Hank Jr. singing the blues?
A plurality of Americans are booing ESPN’s decision to pull Hank Williams, Jr.’s song from the open of Monday Night Football telecast. In a Poll Position national scientific telephone survey we asked if you thought ESPN was right to pull the song following a Fox News television interview in which the country singer compared President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler. Thirty-nine percent opposed the ESPN decision, 35% approved it and 26% had no opinion.
For more than 20 years Hank Williams, Jr’s song “All My Rowdy Friends” has been the signature open for Monday Night Football. ESPN, which now airs the telecast, decided to pull the song this Monday after Williams, Jr’s controversial comments. The singer has since said he was sorry if his remarks offended anyone.
On Thursday ESPN announced it was parting ways with the country singer. The statement read, “We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr. We appreciate his contribution over the past years. The success of Monday Night Football has always been about the games and that will continue.”
However, on his website, Hank Williams, Jr. said the decision to leave was his. “After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct3rd. You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.”–Hank Williams Jr
A majority of Republicans did not support the ESPN decision with 51% against it, 23% in support and 25% with no opinion. Democrats differed with 50% approving of the move by ESPN compared to 26% against and 24% with no opinion. Thirty-eight percent of independents said no to ESPN’s decision, 33% said yes and 29% had no opinion.
Among men, 45% were against ESPN, 33% in favor and 23% had no opinion. Women supported the ESPN decision by a 38% to 34% margin with 29% not having an opinion.
Poll Position’s scientific telephone survey of 1,124 adults nationwide was conducted October 4, 2011 and has a margin of error of ±3%.
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The online companion poll in which you can vote provides unscientific results, meaning it’s a tally of participating Poll Position users, not a nationally representative sampling.
Poll Position is committed to transparency and upholding the highest professional standards in its polling, explaining why we provide you with the crosstabs of our scientific polls. Crosstabs provide a breakdown of survey participants by age, race, gender, and political affiliation. Here are the crosstabs for this poll: Poll Position crosstabs – ESPN Hank Williams Jr.
You can learn more about our polling methodology here.
