WaPo
Poll: Majority would blame GOP if we go over the fiscal cliff
While 53 percent of those surveyed say the GOP would (and should) lose the fiscal cliff blame game, just 27 percent say President Obama would be deserving of more of the blame. Roughly one in 10 (12 percent) volunteer that both sides would be equally to blame.
Those numbers are largely unchanged from a Post-Pew survey conducted three weeks ago and suggest that for all of the back and forth in Washington on the fiscal cliff, there has been little movement in public perception. The numbers also explain why Republicans privately fret about the political dangers of going over the cliff, while Democrats are more sanguine about such a prospect.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
Good thing that we had a presidential candidate out there proposing and promoting free market principles and solutions as opposed to Obama statism. Otherwise, people would just think that Republicans want to be contrarian obstructionists. /
besser tot als rot on December 4, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Drop every ‘plan’ and ‘counteroffer’ etc. and spend every waking moment for the next month on every TV show and scream at every talking head you meet that this will be entirely the Democrats’ fault for not negotiating.
John_Locke on December 4, 2012 at 1:53 PM
America is hopeless. it is time for secession.
clippermiami on December 4, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Why not, we get the blame for everything anyway? bho/team/bhopress sees to it that happens. And we have a bunch of ‘won’t stand up for the US we voted for and funded’ seeing to it that is happens also!
L
letget on December 4, 2012 at 1:54 PM
This is stupid. So take the blame.
Rocks on December 4, 2012 at 1:54 PM
But of course. I wouldn’t expect the same public that re-elected Obama to understand that the party that holds the WH and Senate ought to be held responsible. Are we even sure the people surveyed know what the fiscal cliff is? Or have they been indoctrinated to the point where it doesn’t matter, the knee jerk reaction is to simply blame Republicans?
changer1701 on December 4, 2012 at 1:54 PM
BTW I don’t see this mentioned anywhere. Is part of the deal that any tax rates that result from this become permanent? If we have to go through this crap again then don’t bother doing anything.
Rocks on December 4, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Same percentage of people who voted for Obama. Duh.
BullShooterAsInElk on December 4, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Wow. The negotiations are barely underway, but the people already know who to blame if it doesn’t work. Idiots. They are going to get the government they deserve. I hope they enjoy their reduced lives.
LilyBart on December 4, 2012 at 1:57 PM
If you’re going to get blamed anyway, do what you think is right.
Chuckles3 on December 4, 2012 at 1:57 PM
What I don’t get is why the Republicans have ceded the meme of “holding the middle class hostage”. The Democrats hare holding the middle class hostage for the purpose of increasing taxes on the top 2%. Why aren’t we pushing THAT meme?
topdog on December 4, 2012 at 1:58 PM
I’ve been struggling with John Boehner’s purpose in life, but I get it now: he’s a dart board, and apparently quite happy to be so.
You got it. And the GOP will do absolutely nothing to dispel the notion.
beatcanvas on December 4, 2012 at 1:58 PM
The also got 53% to blame Republicans for war, world hunger, swine flu, and the popularity of the Jackass movies.
Nethicus on December 4, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Hey, maybe that’s why Obama isn’t negotiating.
forest on December 4, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Who cares?
Cindy Munford on December 4, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Majority are already this, so what?
Over the cliff, heads down, Obama first.
Schadenfreude on December 4, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Ya think? Behold the power the the Executive Order and all that it will do fix the problems of the people!!!
Cindy Munford on December 4, 2012 at 2:00 PM
The GOP should make this offer: We’ll support any taxation the Democrats want. As long as the annual budget is balanced.
gwelf on December 4, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Staver the Looters. Make them suffer, of hunger and pain, in the cold/dark. It’s the only way to teach them.
If you own a business fire a handful of millennials. They brung you Obama, twice.
Also, get rid of Boehner, pronto. He is an utter fool.
Schadenfreude on December 4, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Maybe the GOP wants tax increases too and agrees with Obama’s overall policy?
Doomberg on December 4, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Poll: Majority would blame GOP if we go over the fiscal cliff
.
An this is why saying “Own it” will never work.
“LIB” might but when the fire stops we may no longer recognize the country, at least those that survive.
LincolntheHun on December 4, 2012 at 2:02 PM
The media will make sure that the majority blames GOP no matter what. So let it burn.
The Rogue Tomato on December 4, 2012 at 2:03 PM
we get blamed either way, no reason to compromise or steal any more tax money from citizens to be squandered
Burn it. To the ground.
thurman on December 4, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Damn straight. Fire the Oompa-Loompa.
The Rogue Tomato on December 4, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Good job WaPo. You are doing your job well, convincing the great unwashed that everything is always the republicans’ fault. No fault or criticism shall ever touch the messiah, obama.
Old Country Boy on December 4, 2012 at 2:06 PM
I agree with those who say if we’re taking the blame no matter what, do the right thing. Go over the cliff, and then come back next year and refuse to raise the debt ceiling.
Eff Dear Leader and the idiots who voted for him.
The choice is Depression Now or Depression Later. I choose Depression now. Four years from now (or two, for that matter), the average swing voter won’t remember this standoff anyway.
DRayRaven on December 4, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Well, if the media is telling us we’ll get the blame, it must be true. Maybe someone can do a poll asking who will get the credit if the Fiscal Cliff is averted? I’m guessing Obama and the Dems.
Dems are politicians too, and they are all about getting re-elected first. Call their bluff, and see how many of them get weak in the knees as the deadline inches closer….Obama included.
xblade on December 4, 2012 at 2:06 PM
“I’ve got news for you, pal. They’re going to nail us no matter what we do. So we might as well have a good time.”
“Toga! Toga! Toga!”
Chuck Schick on December 4, 2012 at 2:07 PM
It’s going to burn down anyway, so don some Nomex.
Steve Eggleston on December 4, 2012 at 2:08 PM
So?
tommy71 on December 4, 2012 at 2:09 PM
I really don’t think there’s much to lose at this point. I say either get hard core conservative, don’t give an inch on anything and only make insane proposed tax and entitlement cuts. Say “no” to whatever they offer. Shut the whole thing down. Crash it all. OR, do some jujitsu and just vote present on everything and let them completely own it. But this half measure crap gets us nothing and nowhere.
Dongemaharu on December 4, 2012 at 2:09 PM
The GOP always takes the blame, and the Dems always get the credit.
L.I.B.
portlandon on December 4, 2012 at 2:12 PM
I wouldn’t act on a Pew survey
Right now the GOP is reacting to Obama and it isn’t pretty
Skip past negotiations. Pass a bill now and fight for that bill
The bill should be the emergency fix people need the most when a nation has been debased as it has under Obama. Jobs are nil, and joblessness leaves people hanging
That is where Obama wants them, so he can offer them a better way
Include restoring the payroll tax to the original percentages, and spend your time explaining without the payroll tax, social security checks have to be paid from the general fund, which cuts off things like food stamps
Explain over and over that Obamacare took 700 gazillion out of medicare and point out the line and sentence in the bill where it happened
If the argument fixates on the payroll tax, offer to make a deal and give a credit for the lower brackets
What this does is give the GOP back a voice. Right now they are acting like the guy in the western who is getting shots fired at his feet
Make a bunch of speeches about how unfair it would be to leave Americans jobless, but without unemployment. Turn the tables.
Yeah, I’m dreaming. They are scared witless
If they let Obama stage them, it does not matter what they agree to, they will be worse off as a party when its over, and the nation will be even farther in the hellhole
Try something new: try to act out of love of country
entagor on December 4, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Who cares? Most of that 53% are parasites who just want government to steal from “rich” people and give that money to them, screw ‘em, let it burn.
clearbluesky on December 4, 2012 at 2:13 PM
The United States of America.
Born: July 4, 1776.
Died: January 20, 2009.
Bitter Clinger on December 4, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Shhhh….we don’t need that kind of talk around here. Caving is the only way out….much like giving in to blackmail makes the blackmailer go away forever.
xblade on December 4, 2012 at 2:14 PM
May all the incestual media, the ones who are in bed with the gov’t, give birth to cripples (un-PC term chosen intentionally).
Schadenfreude on December 4, 2012 at 2:14 PM
TARP killed the US, Obama’s inauguration buried it.
Steve Eggleston on December 4, 2012 at 2:15 PM
You’re probably more right than you know.
xblade on December 4, 2012 at 2:17 PM
1776: Give me liberty.
2012: Give me.
beatcanvas on December 4, 2012 at 2:19 PM
This is what happens when you lose the culture war.
Iblis on December 4, 2012 at 2:20 PM
.
There will be pain with any change, and that we can manage and deal with.
Throwing out the baby with the bathwater LIB crowd seems to think riots are fun, not to mention government clamp downs, restrictions on freedoms, collapse of central authority, eating dogs, and letting Lord Humoungous rule the desert.
.
I’ve been to countries like that, it’s beyond depressing.
LincolntheHun on December 4, 2012 at 2:21 PM
If there were only a single Republican member of Congress the GOP would still be blamed.
heretic on December 4, 2012 at 2:25 PM
I wonder how many people actually know any accurate facts about this issue. Media pollsters should start asking more questions about that so they can gauge how well they are misinforming people.
forest on December 4, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Until Stupid hurts bad enough for enough people, the lessons will not be learned, and the notion that America is somehow too big to fail will prevail.
Christien on December 4, 2012 at 2:34 PM
HAHA FOOLS all of them! The follow up question should have been what they would think would happen if we do go over the cliff…. or even better why Republicans should get the blame… and also inform them that the senate has not passed a budget for how many years?
watertown on December 4, 2012 at 2:35 PM
I think the blame question is a pretty good ball park proxy for that.
besser tot als rot on December 4, 2012 at 2:35 PM
this brings back flashbacks from my childhood
whenever my little brother would start a fight, he would be the first one to cry and my late father would always chew my behind– no matter who instigated it or whose fault, I was the older one and he was the one crying, so I was expected to know better
It taught me a lot about “fairness”
My solution? I figured out if I was going to get blamed and my little bro was going to cry anyway, I made sure to get my licks in.
Guess what? It worked as a damn good deterrant when you know you would feel some pain every time you started a fight.
He used to start fights just to get me in trouble. He quickly came to avoid any more confrontations…
thurman on December 4, 2012 at 2:35 PM
What makes you think we have a choice?
Stretch things out and you give the Left a chance to destroy our right of self-defense as well as our civil liberties.
Throw gasoline on the fire and make them implement their grand plan on our schedule.
Galt2009 on December 4, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Liberals are blythe about tax increases on themselves, or the fact that the big government they clamor for enables all kinds of graft and waste. They are confident the burden on themselves will be trivial, and the graft and waste are worth the supposedly noble things government programs do.
They are not part of the 47 percent, but they give themselves karma points for supporting the 47 percent—and they are enough to swing cities and put elections in cheating range.
They need to face a non-trivial tax burden. If the pooor starvelings are worth a few lattes a week, why aren’t they worth ones mortgage, home, or job? Maybe the liberals will *gasp* darken the door of a Wal-Mart to see the “starvelings” for themselves.
Sekhmet on December 4, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »