60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll

Speech
December 4-8, 2015

In general, do you think the pen is mightier than the sword, or do you think the sword is mightier
than the pen?

Most Americans agree: the pen is mightier than the sword.

Is the pen mightier than the sword? Most Americans say yes. 63% agree with the now famous quote
coined in 1839 by English playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton while just 24% think the sword is mightier
than the pen.
Americans of all levels of education favor the pen to the sword, but those with higher degrees of
education have a commensurately greater appreciation for the power of the pen. While 58% of
Americans with just a high school diploma or less think the pen is mightier than the sword, this rises to
68% of college grads.

The pen
The sword

Total
63%
24

Which is Mightier?
High School or Less
Some College
58%
65%
30
21

College Grads+
68%
19

Which one of the following people said, If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and
silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter?

Just one in 10 Americans know of George Washingtons exhortation on free speech.

Respect for freedom of speech goes back to the formation of the United States, and it was championed
by President George Washington when he said, If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb
and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
Most Americans dont know he said this however just one in 10 correctly attributes this statement to
Americas first president. Instead, more Americans guess civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.
(24%), British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (14%), or the American author and humorist Mark Twain
(12%), while 35% volunteer they dont know.
If the freedom of speech is taken away then
dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter
Martin Luther King Jr.
24%
Winston Churchill
14
Mark Twain
12
George Washington
10
Voltaire
5
Dont know
36

When people talk about issues that they are passionate about, they are sometimes referred to
as being on their soapbox. When you are on your own personal soapbox, which one of the
following forms does it usually take?

The dinner table is the best place to pontificate.

Although people have been standing on soapboxes to deliver their points of view in London for over a
century, nowadays Americans look for other places to air their opinions. When asked which best
represents their personal soapbox from a list of five, 42% picked a seat at the dinner table the top
choice. Another one in five go digital. 20% pick Twitter or Facebook as their own personal soapbox,
while 19% have decided they are their own best audience, and pick talking to themselves.
Although a seat at dinner is the top choice for Americans of all ages, Twitter and Facebook are also
popular for Americans under 45, particularly those between 35 and 44 (33%). Older Americans are far
less likely to air their views via Tweet or Facebook post just 6% of Americans 65 and older are most
likely to use Facebook or Twitter as their own personal soapbox.

A seat at dinner
A tweet or Facebook post
Talking to yourself
A letter to the local paper
A barstool

Which is Your Personal Soapbox?

Total
18-34 35-44 45-54
42%
34% 36% 45%
20
26
33
18
19
20
16
20
6
6
4
4
6
9
7
7

55-64
45%
14
20
6
5

65+
54%
6
16
11
2

When people talk about issues that they are passionate about, they are sometimes referred to
as being on their soapbox. When you are on your own personal soapbox, which one of the
following forms does it usually take?

When it comes to climate change and same-sex marriage, many Americans dont want to hear the
other side.
When other people get on their soapboxes and express unpopular opinions, not everyone may want to
listen. If they could pick one of four topics about which theyd like to silence the people who shared
differing views from their own, Americans pick climate change (25%) and same-sex marriage (24%) as
their top two choices, followed by immigration (20%) and evolution (18%). One in 10 volunteers say
that they wouldnt want to silence people on any of these topics.
Topic Youd Most Like to Silence
the Opinions of People You Disagree With
Climate change
25%
Same-Sex marriage
24
Immigration
20
Evolution
18
None of these (vol.)
10

If you could shut one of the following people up permanently, who would you choose?

Republicans would like to shut up Al Sharpton; Democrats pick Dick Cheney.

Sometimes its not about what to silence, but who. When asked which politician or pundit they would
like to shut up permanently if they could, Americans pick activist-turned-television-commentator Al
Sharpton (23%) as the person theyd most want silence from a list of five, followed by former Vice
President Dick Cheney (16%), former President Bill Clinton (13%), conservative political commentator
Ann Coulter (11%), and talk show host Bill Maher (7%).
Americans of differing political affiliations want to shut different people up. Republicans overwhelmingly
want to muzzle Al Sharpton (41%), and he is the top choice of independents as well (21%). Democrats
most want to mute Dick Cheney (26%), followed by Ann Coulter (20%)
Who Would You Like to Shut Up Permanently?
Total
Reps Dems Inds
Al Sharpton
23%
41% 12% 21%
Dick Cheney
16
9
26
13
Bill Clinton
13
17
12
10
Ann Coulter
11
2
20
10
Bill Maher
7
11
7
5

Which comes closest to how you feel about efforts to change language and policies in order to
avoid excluding or insulting certain social groups? 1. Such efforts are helpful because they
promote tolerance and show sensitivity to the feelings of other people. 2. Such efforts are
harmful because they stifle freedom of speech and pander to special interests.

Americans are divided over whether to try to avoid offending people.

Americans are divided about attempts to change language and policies in order to avoid excluding or
insulting certain social groups sometimes referred to as being politically correct. While 46% think
such so-called political correctness is mostly helpful because it promotes tolerance and shows
sensitivity to the feelings of others, 44% think such efforts are harmful because they stifle freedom of
speech and pander to special interests.
There are stark political differences. Most Republicans think such efforts are mostly harmful (55%),
while most Democrats think such efforts are mostly helpful (58%). Whites and blacks also see things
differently: while most blacks think such efforts are helpful, whites are divided.

Helpful
Harmful

Changing Language and Behavior to Avoid

Excluding or Insulting Certain Groups Is
Total
Reps Dems Inds
White
46%
31% 58% 47%
45%
44
55
38
41
45

Black
58%
38

Sometimes people use the term politically correct to describe efforts to change language and
policies in order to avoid excluding or insulting certain social groups. Do you think political
correctness is a danger to free speech in the United States, or dont you think it is?

Most Americans think political correctness is a danger to free speech.

Just over half of all Americans - 55% - think political correctness is a danger to free speech in the
United States, while 40% do not. Again there are partisan and racial differences. Seven in 10
Republicans (69%) and most independents (55%) think political correctness is dangerous, while most
Democrats disagree (54%). Most whites (57%) think its dangerous; most blacks (51%) do not.

Yes
No

Total
55%
40

Is Political Correctness Dangerous?

Reps Dems Inds
White
69% 43% 55%
57%
27
54
39
39

Black
45%
51

When it comes to speech, which of the following should be more of a concern for colleges
today? 1. Creating an environment where diverse points of view are heard, even if it means
offending some students. 2. Creating an environment where students feel safe from offensive
speech, even if it means some points of view are not heard.

College is place to be heard, not to feel safe.

When it comes to college campuses, Americans would rather students engage in vigorous debate than
be safely insulated from offending points of view. Seven in 10 Americans think colleges should be more
concerned with creating an environment where diverse points of view are heard, even if it means
offending some students, while just 26% prefer an environment in which students feel safe from
offensive speech.
Whites (75%) overwhelmingly think colleges should focus on diverse points of view, while blacks are
divided between stressing diverse points of view (50%) or a place where students feel safe (47%).
What Should Colleges Concentrate on More?
Total
White
Fostering diverse points of view
70%
75%
Fostering a place where students feel safe
26
21

Black
50%
47

In general, who do you think is more dangerous? People who engage in hate speech against
other people or people who try to silence hate speech against others.

Most Americans think people who engage in hate speech are more dangerous than those who try to
silence it.

But Americans see danger in hate speech. 60% think people who engage in hate speech against other
people are more dangerous than people who try to silence hate speech against others. Here most
Americans agree regardless of party affiliation, although Democrats (67%) are more likely to think hate
speech is more dangerous than Republicans (56%) or independents (59%).
Who is More Dangerous?
Total
Reps Dems Inds
People who engage in hate speech
60%
56% 67% 59%
People who silence hate speech
31
37
27
31

Recently, Donald Trump has made statements about Mexicans that have caused controversy.
Which of the following most closely matches how you feel about these statements?

Few Americans think highly of Trumps statements about Mexicans.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made some controversial comments about
Mexicans in the course of his White House bid, and most Americans take a dim view of these
comments. 40% of Americans think such comments which include referring to Mexicans as killers
and rapists are racist and dangerous, while another 24% think that though they may be harmless,
these comments are idiotic. Other Americans take a more positive view. 17% of Americans think these
comments are accurate (if divisive) while 10% think his comments are thoughtful and needed.
Trump is running for the Republican nomination, and Republicans view his comments far more
positively than Democrats. Though only 20% of Republicans think his comments about Mexicans are
thoughtful and needed, another 33% think they are accurate, if divisive. In contrast, 60% of Democrats
think his comments about Mexicans are racist.
Donald Trumps Statements about Mexicans Are
Total
Reps Dems Inds
Racist and dangerous
40%
21% 60% 38%
Idiotic but harmless
24
17
25
27
Accurate but divisive
17
33
6
15
Thoughtful and needed
10
20
7
7

Would you favor or oppose a national database that would track all Muslims living in America?

Most Americans oppose a national database of Muslim living in America.

Trump has also expressed his support for a nationwide database of Muslims in America, and most
Americans oppose this idea. Just 29% favor a national database of Muslims, while 65% of Americans
oppose. Here majorities of Republicans (54%), Democrats (77%) and independents (62%) all think this
is a bad idea, though Democrats are the strongest in opposition.
National Database to Track All Muslims
Total
Reps Dems Inds
Favor
29%
39% 20% 30%
Oppose
65
54
77
62

__________________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone from December 4-8 among a random sample of 1,009 adults nationwide.
Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from
samples of both standard land-line and cell phones.
The poll employed a random digit dial methodology. For the landline sample, a respondent was randomly selected
from all adults in the household. For the cell sample, interviews were conducted with the person who answered
the phone.
Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish using live interviewers. The data have been weighted to
reflect U.S. Census figures on demographic variables.
The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus four percentage points.
The error for subgroups may be higher and is available by request. The margin of error includes the effects of
standard weighting procedures which enlarge sampling error slightly.
This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll
Speech
December 4-8, 2015
VF-01. In general, do you think the pen is mightier than the sword, or do you think the sword is
mightier than the pen?
******************* TOTAL RESPONDENTS
*****************
********************
College grad+
Pen is mightier
68
Sword is mightier
19
Depends (vol.)
8
Dont know/no answer
5

****************** Education
Total

High school or less

Some college
%

63

58

65

24

30

21

VF-03. When people talk about issues that they are passionate about, they are sometimes referred
to as being on their soapbox. When you are on your own personal soapbox, which one of the
following forms does it usually take?
Total
%
A seat at the dinner table
54
A tweet or Facebook post
6
Talking to yourself
A letter to your local paper
A barstool
None of these (vol.)
Dont know/no answer
3

42

************** Age **************

18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
%
%
%
%
%
34
36
45
45

20
19
6
6
5

20
6
9
2
2

26

33

18

14

16
4
7
4
3

20
4
7
5
1

20
6
5
6
2

16
11
2
8
4

VF-04. If you could silence the opinions of people who disagreed with you on one of the following
topics, which would you most likely choose?
**** Party ID ******
Total
Reps Dems Inds
%
%
%
%
Climate change
25
23
24
27
Same-sex marriage
24
26
26
21
Immigration
20
19
22
19
Evolution
18
20
16
18
None of them (vol.)
10
9
9
11
Dont know/no answer
3
2
2
4
VF-06. In general, who do you think is more dangerous? People who engage in hate speech against
other people or People who try to silence hate speech against others.
People who engage in hate speech
People who silence hate speech
Depends/both equally (vol.)
Dont know/no answer

60
31
6

56
37
5
2

67
27
7
2

59
31
3

VF-07. Which comes closest to how you feel about efforts to change language and policies in order
to avoid excluding or insulting certain social groups? 1. Such efforts are helpful because they
promote tolerance and show sensitivity to the feelings of other people. 2. Such efforts are harmful
because they stifle freedom of speech and pander to special interests.

Such efforts are helpful

Such efforts are harmful
Dont know/no answer

********* TOTAL RESPONDENTS ****

***** Party ID *****
Total
Reps Dems Inds
%
%
%
%
46
31
58
47
44
55
38
41
10
14
5
12

VF-08. Sometimes people use the term politically correct to describe efforts to change language
and policies in order to avoid excluding or insulting certain social groups. Do you think political
correctness is a danger to free speech in the United States, or dont you think it is?
Yes, a danger
No, not a danger
Dont know/no answer

55

69
40
5

43
27
4

55
54
4

39
6

VF-09.When it comes to speech, which of the following should be more of a concern for colleges
today? 1. Creating an environment where diverse points of view are heard, even if it means
offending some students. 2. Creating an environment where students feel safe from offensive
speech, even if it means some points of view are not heard.

Where diverse points of view are heard

Where feel safe from offensive speech
Dont know/no answer

Total
%

70
26
4

******* Race *******

Whites
Blacks
%
%
75
50
21
47
4
3

VF-05. If you could shut one of the following people up permanently, who would you choose?

Al Sharpton
Dick Cheney
Bill Clinton
Ann Coulter
Bill Maher
None of them (vol.)
Dont know/no answer

Total
%
23
16
13
11
7
14
16

***** Party ID
Reps Dems
%
%
41
12
9
26
17
12
2
20
11
7
10
12
10

*****
Inds
%
21
13
10
10
5
19
11

22

VF-10. Recently, Donald Trump has made statements about Mexicans that have caused controversy.
Which of the following most closely matches how you feel about these statements?
Racist and dangerous
Idiotic but harmless
Accurate but divisive
Thoughtful and needed
Dont know/no answer

40
24
17

17
33
10
9

21
25
6
20
9

60
27
15
7
3

38
7
13

VF-11. Would you favor or oppose a national database that would track all Muslims living in
America?

Favor
Oppose
Dont know/no answer

********* TOTAL RESPONDENTS ****

***** Party ID *****
Total
Reps Dems Inds
%
%
%
%
29
39
20
30
65
54
77
62
6
7
3
8

VF-02. Which one of the following people said, If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb
and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter?
Martin Luther King Jr.
Winston Churchill
Mark Twain
George Washington
Voltaire
Dont know/no answer

Total respondents:

24
14
12
10

27
17
7
12
5
36

25
12
13
10
4
33

21
13
15
9
5
36

5
37

1,009