By: E&P Staff Most Americans say the indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby signals broader ethical problems in the Bush administration, and nearly half say the level of ethics in the federal government has fallen since President Bush took office, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News survey.
The poll also found the president's approval rating at 39%, its lowest mark, and consistent with other national surveys.
The poll, conducted Friday night and yesterday, found that 55% of the public believes the Libby case indicates wider problems "with ethical wrongdoing" in the White House, while 41 percent believes it was an "isolated incident." And by a 3 to 1 ratio, Americans say the level of honesty has fallen under Bush.
"Barely a third of Americans -- 34% -- think Bush is doing a good job ensuring high ethics in government, which is slightly lower than President Bill Clinton's standing on this issue when he left office," the Post observed.
The survey also found that nearly seven in 10 Americans consider the charges against Libby to be serious.
"Taken together, the findings represent a serious blow to a White House already reeling from the politically damaging effects of the slow government response to Hurricane Katrina, the continuing bloodshed in Iraq, the ongoing criticism of its since-repudiated claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and the bungled nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court," the Post said.
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