New Poll Finds Americans Reject “Sugarcoating” Islamic Extremism

Ann-Marie Murrell October 1, 2014

201 1 minute read

On Monday, September 29, I was a panelist at the National Security Action Summit II in Washington, D.C. Along with Pauline Olvera and Bishop E.W. Jackson, I provided commentary regarding a new poll released by Kellyanne Conway’s The Polling Company. Her findings, among other things, showed that Islamic extremism is viewed as a threat to peace in the Middle East and home in the United States.

This poll confirms everything Morgan, Gina, and I write about in our book What Women (Really) Want and it also backs up what all of our grassroots PolitiChicks activists been hearing in our home states for years. Despite what you hear on television or from Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, women are not concerned about issues relating to sex products or whether they are earning dollar-for-dollar what men make in the workforce. They are concerned with national security, border protection, and they are angry that along with all of their familial responsibilities, they also have to worry that our leaders in Washington aren’t doing their job protecting us from foreign invasion.

From the Center for Security Policy:

There is near consensus that “the religious and ideological teachings of fundamental Islam extremists (not all) are the root cause of terror.”

Other key findings include:

“Security” is the dominant theme. Whether preceded by the words “financial,” “border,” or “national,” Americans have elevated safety and survival to top-of-list concerns
Familiarity with both “Jihad” and “Sharia law” fell short of actual knowledge, but Americans know enough to cause concern.
With Americans paying renewed attention, the time is ripe for an information and education campaign
“Security Mom” has returned – if in fact she’d ever receded. Female focus on national security (and border security) is increasing and crystallizing
The power grid is seen as a vulnerable piece of the national infrastructure (83%), while a 44% plurality say that securing the grid is a top-three issue