A new Quinnipiac poll released today found that 67% of those surveyed felt that any deal to raise the debt ceiling should include tax hikes on the rich.
The Quinnipiac poll indicated that a default would be bad news for the GOP. By a margin of 48%-34% voters said that they would blame the Republicans, not Obama if a deal is not reached. More voters considered (45%) Obama’s plan to raise revenue closing loopholes than they thought of it as a tax increase (37%), and Americans still haven’t forgotten about those tax hikes for the wealthy and corporations. Over 2/3 (67%) of those polled thought that the debt ceiling deal should include tax increases on the wealthy and corporations along with spending cuts.
Voters were split on Obama’s job approval rating 47%-46% and they registered strong disapproval of his handling of the economy 56%-38%, but by a margin of 54%-27% they still blame Bush, not Obama for the recession. By a 2-1 split, (49%-24%) Independent voters said Bush was more responsible for the economy than Obama.
While the White House and Republicans are deadlocked in a deficit showdown, voters thought it is more important to reduce unemployment than the deficit, (62%-32%). Respondents also felt that it was more important to reduce unemployment (49%) than reduce government spending (43%).
Personal likability is a big factor is how Obama is politically surviving the rough economy. Seventy one percent of those polled said they personally like the President. Seventy percent of Independents said they personally liked the President, and even Republicans by a margin of 49%-32% said they personally liked Obama.
The bad economy is causing voters to not like his policies (45%-48%), but they personally like the president. This poll highlighted the numerous challenges that Republicans face if they are going to defeat Obama. They are going to have to campaign against Obama’s policies, not Obama the man. The GOP nominee is going to have to change the widely held belief that the economic struggles of the country were caused by George W. Bush and the Republican Party, and if America slips into default they are going to get the brunt of the blame.
The Republican opposition to increases taxes on the wealthy is a powerful symbol to voters. A wide majority of Americans want taxes increased on the rich and corporations, and Republicans are going to have to defend why they feel that the rich should not have to pay more. Even Republicans understand that revenue needs be increased, if the country is going to pay down its debt.
The political landscape of the debt ceiling battle is shaping up as an ugly one for Republicans. Americans want revenue increased. Specifically, they want taxes raised on the rich. The GOP has tried to make the deficit the main issue, but voters would rather they focus on unemployment, and if the country does default, Republicans are going to be blamed.
The GOP has put themselves in a no win situation on the debt ceiling. If they cut a deal and raise taxes, the tea party will go ballistic. If they stick to their principles and force the country into default they will appease their base, but earn the wrath of the electorate at large.
No matter how the debt ceiling battle turns out, Republicans lose. Obama can stand firm and wait the GOP out, and no one should be surprised when Obama campaigns next year on getting the Democrats back in control of all of Congress, so that they can raise taxes on the wealthy by killing the Bush tax cuts.
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Dan Skinner
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
so the public wants exactly NOTHING that the GOP wants. Amazing; isn’t it?
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Debbie D
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Yep, that’s about it.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
the GOP has common sensed itself out of a job.
Being opposed to closing the loopholes in the tax system is like handing a butcher a knife and laying down on the butcher block. That is laughing at the poor people in this country. That is literally taking the knife from the butcher and stabbing into the heart of every middle class and poor person in this country.
being against taxing the wealthy is also akin to suicide. Calling any tax increases job killing taxes is an absolute lie and history proves that right. The filthy rich in this country do not provide jobs. 2% of them do, but that doesn’t explain the other 98% of them. When you have CEOs making $10-$20 million a year and paying effectively a lower tax rate than I do is little more than punching the poor in the eye.
Does the GOP think that we don’t see this? Or do their owners not care that we see this? Do they think that being against raising revenue for this country will get them elected next year? All I can say is, they are counting on some very huge money at election time to buy this election for them. We can’t let that happen
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buckeyewill
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
WOW….Ronald Reagan today would be called a RINO for supporting tax increases.
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Reynardine
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
CNN reports that the GOP legislators will not budge because he made them swear and sign an oath TO HIM that they would not allow any “tax increases” (a.k.a. loophole closures) no matter what, on pain of having his machine destroy them during elections, and that he is holding these oaths in a fireproof vault, having threatened to publish them if anyone even compromises.
I smell serious federal felonies, up to and including treason.
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Reynardine
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
He: Grover Norquist. Sorry.
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jcinco
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Well Senator Tom Coburn said norquist is nothing, he’s nobody, he’s yesterday’s news. repugnants have already rejected his crap once in the last few weeks and they will again. this is now about survival and being re-elected. norquist had no recourse but to say “well, ok, just this once” he’ll look the fool when he says it again. aren’t the republicans tiring of these stupid ass pledges yet? I won’t like so and so if you don’t like so and so, 7th grade mentality. The repugnants need to put on their big boy pants and start thinking for themselves and cut out this herd mentality crap. Their jobs are going to be in jeopardy if they keep up this childishness…
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newmeximan
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
We just knew when the GOP held extending unemployment benefits hostage to extend the Bush/Cheney tax cuts that they were painting themselves into a corner. The paint is going to take more than one election cycle to dry,
The great conservative lie is that tax increases on the wealthy and corporations are job killers. The truth is that higher taxes mean smaller profit margins, and it takes a bit longer to accumulate wealth. Those of us raised with a work ethic know that we appreciate our possessions more when we had to work hard to earn them.
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novenator
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
The rich have made out like robber barons for the last 30 years of fiscal conservative economic policy, they can afford to pay their fair share for once. Even restoring Clintonian top tax rates of 39.5% isn’t enough, push it up to 94% like it was in the 50′s (for anyone over $1 billion in total accumulation per year, with other brackets below), and close the loopholes. Make corporations pay too. We need revenue, and to cut military-related expenditures. Period.
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jaime
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
should the spending continue on the same path???
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MsJoanne
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Kinda off topic but…
Great analysis. Give this a read.
Vichy Democrats: It’s The Election, Stupid: How Obama is Leveraging Debt Ceiling Negotiations to Win Reelection and Regain the House
http://vichydems.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-election-stupid-how-obama-is.html
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Alex Votocracy
Jul. 15th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Can the current state of Washington, Palin, Obama actually agree in the debt ceiling? Or is America in trouble regardless? Weigh in on our polls. Share where you stand. http://bit.ly/Votocracy
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Windle Harmon
Jul. 15th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
The wealthy and corporate America have the republicans in their pocket. They haft to do what their bosses say. Who do you think they are working for the poor or middle class? the wealthy put them in office and they can take them out.
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