CNN Shutdown Poll: Plenty of blame to go around
Washington (CNN) - Most Americans say the government shutdown is causing a crisis or major problems for the country, according to a new national poll.
And while a CNN/ORC International survey also indicates that slightly more people are angry at Republicans than Democrats or President Barack Obama for the shutdown, it is clear that both sides are taking a hit.
The poll, conducted over the weekend, was released on Monday, nearly one week into the partial shutdown over a push by tea party backed GOP lawmakers trying to dismantle or defund Obama's signature health care reform law.
According to the poll, 63% of those questioned say they are angry at the Republicans for the way they have handled the shutdown.
"But the Democrats are not getting off scot-free. Fifty-seven percent of Americans are also angry at the way the Democrats are dealing with the shutdown. And a 53% majority say they are also angry at President Obama," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "It looks like there is more than enough blame to go around and both parties are being hurt by the shutdown."
The CNN poll results are similar to those from a new Pew Research Center poll also released Monday and surveys from Gallup and CBS News/New York Times surveys conducted last week, which indicate slightly more people blaming - or angry at - Republicans than Democrats or the president for the shutdown.
Not surprisingly, huge majorities of Democrats are angry at the Republicans, and huge majorities of Republicans are angry at Obama and Democrats. Independents are equally angry at all sides, with 59% of Independents very or somewhat angry at the Democrats, six in 10 angry at the GOP, and 58% angry at Obama.
The poll indicates that 18% of the public says the shutdown is a crisis and an additional 49% say the shutdown has caused major problems.
"That's a higher level of worry than in November 1995, when the government shut down because the Democrats, led by President Bill Clinton, and the Republicans, led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich, could not agree on funding. In 1995, 12% felt the shutdown at that time was causing a crisis and 44% thought it was a major problem," adds Holland.
The two-thirds who say the shutdown is causing a crisis or major problems is similar to the seven in 10 who said the same thing in the Gallup poll.
According to the CNN survey, Democrats are most concerned about the shutdown, although a majority of Independents and Republicans also say the shutdown is causing a crisis or a major problem.
There's also a gender gap, with three-quarters of women but only 57% of men saying the shutdown has caused a crisis or major problems.
Some 800,000 federal workers have been furloughed due to the shutdown, with many government services and agencies are closed, suspended.
The CNN poll was conducted October 3-6 by ORC International, with 1,009 adults nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.
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Honestly, I think it's time to have a nation wide recall vote on the house and barring the current house from running
I have not heard anyone I have come into contact with blame anyone other then the gop/teaparty for the shutdown. And they haven't been very nice about it! They own this and no amount of shouting will change that.
Both parties, the POTUS and the American people all played a part in this. It's simply sad to see this country disgraced on the world stage like this. SMH...
My only question is where are all these left wing billionaires and millionaires, including Warren Buffet. Hollywood celebrities love to bash conservatives and follow the left wing agenda. However, they hire the top tax lawyers in the country to ensure their taxes are minimized to the bone. I should add, like many people in the country.
The other issue is that these billionaire and multi millionaire celeberties talk a good game but the most they contribute is to sing a song together and contribute peanuts unless it significantly reduces their taxes. Talk about hypocrisy !
"Fifty-seven percent of Americans are also angry at the way the Democrats are dealing with the shutdown. And a 53% majority say they are also angry at President Obama," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "It looks like there is more than enough blame to go around and both parties are being hurt by the shutdown."
Do these people not understand that the negotiations have already taken place (i.e. there is no public option- the Dems LOST this piece in... you guessed it... NEGOTIATIONS!!)? Why would anyone in their right mind re-negotiate after negotiations, just because the other side feels like they got the shorter end of the stick???
The GOP is starting to attack all these polls that show them taking the lions share of blame for the shutdown. It reminds me of 2012 when they attacked the polls showing Romney was going to lose. They were so shocked when it happened, I almost felt bad for them. Almost.
bryan
who wants to bet that for better or for worse we would not be having this particular problem with a president Romney
Mccain? yes Romney not so much
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There wouldn't be this problem with a Democrat majority in the House. What's your point?
Congress, WH and the Senate are a disgrace to the AMerican people. They are behaving worse then any 2 yr old throwing a temper tandrum. I'm frustrated with ALL of them and almost ashamed to call myself an American. The entire world is watching and laughing at our leadership. I just wanna crawl in a whole and hide until this mess is over.
Sedition is against the Law.
Maybe it's because I don't really use government services or get money from other people, but I've seen no evidence of the shutdown.
"who wants to bet that for better or for worse we would not be having this particular problem with a president Romney"
Who wants to bet that for better or for worse we would not be having this particular problem with a Democratic House.
cwutididthar?
The only "blame" that matters is the outcome in the 2014 and 2016 elections.
Let's remember the mess the Tea Party Republicans made next time we vote.
Just think – if every time a law was passed (by a majority vote no less) in the pass – and a few whined and shut down the gov't because they did not like it – we would not have civil rights laws or women rights and we would still have separate water fountains and separate schools. It's called a Democracy – majority rules – majority wins (upheld by the highest court in the land). President Obama won, his agenda won, restart the Gov't. It's like that 2 year old that throws a fit because he wants another cookie- do you keep giving him a cookie every time he throws a fit?>
how many fools are saying it is the other side's fault for simply not doing what their side wants. do you have any idea how dumb you sound? especially what you type 3 paragraphs eloquently explaining why it is just the other guys fault for not seeing things your way.
I have voted Republican for 35 straight years (my entire voting life)...go ahead and hate me!
But, this is not my republican party...it has fallen (or is cowering) to the Tea party (or Teabilans) because of a lack of leadership (Boehner) and back bone to do the right thing! I have sent emails and letters to my Rep...stating stand up or be voted out you coward! I just might have to find a new party until the Tea Party self-destructs! I hope there is something left of my old Republican party!
One thing we can be absolutely sure of Mitt Romney cannot be blamed. I am quite convinced that if Romney was President we would not be in the situation we are now confronted with.
I voted for Obama over McCain because I was persuaded that he would provide leadership, unite the country and preside with integrity. I suppose it is true "you can fool all of the people some of the time".
Of course his deceptive, divisive tactics and obvious lack of experience and governing knowledge drove me to vote for Romney a man of integrity and obvious integrity.
So then who is to blame – we the voters who elected this man who can look us in the eye and blatantly lie.
QED.
"straighttalk
The US Government is showing the world how incompetent it is. Big mouth US Government who fails at just about everything it does. The Senate and Congress are behaving like immature college kids who drunk too much. These people collectively are a disgrace to America and the world will take notice in the future. No place on this planet are people behaving as childish as these so called Politicians. Why are they getting paid? Because the American people are scared and have no courage to take actions."
Other countries have outright brawls break out in the middle of sessions. We we got ain't got nothing on most of the world. It just goes to show you how used to civility in government we actually are.
..
...The tea party tail is not only WAGGING the gop..........THAT TAIL IS WAGGING THE WHOLE NATION into a deep,
... "W" like HOLE.
The tea party members started this mess to de-fund the ACA and they continue to do it. The problem they've got, is that a big majority of us Americans demanded the ACA and we made congress pass it. Then the teas took it to the supreme court and lost, so the ACA stands as majority demanded law.
So they can't just make it go away because we demanded it, voted for it, and got it! The teas are insane if they think they can simply stop it before it starts – they can't do it. I've been bombarding the President and my representatives to not give up the ACA to the teas. At this point, I could care less what the tiny, whiny teas want. The ACA will stand because we need it.
wow! to read some of the comments here from liberals, I feel like I'm hopelessly trapped in a cycle of The Three Stooges movie short clips.....You voted the fool in, you are going to make the rest of intelligent people pay for your lack of common sense, coupled with a dearth of history and economic philosophy.........
GOP is squarely to BLAME. They can't get elected so they stamp their feet and think of ways to keep the goverment from operating. Seriously, they don't do anything else, like come up with effective policy to run the government. They just have meetings to come up with ways to OBFUSCATE. Vote them out 2016.
If Boehner truly doesn't have enough votes in the house to pass a clean CR then why not bring it up for a vote to prove it?!
The GOP-TP are terrorist holding this country hostage and as the world knows we do not negotiate with terrorist’s.
Your Poll? Why is it that you never poll me or people in California? From my perspective the REPUBLICANS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!