Feb. 25, 2004

An Internet poll sponsored by NewsMax.com has found extraordinary support for Mel Gibson and his movie "The Passion of the Christ."

In the largest-ever online survey conducted by NewsMax – more than 200,000 people took part – voters said they almost unanimously (96 percent) supported Gibson in producing his movie.

By almost equal margins voters said they would see the movie, that they were glad Gibson produced a film historically accurate about Jesus' death – and that they did not believe actor Mel Gibson is an anti-Semite.

NewsMax.com's online survey was not scientific, and included readers of the Drudge Report, MSN, Slate, the New York Post and hundreds of other Web sites.

The NewsMax.com poll results follow:

1) Do you support Mel Gibson in producing "The Passion of Christ" [an earlier title for the movie]?

Yes: 199,426, 96.35 percent
No: 7,555, 3.65 percent

2) Do you believe Mel Gibson is an anti-Semite?

Yes: 7,855, 3.84 percent
No: 196,483, 96.16 percent

3) Should Mel Gibson have portrayed Jesus' death so accurately?

Yes: 199,324, 97.39 percent
No: 5,351, 2.61 percent

4) Do you believe Gibson's "Passion of Christ" should be shown in theaters?

Yes: 200,428, 97.26 percent
No: 5,651, 2.74 percent

5) Will you go to see this movie if it is in your local movie theater?

Yes: 194,919, 94.72 percent
No: 10,858, 5.28 percent

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/2/25/114620.shtml