Methodology
Greater New York City Metropolitan Area : 11/28/05 thru 11/29/05
This is a telephone survey of adults in Greater Metropolitan New York City. The target sample is 605 interviews with approximately 14 questions asked. Margin of error is +/- 4.1 percentage points. Samples are randomly drawn from telephone cd’s of national listed sample. Zogby International surveys employ sampling strategies in which selection probabilities are proportional to population size within area codes and exchanges. As many as six calls are made to reach a sampled phone number. Cooperation rates are calculated using one of AAPOR’s approved methodologies and are comparable to other professional public-opinion surveys conducted using similar sampling strategies. Weighting by age, race, and gender is used to adjust for non-response. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.
Zogby International’s sampling and weighting procedures also have been validated through its political polling : more than 95% of the firm’s polls have come within 1% of actual election-day outcomes.
One of the main points of this poll was to consider whether a criminal investigation was needed into September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as well as the air quality reports issued after September 11, 2001. Therefore, the “not sure” replies might be considered as positive for a desiring an investigation and we have provided totals where the data in that category was significant.
Narrative Summary
4. Do you agree or disagree that the New York Attorney General and Manhattan District Attorney should open an investigation into the major discrepancies and unanswered questions in the official report on September 11, 2001 ?
Agree 64%
Disagree 22
Not sure 15
In every sub category and category there is at least a clear majority that want a new investigation by the New York Attorney General and Manhattan District Attorney. There is a total of at least three quarters not sure or in favor in every category and sub category.
79% are not sure or want an investigation by the New York Attorney General and Manhattan District Attorney. 3 to 1, New Yorkers want a new inquest (64% to 22%).
93% of those under 24 and 88% of those under 30 support an investigation ; 100% of those under 24 and 95% of those under 30 are not sure or favor an investigation. Two-thirds or more of every age group is in favor.
85% of African Americans and 83% of Hispanics support a new investigation, along with a majority (55%) of whites. There is majority support among all races and ethnicities
78% of those with incomes below $35,000 want a new inquest ; support falls with income to a still clear majority of 59% among the richest.
66% of Republicans are not sure or support a new probe, 4 to 3 they want a new investigation (46% to 34%). Three quarters of all Democrats (74%) favor such an investigation along with almost 2/3rd of independents (61%).
64% of “very conservatives”, 57% of conservatives—the same level as with moderates – support a new investigation ; approximately 73% among progressives and liberals want a new inquest. 78% and 71% are either not sure or want an investigation.
63% of men and 64% of women are calling for a new legal hearing into the tragedy with a total of 76% and 80% not sure or wanting it.
64% of both registered and non-registered voters are in favor, 77% and 80% not sure or in favor.
76% of Jews, Catholics, and “Other” and 86% of Protestants either are not sure or want a new, legal examination of the terrorist attacks. 58% of Jews, 63% of Catholics and “Other”, and 71% of Protestants want a new probe.
5. On September 13, 2001, the White House, EPA and Mayor Giuliani promised New Yorkers that “the air is safe to breathe” surrounding the World Trade Towers. On the other hand, the EPA Inspector General has suggested it was full of radioactive and carcinogenic dust. Do you agree or disagree that the New York Attorney General and Manhattan District Attorney should open an investigation ?
Agree 74%
Disagree 20
Not sure 6
There were at least a two-thirds (66%) majority in every category and sub category with three-quarters support being quite frequent. Compared to other polls in this area, the “not sure” replies were quite low.
74% of New Yorkers favor an investigation by the New York Attorney General and the Manhattan D.A. into the discrepancy between assurances by the White House, Environmental Protection Agency, and Mayor Giuliani over their statements about the air quality after September 11. Just one person in five (20%) opposes such an investigation.
82% Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans support a criminal probe.
90% under 24, 91% under 30, drifting down to 70% at 65 and older support an inquest.
At least a two-thirds majority of every persuasion favor an investigation into the air quality reports : progressives and liberals ( 81%), conservatives (64%), and moderates (73%).
Women are particularly concerned about this issue, with 81% calling for an investigation. A two-thirds majority (67%) of men share this concern.
As with the previous question, there is no difference of opinion between registered voters and non-voters : 74% of both groups favor launching an investigation.
6. Some argue that some U.S. government officials knew in advance that attacks were planned on September 11, 2001, and they consciously failed to act. Do you agree or disagree with this argument ?
Agree 45%
Disagree 39
Not sure 16
9 to 8, a plurality, New Yorkers believe that the U.S. government knew in advance that terror attacks were planned on September 11, 2001, and that they consciously failed to act. Only Two-fifths (39%) disagree. 61% of all New Yorkers are unsure or believe.
69% under the age of 30 believe that the government consciously failed to stop the attacks. 58% of 30 to 50 and 53% of 50 to 65 year olds are either not sure or believe intentional negligence was committed. As respondents age, they are less likely to agree with this view. The totals for unsure or agree are
78% of Hispanics and 54% of African Americans believe that the government knew in advance. 52% of whites are either not sure or believe. 48% of whites disagreed.
A majority of Democrats (55%) hold this view, while independents are split at 44% in agreement and 44% in disagreement. One-quarter (25%) of Republicans agree with 16.7% unsure – less than three-fifths disagree. Added the “not sure” to “agree”, the totals are : 71% Democrats, 56% Independents, 42% Republicans.
Approximately three-fifths of progressives (58%) and two-thirds of liberals (63%) share the belief that U.S. government officials knew in advance of the attacks and did not act ; this view is held by nearly two-in-five conservatives (39%) as well. This argument receives the least support from moderates, who, at 35% in agreement, are more likely to disagree (46%). Again adding the “not sure” : 76% progressives, 73% liberals,
Women are more likely than men to hold this viewpoint, as well : half of women (50%) believe the government knew in advance of that attacks and did nothing while just one-third (34%) disagree with this view. Men are somewhat less likely to believe this, with those who disagree (44%) slightly outpacing those who are in agreement (40%).
This view is more likely to be held by registered voters (46%) than adults who are not registered (44%).
7. Some have argued that 19 Arabs could not have committed the terrorist attacks on September 11 alone, that some U.S. government officials and citizens had to be actively involved. Do you agree or disagree ?
Agree 30%
Disagree 56
Not sure 14
44% suspect or are unsure that some US government officials had to be actively involved in September 11, 2001. Nearly one-third, (30%), a significantly large minority, agree that US government officials participated in the attack. A small, but clear majority, 56%, disagreed.
62%, nearly two-thirds of those under 24 believe members of our own government were actively involved, with 54% of those under 30 holding this view. As age increased, agreement declined.
A 59% majority of Hispanics and a 47% plurality of African Americans believed that government officials and U.S. citizens were actively involved in the terror attacks. Only one-third of minorities disagreed.
Progressives, liberals, and conservatives are more inclined than moderates to believe the attacks involved active participants beyond the 19 Arab hijackers. Among progressives, this view is held by a four-to-three (46%) plurality.
42% of women are unsure or agree compared to 38% of men. Women are somewhat more likely than men to hold this view as well. A full one-in-three (32%) believe that the September 11 attacks included participation by government officials and citizens, higher than the 27% of men who hold the same view. Registered voters are more likely than non-voters to believe the attacks were the product of a broader effort involving government officials and citizens, with 32% of the former and 27% of the latter holding this view.
8. How much do you tend to believe news reported by mainstream news media about the events of 9/11 ? Do you not believe it at all, think it is mostly propaganda, think it is half propaganda and half truth, think it is mostly true, or do you believe it is all accurate ?
Do not believe it at all 6%
It is mostly propaganda 6
It is half propaganda and half truth 42
It is mostly true 37
It is all accurate 6
Not sure 4
A 54% majority of New Yorkers discount half or more of the mainstream media’s coverage of the events of 9/11 as propaganda. A much lower 43% believe the mainstream media’s September 11th-related coverage to be all or mostly true.
26% of those under 25 do not believe the mainstream media at all. Distrust of coverage is shared by a majority of all adults under 65 years old, and particularly 62% of those under 30 believe that half or more of what the media reported about 9/11 is propaganda.
A majority of whites (53%), Hispanics (58%), and African Americans (65%) believe half or more of the news reported by the mainstream media to be propaganda.
Political party has very little impact on outlook. Among Republicans, 52% view mainstream media reporting as at least half-propaganda ; among Democrats, this percentage is 56% ; among independents, 60% hold this view. Likewise, ideology has little impact, with majorities of progressives, liberals, moderates, and conservatives viewing half of more of media coverage of 9/11 as propaganda.
Women are more likely to hold this view, with 56% believing that mainstream media reporting is half-propaganda or more ; among men, 51% hold this view.
Registered voters are more likely than non-voters to consider half or more of the mainstream media’s reporting on 9/11 to be propaganda ; this view is held by 55% of registered voters and 52% of non-voters.
