A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that voters blame the Republican Party for killing the $700 billion bailout bill by a 2 to 1 margin. Ninety Five percent of those surveyed labeled the financial problems either a crisis, or a serious problem, and 88% are worried that the failure of the bailout bill will worsen the nation’s economic problems.
The nation is split on the bailout, with 47% opposing it, and 45% favoring it. Voters also have little confidence in Washington to solve the problem, as only 51% of those asked expressed confidence that the government will prevent the crisis from getting worse. However, they do approve by a 47%-42% margin of the steps that the Fed and the Treasury Department have taken.
The big question is whom are voters blaming for this mess. By political party, 44% blamed the Republicans, 21% blamed the Democrats, and 17% blamed both parties. Specifically, 25% of those asked blame President Bush, 18% blame Wall St., 8% blame the government in Washington, and 5% blame people who borrowed too much. By a margin of 34%-27% voters think that the bill did too much to help the companies that got into trouble, and 61% said that the bill did too little to help ordinary Americans.
This poll is full of terrible news for John McCain and the GOP in general. Their president is blamed for creating the crisis. No one is happy about the bailout, but they want the government to do something, and they agree with the Democratic position stated by Obama that the government needs to do more to help ordinary people. If something does not pass soon, twelve House Republican ideologues may end up being the ones who doomed their Party to a gigantic loss in November.
John McCain is in a deep hole on this issue. According to this poll, people did not agree with his previous positions, and he is running at the top of the ticket of the incumbent party that voters feel is responsible for causing this crisis. Beyond politics, the key right now is to get something done. Each day of inaction moves us closer to the brink. The Republican Party needs to get its act together, or they can forget about being in control of any part of government for a long time to come.
Other polls I have read indicated that American voters opposed the bailout by a huge margin. There seems to be some disconnect…
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As the crisis gets worse people are starting to panic. The last 3 polls that I have seen are showing a split on this plan. I think that if they do pass it they had better follow it with some legislation to help people who are struggling or there will be hell to pay.
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There is no way that 45% support the bailout. No one I have talked to conservative or liberal wants the bailout.
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It is true no one wants it, but instead of outrage, all that seems to be growing is a whole lot of grumbling. I think that an almost 800 point drop in the market scared a lot of people. This poll was taken on Monday night. A bailout is going to pass, it is just a matter of structure and mechanics now.
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This is a joke. I know of nobody who wants this bailout rushed through and most want a form in which there is merely an assurance that the declione will slow and reverse itself.
The BS in this the spin. ABC uses the phrase “blame the republicans” when the truth is that the phrase in the poll was “Who is reponsible.” This is bias 101. They use the term “blame” as a dig to republicans. People who feel the responsible party was the republicans, as I do, do not “blame” them…but rather thank them.
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Why are Republicans being blamed when there were enough Democrats to pass the bill? I have not talked to ONE person who is in
favor of the bailout so I don’t know where these statistics are coming from. I don’t want my hard-earned money bailing out
those who have been irresponsible and greedy. Kudos to those who voted NO!
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Watch this video and then decide who is more responsible for the financial mess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
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…You mean to tell me that the so-called “little guy” who is lucky if he can make ends meet gives a damn about bailing out the Wall Street fat cats? I don’t think so. It’s just more political claptrap from the democRATS to try to win in November. Hopefully, the majority of Americans won’t be fooled by this B.S.
Independent for McCain
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