New research from a coalition of Democratic pollsters has revealed that a solid majority of Americans—59 percent—don't realize Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russian interference in the 2016 election has produced results.
The report comes from Navigator Research, a coalition of top progressive pollsters who are providing monthly messaging suggestions to national Democrats. Their findings on the American public's view of the Mueller investigation sends a clear message: By not talking about it, Democrats have ceded the entire conversation to Donald Trump, who is flooding the zone with crap information and lies. On the bright side, there's certainly room to inform voters if Democrats make it, but they can't cower in the corner because they're afraid of the big, bad "impeachment" demon. That approach is killing us.
Here's more findings from Navigator's survey on the Mueller probe from a McClatchy article:
- Even though most people don't know the probe has yielded 22 indictments, 97 percent of Americans have heard at least “a little” about the investigation (meaning they have received information, just not enough information or the wrong information)
- When told of Mueller's 22 indictments, 59 percent of the public (including 63 percent independents) agree the probe should continue
- The only message that tested better than the idea that the probe should be completed was the notion that nobody, including the president of the United States, is above the law—63 percent of the public agrees with the statement
- The public finds “obstruction of justice” more compelling than “collusion” by 7 points generally and 12 points among independents
- On Mueller, about 1/3 say he's doing a good job, 1/3 say he's doing poorly, and the remaining 1/3 say they don't know—meaning Democrats could and should tell them
- 53 percent of the public disapproves of the GOP's handling of the Mueller probe
- What concerned people most about the GOP? 47 percent said Republicans are “putting politics over country”—another point Democrats should be driving home
All in all, this is the problem with an actual solution—Democrats can step up their defense of the Mueller probe and the results it is yielding. What Americans need to see is that Democrats are fighting for our democracy. In the context of that argument, they do not necessarily have to use the word "impeachment."
No one is above the law—especially not the president of the United States. The Russia probe has already yielded 22 indictments and 3 guilty pleas from former top Trump campaign aides and advisers. Those are lightning-quick results and the investigation must be allowed to continue unimpeded by Republican lawmakers and Donald Trump. What's so hard about that?