe the public has the right to know government secrets, even if they concern national security. Just one in four said yes.

Thirty percent of Democrats said the public has the right to know everything the government does, compared to 18 percent of Republicans.

Read the poll results here.
Filed Under: Poll Watch, WikiLeaks

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22 Comments

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Hi, Maria

Just treat the hackers as the terrorists they are and get rid of them in a timely fashion.

December 08 2010 at 2:09 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Hi, Maria's comment
weathwoods

What has hacking got to do with this? WikiLeaks didn't hack into anyone's computer to get the material it leaked.

January 19 2011 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
albertgall

I think the WikiLeaks Fiasco is actually a positive; How can we the American People not embrace the "Transparency?" Here we've complained for decades about lack of Transparency. So what if the Truth is Revealed? Besides it's our own Government's fault for this Leaks.It's amazing that faced with the truth, our Government instead of taking responsibility is "Stool Pigeoning" Mr. Assange. All Assange is doing is what all of us have dreamed should happen. Hopefully there is enough damaging evidence against certain indiduals and Corporations that we can rise above all this and move our country in a much more positive direction.

December 08 2010 at 12:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
myglasscricket

Goodness I am so 'proud' of this group and their comments! Hurray...Hurray!! Vast numbers of us see through these ridiculous'smoke and mirror' agendas, that benefit only the underhanded participants.... may be the day is coming when we can all stand up and yell NO MORE you crooks, creeps and freaks! Another question of mine, what area did they 'survey' to get these results? for the parties doing the surveys manipulate(skew and determine the results) with the very first question asked to exactly the outcome they want from the survey! We need more of you level headed rational people speaking up! I fully agree---> WikiLeaks did not do harm, it has revealed the abcessed underbelly that our elected servants and their counterparts have for their private 'playground'.... the arogance of these 'fools' who truly believe they are so important and justified in their exploitations. Has any one noticed/viewed the wholesome appearance/rational thought processes of other countries governments on television, and then take a look at the unwholesome physical/ and thought characteristics of the bunch in our United States government... just an observation. Thank you all for brightening my day with the knowledge that so many see through this ugly deception.

December 08 2010 at 12:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Boots

How can WikiLeaks hurt the US anymore than they have hurt themselves over the years throughout the world? I'll bet the world leaders know the US government a lot better than "we the people " do, by a long shot. If anything, the cables, may just confirm what they have suspected for years. There are many in other nations who suspect, along with many Americans, that 9/11 was a set up, a false flag op. I'd bet those secrets would be a real revelation if anyone had the stupidity to put that intel on a cable. What I would like to see is intel from the "little black book" of J. Edgar Hoover.

December 08 2010 at 11:12 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Fearless Leader

Oh please this whole "WikiLeaks" mess is in the immortal words of the "Bard of Avon". William Shakespeare "Much Ado About Nothing"! People are acting as though it is this great big threat to the Security of the United States. For God sakes it is cocktail party talk and embassy gossip for the most part. The better information can be gotten of line or in the professional journals. Security classification has less to do with the security of the United States than with the embarrassment to some bureaucrat or politician who either got caught with his pants down (John Edwards comes to mind!) or screwed up so badly that they don't want the boss to know. My God after all doctors bury their mistakes!. Get with the concept! This is not the Order of Battle for the Forces of Special Designation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics when were expecting them to come through the Fulda Gap during the Cold War.

December 08 2010 at 3:55 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
ahrcshaw

There are things that should be said and kept private as it is someone private opinion. There are things that are said that should be public. The problem is that there is too much classified as secrete. Diplomats have to get along with the country they are working in, so what they report about that country should be left out of the public's view. How the administration reacts to these reports should be transparent. The bigger question is how these so call documents got in WinkLinks hands in the first place? And we (our administration) should be more consistent and transparent in its dealings as it seems that no matter what we do the US is the bad guys! So say it like it is and let the cards fall, whats the difference.

December 07 2010 at 6:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NIC ROB...

The real issue surrounding this WIkileaks story is US State Dept reform. Folks on the street and the gov't leaders need to focus on how the US does business. We have bad US strategic interest in places like Africa, Angola for an example. The US is basically stealing or has colonized this country through militias and other armed organizations for US private interest. Now US diplomats have a tough job keeping this sort of circus up, so that we can continue to benefit from this poor-rich country. So the behavior of people like Clinton and others on a lower level, is probably the most horrific. I would only equate this to having a bad school principal's administration. What do you do? While the US can't admit to this or even give it up for that matter, only make you wonder about hearts and motives. Wikileaks shed light on this obvious behavior.

December 06 2010 at 10:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
laxmimary

He put out the Iraq-Afghanistan war logs the the diplomatic cables. His arrest warrant in Sweden came 2 days after the release of these documents. Still able to travel freely. Then he said " I am going to release documents of the largest banks in America" now we have politicans demanding his death. Now we have att. general Holder and US officals wanting to charge him with U.S. Espionage Act.

December 05 2010 at 10:12 AM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
Changling

Were the left and the right surprised to find they are in the same posse pursuing Wiki? I doubt it. They know they are on the same side it is US that is not supposed to notice. Americans on the whole could care less how much our ambassadors or politicians embarrass themselves. I think its funny watching them try to explain their words to others that will not buy their BS beside us for a change. We elected fools that appointed fools. It is what it is.

December 05 2010 at 7:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Changling

What a bunch of sad fools thinking they do something important by trying to run the world. Isn't it wonderful how left wing and right wing can work together for their own common good?....LMAO.

December 05 2010 at 7:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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