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.
Informed
OK, so the GOP says, "We will shut down the government if we don't get our way." And the Democrats say, "We agree to a budget that extends the sequester cuts, but we won't de-fund or delay Obamacare." Most of Obamacare funding is essential, so the refusal, by the GOP, really doesn't accomplish anything, except to drive a partisan wedge. The GOP then says, "We won't talk without a grand bargain, but no revenue can be discussed."
This is totally within the hands of the Republicans. While I wish the Democrats would reach out to moderate elements in the GOP to seek the failure of the Tea Party, I don't understand how any reasonable person with a clue can't blame the Republicans – they created this.
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The sad fact is most Americans don't have a clue. The GOP counts on that fact and the Faux News propaganda machine to get away with behaving badly.
GOP is total chaos. Very pathetic fools of USA.
All this boils down to is what I call 1-800-WAWAWA. Boehner I will not budge until they Talk. President : I refuse to talk. Both sides need their diapers CHANGED. Time to GET OFF THE POT and do YOUR Stinking JOBS!! What were you elected to do?? This is politcal CRAP!!
"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."
Can I just say that I absolutely abor this style of writing? When reporting statistics STAY CONSISTENT. Better yet, put in a little chart for me to read and compare more easily or something like this:
"Statistics show a relatively equal amount of dissatisfaction towards the parties involved in the shutdown. Among independents polled, respondents were:
Angry at house republicans: 60%
Angry at house democrats: 59%
Angry at President Obama: 58%"
Make it easy for me to read, reporter!
I think this is an issue we can all agree on.
well if you took the poll of your viewers, you will get majority democrats. Republicans watch the real news media like FOX. CNN shows way too much bias and has forgotten how to be real news media. Maybe Obama or the Dems are lining CNN pockets or making promises or something.
Obama and Boener should be locked in a room until they come to an agreement.
I'll be voting other. When these two parties and dead and buried we can start rebuildign this country to the status of greatest country on earth. Instead of greatest lie in history.
@ UN "Informed" . . . yawn . . oh, I'm sorry, you don't actually think you matter, do you ? yeah, that's what I thought !
What the Pew Poll really says: Republicans are taking more blame for the shutdown than the Obama administration, but only by a slim margin. By 38% to 30%, more say that Republicans are to blame for the government shutdown than the Obama administration; 19% volunteer that both sides are equally to blame. Two weeks ago, about as many said they would blame Republicans (39%) as the Obama administration (36%) if the federal government shut down.
That is a large swing against the Republicans in a short period of time.
Boehner won't even allow a vote on the Clean Resolution the already passed the Senate!
He says "they're arent enough votes".
Then why not allow a vote so we can see who is for and who is against?
The fact is IT WOULD PASS and this would be over.
The Tea Party controls the campaign money from the super-rich and THAT is what scares Boehner!
If I hadn't "heard" about the shutdown on the news, I wouldn't even know it is happening. I work in the tech sector, and it is business as usual. How this is impacting the average American is beyond me. I'm average and not affected.
I apologize, thanks for the lower gas prices!
I blame the Dems and GOP for 50% of the shutdown and Obomber for the other 50%. If he's the leader he should lead but he doesn't. He only knows how to play the blame game. Whereas his administration was supposed to be transparent and open it's been anything but.
Yeah, and WWII was the whole worlds fault.
We certainly need the shutdown to end – so the "no child left behind" program can restart – and help the people posting here with their spelling and grammar.
We Americans are sleeping look at other countries wake up do a strike demonstration there are 12 million people unemployed do not sleep at home wake outside a punish the politicians
They all need to take a hit, it is all their faults and when you start blaming one faction for all your troubles, you are really delusional.
maybe the repubs fault...but its the DEMS that keep spending and spending...we just want it to STOP!!!!
I'm not a fan of the way the statistics are written. 6 in 10 (60%) reads more harshly than 59%, (5.9 out of 10). I'm not saying that all of your journalism is poor, but 9 out of 10 of me thinks so.
if I walk into the kitchen and find the two kids arguing with our dinner on the floor among smashed plates, what do I do?
punish BOTH kids.
Even when the Democratic MSM says the Dems are part to blame they still can't accept the truth. This is why no one believes you and your lies but the people are starting to see right through you all. Let it shut down, make it as difficult as possible on the people and blame the Republicans.....Nah I don't think everyone is drinking your coolaid anymore and it's showing. Heck the Senate won't even allow a vote for the original bill but you make so many changes and exemptions it's not the original law anymore......But you won't vote on the original law as written. Awwweeee...Poooor babbbbies!...Waaaaaaa 1-800-555-WAAA Extension: BooHoo
2014 is near
The blame goes to the voter who wasn't able to elect someone into office who could find a solution, not only to THIS problem, but to the many that our country faces. Find a mirror and you'll find the culprit.
End the Odrama!
This is ALL on the GOP and Boehner!! ALL OF IT!! The GOP is imploding and in the midst of an internal civil war. Boehner is a coward who has foresworn his Oath of Office by refusing to bring the clean CR Bill up for a vote, because he's caving to the right wing/Tea Party and is only interested in figuring out how he can keep his position as Speaker rather than doing what he's taken an Oath to do!! THE GOP OWNS THIS HOT MESS!!
First of all, what are families who live from paycheck to paycheck doing to survive? The people who decide their fate are not concerned, they are getting paid, well. Second, this has nothing to do with values, it is all about politic posturing and fear that if a ridiculous Tea Party (that's TEA -Taxed Enough Already, which in reality is thinly veiled racism, if they were really concerned about taxes, they would refuse to pay them and riot in front of the IRS) is not happy with the way they vote, the Tea Party will prop up a candidate to replace them. Where are congressman with bals? And Lastly, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Boehner, and Mr. Cantor, this is not a photo-op. It is a crisis.