Download the AOL News Toolbar
Our new toolbar integrates latest news into your Web browser and installs in seconds. Download it now!
Send Us Feedback
News Video
Find, view and share videos about news and entertainment from around the Web.
See Videos »

News Alerts

The latest updates sent straight to your inbox.

Get AOL News Alerts »

Obama Tops List of Americans' Heroes

AOL
posted: 242 DAYS 4 HOURS AGO
comments: 3624
filed under:
Text SizeAAA
(Feb. 21) - Whom do you admire enough to call a hero?
That was the simple question posed to a cross-section of Americans by The Harris Poll in mid-January. When it was first done in 2001, Jesus was named more than any other person. This year, President Barack Obama topped the list.
Each respondent's answer was spontaneous -- no list of people to choose from was given to those surveyed.
Five of the top 10 heroes named most by Americans were presidents. George W. Bush, who was ranked 19 in 2001, after serving six months in office, moved up to number five on this year's list.
Mother Teresa was the only female who made the top 10 and she was among six on the list who are no longer alive.
The big surprise among Americans' most popular heroes was the emergence of Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who famously landed a damaged US Airways jet in the Hudson River last month. He beat out the likes of some very impressive figures: God (No. 11), Hillary Clinton (No. 12), Mahatma Gandhi (No. 15), George Washington (No. 16), Oprah Winfrey (No. 20), and Sarah Palin (No. 21).
Click through the photos below to see Americans' top 10 heroes and then let us know who you would choose. The full list is here (pdf).
Then check out the gallery at the bottom for a look at the greatest U.S. presidents -- according to a panel of writers who focus on US politics and foreign affairs at the Times, a British publication.
Skip over this content
Skip over this content


Skip over this content
2009 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
2009-02-21 22:37:01

Related Articles

  1. See More Related Articles and Blog Posts
(3624)
Sort by:

1 - 10

HOTSPICEGIRL1989

09:51 AMJun 21 2009

Honestly, admiring someone and pinning them as as hereos are two very different things. I admire Obama, but he has yet to be a hero. He has done very good things in the short time he's been a president and that is very well recognized. So yes, he is one person to look up to.As for heroes, come on people, we all know that Jesus risked his lives for us, so it's out of the question to even put him on that list. Besides, even if it sounds a little wrong, he shouldn't even be in this list, as kind and loving as he was, it should be of figures from like the past 5 to 2 centuries. If you are feeling hurt cause Jesus or God didn't make it to the top of the list and were beaten by other just think that the people who voted actually were trying to set their religious believes aside to vote for someone else. Not everything can be religion.So remember, admiration and heroic acts are two very different things.Besides, who's to say they didn't just go to one specific area. I mean, certai...

AVG RATING:
(0)

Brwright47

05:47 PMMar 23 2009

Oh Ya we all admire Bush for his Intelligence and Honesty with the American People ! What a brillant man! I also think Mickey Mouse should run for office too!Allot of La La Land Mentality out there!!!!

AVG RATING:
(0)

mcneas1005

09:47 PMMar 01 2009

Do liberals know the difference between a hero and a zero? Their zero is no hero.

AVG RATING:
(2)

JD5502

08:48 PMMar 01 2009

to mention Obama and hero in the same sentence is sickening

AVG RATING:
(1)

sonnybabe59

07:50 PMMar 01 2009

YOU MUST BE KIDDING. THIS GUY IS NO MORE A HERO THAN CLINTON WAS FOR RUMPING IN THE OVAL.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Elijahstweetypie

06:03 PMFeb 28 2009

Lmag353 And if you were to get your facts straight like I suggested, you would see that more white people voted for President Obama than black people.

AVG RATING:
(1)

Elijahstweetypie

06:00 PMFeb 28 2009

Lmag353 Sweetie black people did not vote for just because he is bi-racial. They voted for him because any smart person could see that McCain was going down the same road as Bush. You need to get your facts straight.

AVG RATING:
(4)

wessc29

04:29 PMFeb 28 2009

Sooooo, this poll i find quite disturbing. It bother's me that anyone would put Obama above Jesus in their list of admired people; come on people Jesus DIED FOR YOU, what has Obama done? I feel sorry for anyone who would put Obama before Jesus, you people need Jesus.

AVG RATING:
(1)

BarneyRin

03:49 PMFeb 28 2009

bullshit poll; bullshit articledon't believe the authorsthey're are the true morons

AVG RATING:
(2)

Tpchristian

03:19 PMFeb 28 2009

more need to march to protest before it is too! late

AVG RATING:
(2)

1 - 10 of 3624

{ JOIN the CONVERSATION }

YOU'LL BE ASKED TO REGISTER OR LOGIN BEFORE POSTING A COMMENT.

News Makers

NewsmakersBritish singing sensation Susan Boyle will be on "Dancing With The Stars."1 of 7

News Makers

 

All Good News, All The Time

GNN

The Savings Experiment

cleaning products


* Want the latest Hot Seat polls delivered to your Vista desktop? Hot Seat Vista Gadget »

 

Politics Daily

Sports

Money

Technology

Health

Entertainment

Whom do you admire enough to call a hero? That was the simple question posed to Americans by The Harris Poll in mid-January. When the question was first asked in 2001, Jesus was named more than any other person. This year, Barack Obama topped the list.