Most say Obama cited privilege wrongly

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WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- U.S. voters said they think President Obama over-reached in citing executive privilege and Congress acts in an obstructionist manner, a new poll indicates.

A clear majority of likely voters said they believe Obama used his executive power inappropriately, particularly when he blocked the release of documents relating to the Justice Department's Operation Fast and Furious, the department's failed gun-running sting, results from The Hill Poll released Monday indicated.

The Hill Poll found 56 percent of voters disapproved of Obama's assertion of presidential power in the case while 29 percent approved.

Overall, 53 percent of voters said Obama used his executive authority inappropriately while 43 percent expressed the opposite view.

Forty-eight percent of likely voters said Congress has been obstructionist toward the president, while 41 percent said Congress was not.

Also, 43 percent of voters said Obama was better than Congress at addressing challenges facing the nation. Thirty-eight percent said Congress was.

Voters, by a 44 percent-to-31 percent margin, said they prefer Congress and the White House be controlled by a single party, results indicated.

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted with 1,000 likely voters Thursday. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.