The Taliban prisoner exchange for captive Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was the "wrong" move according to U.S. veterans. A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center and USA Today revealed households with a military veteran have a negative view of Bergdahl and the handling of the prisoner exchange.

Among households with a military veteran, 55 percent said the exchange was the "wrong thing to do" while 26 percent considered it the "right" for the White House. Some veterans haven't formed a final opinion, as 18 percent were not sure. Non-veteran households were divided with 38 percent believing the exchange was wrong and 37 percent saying it was the "right thing."

Veteran households were not as sympathetic to Bergdahl compared to non-veteran households. Veterans were 12 percent sympathetic while 23 percent felt "angry." The majority of veteran households felt "neither" angry nor sympathetic to Bergdahl. In non-veteran households, 17 percent were sympathetic while 11 percent felt angry. Similar to veteran households, the majority -- 60 percent -- didn't share either sentiment.

More Republicans were likely to be angry with Bergdahl than Democrats. Republicans who were "angry" at Bergdahl polled at 30 percent, a double-digit lead to only 9 percent of Democrats who shared the same sentiment. Democrats were more sympathetic with 26 percent than Republican's 10 percent. Respondents from the two major political parties also shared neither emotion towards the army sergeant, with 52 percent from Republicans and 60 percent from Democrats.

The respondents, from either households, believed the U.S. "has a responsibility to do all it can, no matter [the] circumstances" to rescue Bergdahl, with 47 percent from veterans and 60 percent from non-veteran households. Veteran households, at 37 percent, believed the U.S. was not obligated to "do all it could" if Bergdahl left his post, which is higher compared to non-veteran households' 26 percent.

"In general, there is more public support for the U.S. taking all measures to secure the release for captured U.S. soldiers, regardless of the circumstances, than there is for the Bergdahl prisoner exchange. In part, this reflects the fact that some who support making every effort to free a captive U.S. soldier in general have doubts about the specifics of the Bergdahl deal," noted the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

Overall, regardless of households, 43 percent of the 1,004 respondents said the prisoner exchange was the wrong move while 34 percent considered it the "right thing." Some respondents "don't know," which garnered 23 percent of responses.

The news interest of the prisoner exchange was considered a "top" story among respondents, equal to the problems at the veterans hospitals with 34 percent each. Republicans were more likely to follow the prisoner exchange story than Democrats with 51 percent and 31 percent respectively. The U.S. economy was considered the third top story with 26 percent, 10 percent ahead of the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to limit carbon emissions. Meanwhile, congressional elections were the fifth popular news topic among respondents with 14 percent.

The Pew Research Center and USA Today poll was conducted between June 5 and June 8. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points for regular respondents but 10 percent for veterans.

__

For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

Must Read Articles:

- Secretary of State John Kerry Defends Bowe Bergdahl Transfer for 5 Taliban Prisoners, Lawmakers Criticize White House's Management