Poll: Public Would Blame GOP In Event Of Default

WASHINGTON -- The country may not default on its debt obligations for another three weeks, but that hasn't stopped the public from getting ready to place blame should a debt ceiling agreement not be reached in time.

A plurality of registered voters said congressional Republicans are to blame in the event the debt ceiling is not raised in a poll conducted by Quinnipiac University from July 5-11.

When asked to whom they would assign responsibility should the limit not be raised, 48 percent of respondents chose the congressional Republicans; 34 percent said they would blame the Obama administration.

These results echo a Pew Research Center poll conducted from June 16-19 which asked the same question as the Quinnipiac poll. According to that survey, 42 percent of respondents said they would blame Republicans in Congress if the debt ceiling were not raised; 33 percent chose the Obama Administration.

The findings highlight the political repercussions that the GOP could confront should default occur. They also may explain Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y.) recent decision to author a plan that would place the burden for raising the debt ceiling squarely on President Obama, by giving him the power to continue to borrow money, which could only be vetoed by a two-thirds majority in Congress. Explaining his concept the day after it was introduced, McConnell bluntly admitted that it was driven by political calculations.

"If we go into default he [Obama] will say Republicans are making the economy worse," McConell concluded. "And all of a sudden we have co-ownership of a bad economy."

The numbers provide a bit of good news for the White House, which has seemingly convinced the public of the president’s willingness to compromise on the debt ceiling even as Obama continues to press for a deal that raises revenue in addition to cutting spending. But the positive numbers may also be owed to the fact that respondents tend to favor the administration’s approach.

A recent Gallup survey conducted from July 7-11 asked how respondents would like to Congress reduce the federal budget deficit. 52 percent of respondents want either mostly spending cuts or a balanced approach, while only 20 percent want only spending cuts.

Comments

[John Bays]

03:14 PM on 07/26/2011

BLAME - G.W. Bush installed our Military in Iraq - did nothing to pay for the "wars" and cut taxes for his fellow oilmen and the wealthy. {talk about raising the debt celing} The economy was in free fall when Obama took office. Now we are finally seeing some light {not a whole lot because the wealthy have socked their tax savings away further compounding the concentration of wealth at the top} Now the Republican controlled House is willing and eager to allow the economy to get even worse for perceived political gain. If the moderates among the Republican representatives don't get their House in order I will be voting a straight Democratic ticket in 2012 without regard to who the Republican candidate may be. Republicans should expect backlash voting in 2012 if they won't do the right thing - raise taxes on the rich and close the tax loopholes. Rebuild our failing infrastructure and put people to work. Fix our schools and fund them for excellence. Fifteen Million Americans are out of work - we deserve better from our representatives. Jump ship and do the right thing.

[Reddart3340]

08:33 PM on 07/22/2011

If you can't service the debt at $14.2 TRILLION , how do you service it at $ 17.2 TRILLION?

[Tom in FTL]

06:52 PM on 07/19/2011

The Republicans job since Obama got elected was to make him a one term President. That seems to be their mantra. These obstructionist Republicans have taken the opposite view on anything Obama had to do with. They don't want to work with the Democrats. The tea party has put something in their tea that makes them say and do crazy things. Where were all of these loud obnoxious tea baggers when George Bush was president?? Seems like they waited for a Democrat was elected before they started to worry about the debt ceiling..

[XB2500]

07:25 PM on 07/18/2011

If 48% or 42% would blame the Republicans and 34% or 33% would blame the Democrats, did the other 18% or 25% answer the poll correctly by saying the government is 100% to blame?

[pray4words]

06:52 PM on 07/18/2011

yes republicans and the tea party will be blamed for any default and those wanting the backing of such groups should not share in the privilege of their voice continued to be a factor

[Klarsonent]

01:17 PM on 07/17/2011

McConell's comment is ludicrous, to say the least: "If we go into default he [Obama] will say Republicans are making the economy worse," McConell concluded. "And all of a sudden we have co-ownership of a bad economy."

The Republicans already are the perpetrators of the bad economy - thanks to George W. with his lying wars and tax cuts for the rich, which left his term with the least amount of jobs created.

[Micheal Anderson]

01:08 PM on 07/17/2011

The numbers are trending against the GOP based on those and other polls.Obama offered 3-1 spending cuts, $4 Trillion in cuts, put SS and Medicare on the chopping block. And the tea baggers still bailed. It's plainly clear who is compromising and who is not. The tea baggers will never compromise, ever. If Obama offered them everything they wanted, and he almost has, they'd simply want more.

Let's remember there's a distinction between tea baggers and the few actual Tea Party people. Tea baggers are the 'small gummint' types like Michelle Bachmann who support holding federal judges to social conservative litmus tests. They support gummint just fine as long as it's pushing their moral and religious ideology down other peoples throats. The only gummint they have a problem with is other peoples gummint. Massive hypocrites one and all. Those are the tea baggers, and they make up probably 70% of the so called 'movement.' The rest are old style Libertarians who have been out in the political cold so long they've got frostbite. Which is the only reason they're letting the tea baggers play with them, strength in numbers. But the opposing, rigid ideology is going to crash in on them and already is.

[Passenger57]

10:33 AM on 07/17/2011

Like I've been saying - Americans know who to blame...

[FlamingLibrul]

10:15 AM on 07/17/2011

Poll: Public Would Blame GOP In Event Of Default

And the Public would be exactly right. How's that buyer's remorse thing coming along for ya, knee-jerk voters of America?

[bronncohowie]

09:45 AM on 07/17/2011

"McConell concluded. "And all of a sudden we have co-ownership of a bad economy." ?? "all of a sudden" ?? Typical GOBP/teabagger, NOTHING existed before Obama took office !!!

[FlamingLibrul]

10:52 AM on 07/17/2011

McConnell's rationale, such as it is, totally works for the GOBP/Bagger crowd. They remember nothing after January 2009, but Obama and the Democratic control of Congress. To all intents and purposes, GW Bush never existed. NeoCon? What's a NeoCon?

[dadw5boys]

09:28 AM on 07/17/2011

Germany raised taxes, gave unions more power and EXPORTS WENT UP. Jobs increased and the Government collected more money making it more stable and Banks are loaning money because their Economy is improving.

So what has the U.S. Government been doing ?

[FlamingLibrul]

10:53 AM on 07/17/2011

So what has the U.S. Government been doing ?

Since the 2010 Republican "blow out;" over 80 anti-abortion bills, and a push to ban Sharia Law in America. Because that's what America needs.

Number of Jobs Bills: 0

[Reddart3340]

08:35 PM on 07/22/2011

Muslim sharta is great! Ask Norway!

[XB2500]

09:33 AM on 07/18/2011

Not exactly , their recovery was based on increasing taxes in the nuclear industry. This was coupled with shedding 10,000 government jobs and cutting government program & project spending. Germany’s exports increased due to an increase of demand from the Asian market, which in turn created more jobs and raised their tax revenue.

I do feel import/export, especially in the areas of human resource, will be imperative to creating jobs here. No doubt spending cuts are needed, but regulation and taxing of Hedge funds will likely yield the most jobs. A current market trend is to; buy public companies while the economy is down, bring them private to avoid Sarbane Oxley requirements, then shed costs by cutting jobs or moving them overseas. Besides the job losses it will likely lead to a IPO feeding frenzy bounce followed by a sharp decline due overvalued companies.

To answer your question - Very little in my opinion :)

[heidkist]

08:18 PM on 07/16/2011

Get it straight, Mitch!! >>republicans are to blame for the dire straits in this nation and for the need to raise the debt ceiling! I find it interesting that during the Bush administration the debt ceiling HAD TO BE RAISED >> SEVEN TIMES!! and not one word from the republicans then!!

[Rosie Green]

01:38 PM on 07/17/2011

True what you say. But there are so many dumb Americans who are easily mislead it isn't funny anymore. It's destroying America.

[DougSmith]

02:48 PM on 07/16/2011

Wonder where all the t*rolls on this topic.

They really think the American people are on their side when they absolutely are not.

[asaman53]

04:22 AM on 07/17/2011

Delusion is a terrible thing to waste. However Republibaggers thrive on it!

[Schalaine]

12:27 PM on 07/17/2011

No, they really are not. Which of course explains Republican legislation being enacted to limit citizens right to vote in state after state. This should be huge news...why is Rachel the only one talking about it? Republicans disgust me. There is no valley too low to travel, if they think it results in more political power.

[XB2500]

11:46 AM on 07/16/2011

Let me guess – “Breaking news – Following a late night session, an 11th hour deal to raise the ceiling has been reached with a great showing successful bipartisan” then both parties return to business as usual! On the plus side, the buzz has helped the market as investors brace to go bullish in rare chanced the market suddenly goes to bear dung.

Personally, I can’t fault corporate American since they are as mythical as a unicorn. We now live in a global market place, where the small US businessman is a dying breed and larger guys are forced to use foreign labor just to remain competitive. Seriously, if you could receive 50% tax credit from other governments and/or reduce your costs by 400% in others wouldn’t you?

I’d rather see the use of technology as a way to cut government costs, by streamlining the voice of the people to the people. I'd also like to see human trade agreement/ tariffs put in place to limit the loss of American jobs. Naturally, we could keep things the same by; raising government revenue by increasing taxes (This will unquestionably cost more American jobs to move overseas, since companies are not going to forego profits and instead will move to shed costs), Decreasing government spending by cutting what they provide for their disabled, retired and unemployed :(
.

[Watching rock grow]

02:06 PM on 07/16/2011

So we are to be blackmailed by corporations because it will be cheaper for them to move.

[XB2500]

06:36 PM on 07/16/2011

I wouldn’t call blackmail, rather the predictability of reality. What better examples than the man in Pakistan Twittering the Bin Laden raid live while doing his American job or the taxation of healthcare causing sending the costs to record highs? Let’s not kid ourselves, everyone looks to save on spending when they need to offset a cost….Well other than our government ;)

[dadw5boys]

09:30 AM on 07/17/2011

Several Eroupean Countires have raised taxes and their Economy is growing .

[Micheal Anderson]

01:09 PM on 07/17/2011

No, the tea baggers in the House will not compromise. It will never be business as usual again.

[Saxton]

11:07 AM on 07/16/2011

This is a political war against the president and the two party system. The GOP spent 8 years creating an economic mess that will hinder this country for generations. They have successfully scapegoated the middle and lower class to be the source of all the ills that befall this country while excusing the abuses of Wall Street. They strive for complete control of all branches of government where they can implement their extreme right wing ideology.

[heidkist]

08:20 PM on 07/16/2011

F&F >> how right you are!!

[Schalaine]

01:47 PM on 07/17/2011

How right you are Saxon. We really need to unite around our President. One man can not fight the intrenched, coordinated attacks against Democracy we now see occurring all over this nation. We will learn. I pray it will not be a day late and a dollar short.