Poll: Politicians Unethical, Getting Worse

The Hill reports:

More than two-thirds of voters think the ethical standards of politicians have declined over the past generation, and almost as many say Capitol Hill lawmakers are downright unscrupulous, according to the results of a new poll commissioned by The Hill.

A striking 68 percent of likely voters polled said the ethical standards of politicians have deteriorated in recent decades, while just seven percent said they have improved during that time, the survey said.

Meanwhile, 58 percent of voters think most members of Congress are “unethical,” while only 25 percent consider the majority to be principled. Seventeen percent are unsure.

The findings arrive amid a blush-inducing flap involving Rep. Anthony Weiner, a married New York Democrat who last week acknowledged sending sexually suggestive pictures of himself to “about six” women over social media websites in recent years.

The Hill’s survey was conducted on June 9 — three days after Weiner made an emotional public confession that he sent a photo of himself in his underwear to a 21-year-old Seattle college student on Twitter.