'Occupy' movement seen differently than tea party

Poll of Fort Wayne voters shows contrasts

By Christian Sheckler
of The News-Sentinel

Are “Occupy Fort Wayne” protesters and local “tea party” activists basically part of the same movement, just using different methods to get their message across?

Do young people overwhelmingly back the occupiers, while older folks support the tea party?

Not really, according to new polling data.

A survey taken by the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at IPFW before the Nov. 8 city election and released Monday shows that while they may draw some of their support from the same base, most people see each movement in a distinct light.

The poll found several differences in public opinion of the two movements, starting with general support or opposition to each.

Of the likely Fort Wayne voters polled, 32.3 percent – nearly a third – said they view the tea party favorably, while 27.4 percent viewed the movement unfavorably. Of the same voters, 20 percent said they have a positive view of the Occupy movement, while 37 percent said they see it unfavorably.

The tea party formed in opposition to high taxes, federal spending and “big government” in general, while the Occupy movement has focused more on protesting corporate greed, the business lobby in politics and the richest “1 percent” hording America's wealth.

While members of both movements seem to share frustration with the country's direction, the Downs Center's poll didn't show much clear overlap of their supporters.

Among likely voters who have a positive opinion of the tea party, only 14 percent said they also view the Occupy movement favorably, while 68 percent claimed a negative opinion of the occupiers. However, both movements could still draw from the same pool of neutral voters.

“The potential for overlap has not disappeared,” wrote Andy Downs, director of the Downs Center, in an analysis of the poll.

“Almost three-quarters of the respondents with a neutral opinion of the Tea Party Movement had a positive, neutral, or no opinion of the Occupy Movement.”

Among respondents younger than 50 years old, just fewer than 30 percent said they view the tea party favorably, while an equal number reported a negative view.

Nearly 37 percent of those 50 years and older had a favorable view of the tea party, while only 20.6 percent of the older age group said they have a positive opinion of the Occupy movement. A much higher number of the older age group also reported a negative opinion of the occupiers compared to the tea party.

“This suggests that there might be something to the relationship between age and opinions of these movements,” Downs wrote.

However, the occupiers didn't get much more support from younger likely voters. Even fewer respondents in the younger group – 19 percent – viewed the Occupy movement favorably, with nearly 30 percent reporting an unfavorable view.

Another question showed a big contrast in political views between the two movements. Of those who supported the tea party, 75 percent said the more important for a politician to stand firm than to compromise.

Among those with a positive view of the Occupy movement, 71 percent said compromise is more important.