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.
From CNN Politics
- Supreme Court won't review contempt conviction of anti-Chevron environmental lawyer
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Untitled
- Supreme Court takes up case concerning Americans with Disabilities Act 'tester' of hotels
- Untitled
- White House scales up 'concern' rhetoric, marking rare involvement in Israeli domestic affairs
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
The blame for this mess is squarely on the Republicans... no one else. The Dems are by no means perfect, but I’ve lost count of the lies coming from the Republican side of the house.
It would seem that 57% of Americans don't realize why we're in this in the first place. I guess I should just be thankful it's not higher.
So how come the DMV in my state is still operating.
Talk about a useless bureaucratic tax agency that does nothing but set fees on trivial things like seatbelt laws and forcing you to turn in a license plate you paid for.
Anyone who thinks this is both sides fault did not read the NYT article this weekend:
"A Federal Budget Crisis Months in the Planning"
This shutdown was the GOP's plan all year
The republican's have been planning this shutdown since February.
That is why they've been wasting time with all those repeal votes instead of working on a compromise with the Senate.
Then when the Senate did send back the funding amount the House wanted, with 70 billion less in spending,
the House shuts down government anyway because the Senate did not defund Obamacare
(which would be pointless anyway since the President would veto it)
Now we have a pointless shutdown that the GOP had planned for all year
One that could actually destroy or economy if it leads to a default
'Closing public parks, Amber alert websites and other public services is while keeping opened Michelle's obesity website is pure politics and totally unnecessary'
No, your moan about somehow equating a constantly updating site with a more static site is what is pure politics and totally unnecessary.
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.
Marv. Are you that clueless or are u making stuff up as our write, because none of the things you wrote has any truce in it. Oh wait! That is what republicans do. LIE!
Well, hopefully this will bring some motivation to the left to resolve this. Clearly the "we will make no deals" side of this was not in the mood to solve any problems as long as they were not getting any of the blame. The longer this goes on, the more obvious it is that there is blame to go around. We all know that Obama would rather have a problem that someone else is blamed for, than a solution.
Only one party, and in reality fringe loon segment of that party, caused this to happen - the tegaggers who think they, as the absolute minority, will get their way through extortion, terrorism and destructionism. Period.
Obama should simply say that he's willing to negotiate...
with any Republican who hasn't signed a "PAC Pledge" (in exchange for a bribe)
NOT TO NEGOTIATE a Bi-Partisan Budget. That leaves Huntsman & about 20% of the GOP.
All the rest are CORRUPT... AND UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE.
The article says 18% of Americans think the shut down is a crisis...obviously the majority of American people are unfazed by what is happening. Personally, I think when you are spending more money in the Everglades to keep people out of the Park (we are talking ocean here), than we spend when the park is open, there is a problem, and it isn't a republican problem. Whenever Obama does not get his way, he puts out a mandate to make things difficult for ordinary Americans. To me that sounds like something a dictator does.
I am thinking that we need another March on Washington to show our disgust at the way it is operating but that would be pointless. You can see the division of American ideals in every chat room or discussion board you visit. We have completely lost our ability to compromise with each other. The ACA is law. The medical device tax helps pay for it. If you don't like that tax, then propose something to replace it. If there are parts of the law that need changing, then go into committee and find a way that both sides can live with to modify and improve it.
does politicalticker not like opinions that may differ from their own? I am not sure why I am in some group that must automatically be moderated. Someone must have some thin skin.
I don't believe these polls are accurate regarding the Democrats and Obama, as the American people are far far more upset at those evil Republi"cons". Remember, these same pollsters had Romney beating Obama in the Presidential election and Obama defeated Romney by over 5 million votes.
Face it the GOP is 100% wrong on this issue.
You create change by WINNING ELECTIONS, not by creating financial havoc with a government shutdown.
Go out and prove to the people your ideas are right. Once in office, you can dismantle everything from obamacare to social security.
The difference between now and 1995 is that in 1995 the President was talking to the republicans to find a solution.
I blame the republicans and the tea-party retards for all the damage done to this country. They are punishing so many people by failing to pass immigration reform as well. No good can come out of the republican party.
The fact that we think in terms of "sides" is the problem.
Nothing like having a Canadian shut down the U.S. Gov. .Sen. Cruz doesn,t care , he has free health services in Canada
Those blaming the Democrats aren't aware of what is going on in the hill. The Tea Party extremists are the ones who think it's a solid strategy to bring our nation to the brink every time they have some perceived wrong to address. It's reckless. The more Obama and the Democrats cave into this bullying, the more the Tea Party will think it's a winning strategy.
The Tea baggers have finally done it. They don't evan know how the system opertates and yet they are extorting the American people. You can never negotiate a law that is on the books you can go in and convince the senate and the president to revise it but you just can't negotiate something that is olaw. They argued for months in 2010 over this and got numerous amendments added to it and then when the time came to vote for it they refused.
They should be ran out of office at the first oppurtunity and by golly I'll be the first to vote these juvenile jokers out.
This ain't no shutdown. Close it down from every federal road to Air traffic. TSA, everything. Lets see who does not need the Federal government and it pumping of money through the economy. If Teddy is not afraid of finding out and we are not afraid of finding out shut the thing down. Lets trace the Federal flow of money through the economy while we can restart the pump and before the Cons destroy the system (like or not) beyond what can be repaired.
The difference between the Republicans and the Taliban? You just might be able to negotiate with the Taliban.
Let the cuts be made first in Republican house districts as the want cuts they should go first