Poll: Over 40 percent believe #MeToo movement has gone too far

More than 40 percent of Americans believe the #MeToo movement has gone too far, according to a poll released Wednesday. 

Forty-three percent of respondents told a joint NPR-Ipsos poll that the movement had gone “too far.”

The survey did not define “too far,” but NPR reports that respondents cited worries about a rush to judgment, unproven accusations that could destroy lives, and a bandwagon effect that could encourage people to overstate claims of sexual misconduct. 

Most strikingly, the poll showed a sharp divide among party.

{mosads}Seventy-five percent of Republicans said the movement had gone too far, while only 21 percent of Democrats agreed. 

That was a far greater divide than between the sexes. Fifty-one percent of men said #MeToo had gone too far and 36 percent of women agreed. 

That pattern held true for other issues related to the movement.

80 percent of men and 73 percent of women widely agreed that those accused of sexual harassment should be given the benefit of the doubt, a 7-point gap. On that same question, the parties were divided by a 16-point gap, with Democrats at 70 percent and Republicans at 86.

The gap between parties on that question has also widened since NPR/Ipsos polled the same question last year. At that time, 75 percent of Democrats and 80 percent of Republicans said those accused of sexual assault deserved the benefit of the doubt.

Democrats are also more likely to believe accusers than Republicans. Eighty-five percent of Democrats said those who claim to be victims of sexual assault should be given the benefit of the doubt, while only 67 percent of Republicans agreed.

That 18 point gap is also wider than the 11 point gap when men and women are asked that question. 72 percent of men say accusers should receive the benefit of the doubt to 83 percent of women.

Seventy-seven percent of Republicans said false accusations were common, while only 37 percent of Democrats agreed.

The NPR/Ipsos poll surveyed roughly 1,006 adults online from Oct. 10-11 and has a 3.5 point margin of error.