GOP Policy Proposals, From Tax Cuts To Anchor Babies, Viewed Skeptically By Voters

Public opinion of the Republican Party's legislative platforms has hardly been polled to date, in large part because few specifics have been offered in detail.

But on Tuesday SHRM/NJ/Pew Congressional Connection released a survey of public opinion on four main proposals that have -- in however vague terms -- been put forward by members of the GOP leadership. And the results indicate that the Republican Party faces a fairly obvious deficit in public trust on policy matters even as it seem poised to make major political gains this November.

According to the results, a proposal to extend all the Bush tax cuts (including those for the wealthy) was supported by just 29 percent of respondents.

Calls to repeal the health care reform law passed by President Obama were favored by just 32 percent of the public.

Creating vouchers for Medicare was supported by just 33 percent of the public.

Amending the constitution to disallow automatic citizenship for children of illegal immigrants who were born in the United States, was favored by 46 percent of the public (49 percent opposed).

The one policy proposal that the GOP has put forward that has majority support is creating personal accounts for Social Security, which was favored by 58 percent of respondents.

Coming less than two months before the 2010 elections, the findings feed a question often bandied about by Democratic strategists not associated with specific campaign committees -- why has the party been so ineffective in focusing the spotlight on the Republican alternatives being offered to voters?

While the president's own policies remain unpopular (45 percent of respondents disapproved of health care reform despite the relatively low percentage who want it repealed), the GOP platform appears either equally distrusted or broadly unknown. Three-quarters of respondents said they could not name the leader of the GOP or said that the party does not have a leader.

Comments

[jerrde]

01:57 PM on 09/15/2010

inspirational can't wait till they take over the real hope and change is coming....

[bk1]

12:24 PM on 09/15/2010

Across the country, Republican candidates, as well as currently elected officials, have been following a common approach with the electorate as well as the media. From refusing to debate Democrats to refusing to state legislative agendas beyond the depth of Mr. Boehner's "Two Part Plan", Republicans are being ambiguous by design. The more Republicans discuss their beliefs and agenda post the November election, the more independents flee them in droves and return to the Democratic party.
This is no different than the stonewalling tactics that have completely gridlocked our legislative branch. Not only have Republicans refused to engage with the President, they are now refusing to engage with the electorate in hopes of being swept into power.
When you look at the amount of lobbyist funding, however, that has been poured into Republican coffers, I think it is fair to assume that post the election, Republicans will return to the very "rich get richer" policies that they practiced during the W era as quickly as possible.
The question for the media and electorate seems to be, "Will the strategy work?"

[dbailey]

11:32 AM on 09/15/2010

58% were in favor of privatizing social security? I find that number hard to believe. I guess most people that lost big chunks of their 401k's could afford to do so. willing to throw their social security into the wall street derivatives pool. wow.

[gettingood]

02:43 PM on 09/15/2010

ya, I am finding that part hard to believe to..maybe it was the way it was asked cuz I would think most would understand the banks controlling the money..I hope most would think about that...I just don't get that...

[Mattcat25]

10:52 AM on 09/15/2010

The GOP is offering NOTHING to restore the lifestyle of the Working Middle Class and they do not deserve majority contro of Congress.

[WOODSTOCKER51]

10:42 AM on 09/15/2010

"MAKE THE RICH......RICHER"....NOW THATS REAL REPUBLICAN THINKING!

[mikegriffith]

10:40 AM on 09/15/2010

Given how badly the Republicans mishandled the budget, monetary policy, housing policy, and financial sector oversight when they were in power, it's not surprising that some polls will show a lack of enthusiasm for them. However, the Democrats are doing even worse than the Republicans did, and that's why a Scott Brown could win a U.S. Senate seat in a dark-blue state like Massachusetts, why Doug Christie could get elected governor in NJ, why Bob McDonnell could win by a landslide in VA just one year after the Dems carried the state by 6 points, and why in so many cases more voters are voting in GOP primaries than in Democratic ones.

If the GOP is lucky enough to get back in power, they better not screw up again, or they could end up like the Whig Party of the mid-1800s.

[gettingood]

02:45 PM on 09/15/2010

ya got to admit that Scott Browns challenger, Coakley was absolutely a loser for the dems....it was a vote against her, I think...

[politicalguy94]

09:41 AM on 09/15/2010

Pres. Obama, the DNC, and all Congressional Democrats must read about this! The Democrats have another opportunity to gain ground on the Republicans before November by using the Republicans' unpopular proposals against them and sway voters in their favor.
Also, go and tell as many other people as you can about these unpopular Republican proposals. Voters need to be informed of these proposals, so that before they go to the polls, they know what the Republican Party plans to do and, knowing these proposals, think carefully whether the Republicans would act in their best interests.

[wdw505]

09:24 AM on 09/15/2010

this poll means nothing........how many of these respondents were actually voters.......just because you answer the phone and have an opinion it does not make your view important at all unless you are a voter.

[bmike]

07:54 AM on 09/15/2010

There is so little brain work put into Republican thoughts that tea party (teed off) Republicans are sending them into retirement.Tea Party are Republicans that were paying attention during Republican rule.Looks like their main goal is to punish Republicans that they heard and seen put the country in the jam we are in today.When they said Republicans would take control in nov.Tea Party are the ones that don't want that to happen.Republicans thought they had gotten away scott-free after rolling over Democrats.We have to thank Tea Party for holding them accountable the world needed to see that.

[jetskier]

07:47 AM on 09/15/2010

well the martians landed yesterday and requested...
take me to your republican leaders!
so they saw these three colwns in the picutre above..
well ..one was heard saying..
oh on secind thought ..never mind ..i'm good
hey bkeobmngkd lets go get some lunch and
as they walked away they were heard saying:
1)didn't we say LEADERS?
2) what planet is the dud on the left from ..and more important
what is the color his facem and is it contagious?
3) where was the guy with the flubbery face?
4) Is there an L in republican>
and as they left they were high fiving each other and all giggly...
i cannot imagine why??

[wdw505]

09:26 AM on 09/15/2010

wow, that was just a waste of my time........

[jetskier]

09:35 AM on 09/15/2010

thanks.. i do try for that
faved for nicely nicely

[dragonladywaltham]

07:31 AM on 09/15/2010

It's about time truth and sanity prevails. NOW GET OUT AND VOTE DEMOCRATIC THIS NOVEMBER!

[Long Strange Trip Indeed]

06:06 AM on 09/15/2010

And the results indicate that the Republican Party faces a fairly obvious deficit in public trust on policy matters even as it seem poised to make major political gains this November.

According to the results, a proposal to extend all the Bush tax cuts (including those for the wealthy) was supported by just 29 percent of respondents.

Calls to repeal the health care reform law passed by President Obama were favored by just 32 percent of the public.

Creating vouchers for Medicare was supported by just 33 percent of the public.

+++++ Now, I smoke, like, a s***load of sweet dank on a pretty regular basis. (every 4-6 hours) So, correct me if I'm wrong. But those numbers don't seem to reflect the overwhelming majority of Americans that the GOP claims are for doing those things. Must just be some "biased" poll. Right? I mean, they can't be that freakin far out of the spectrum of reality as that! Can they? If they are, I want the # of their dude, dudes and dudettes! Cause their s*** is a whole lot zippier than mine. I'll tell ya what!

[Pierpier]

05:43 AM on 09/15/2010

there is a significant reversal of trends looming form recent polls, as usual the punditocracy is slow to pick this up. I suggest you go to Gallup. Could the GOP be up for a big deception ?

[Longtimeliberal]

07:09 AM on 09/15/2010

Once the President came out swinging and telling the people what the issues really are they game changed. The President has been very busy governing but now is speaking loudly. The sad thing is there are no other democratic leaders who seem to be spreading the same message.

[fightandorflight]

11:56 PM on 09/14/2010

Looks like these douches went suite shopping together and picked out some nifty ties...

[heronpoint]

11:50 PM on 09/14/2010

The GOP will shop around for any votes they can get. The 'Religious Right', how did that work out? The Tea Party? Biting them where it hurts. Keep it up....makes things easier for the human beings trying to get things done.