Whoa: Poll Shows Republicans Have A More Favorable View Of Kim Jong-Un Than Of Nancy Pelosi

Should we laugh or cry?

According to a recent Ipsos survey, Republicans have a more favorable view of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un than of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Ouch.

To be fair, there wasn’t a HUGE difference, but the fact that Republicans view her LESS favorably than Kim Jong-un says a lot about the current state of politics.

The poll of roughly 1,000 adults aged 18 and over was conducted June 14-15, shortly after President Trump’s historic summit with the North Korea dictator. According to the results, 19 percent of Republicans indicated they had a favorable view of Kim with 68 percent saying they had an unfavorable view (12 percent of voters overall had a favorable view of Kim, compared to 75 percent who viewed him unfavorably). That compared slightly better than the perception of Pelosi, who had a 17 percent favorable, 72 percent unfavorable rating among self-identified Republicans.

It gets worse (for Mitch McConnell). He only had a favorability rating of 20 percent.

Pelosi, nevertheless, was only the second-most disliked figure on Capitol Hill. Her overall 29 percent favorable, 47 percent unfavorable rating was slightly better than the numbers for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). McConnell had an overall favorability rating of 20 percent with 43 percent viewing him unfavorable. (Self-identified Democrats, for what it’s worth, had a significantly more favorable opinion of McConnell than of Kim Jong Un.)

The numbers reinforce that being in the middle of the political fray, and for such a long period of time, is highly damaging for one’s overall perception. And that appears to be true in reverse as well. Some former leaders, now detached from the day-to-day slugfest of politics, have seen their approval ratings climb.

New poll reveals that 19 percent of self-identifying Republicans have a "favorable" view of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un https://t.co/s2rJw6ZEgc

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 18, 2018

New poll reveals the most unpopular politicians and leaders, including the fact that Republicans like Kim Jong Un more than House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi https://t.co/54DSVPDJ4D

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 18, 2018

Look– I think it’s ridiculous to view Kim Jong-un as more favorable than Nancy Pelosi. One’s a dictator who literally murders his own people. The other is a self-righteous seahag.

But still. It says a lot about the current state of politics.

How polarized is the United States?

19% of self-identified Republicans have a favorable view of Kim Jong Un.

17% have a favorable view of Nancy Pelosi.

(Ipsos/Daily Beast)

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) June 18, 2018

h/t Daily Beast