via Teagan Goddard's Political Wire
Independents, Moderates See GOP Sabotaging Obama
A new Washington Post-ABC News survey finds that 50% of Americans think President Obama is "making a good faith effort to deal with the country's economic problems," but Republicans are "playing politics by blocking his proposals and programs."
Meanwhile, 44% think Obama is at fault and "has not provided leadership on the economy."
Independents blame Republicans by a 54% to 40% margin, while moderate voters favor blame Republicans by 57% to 37%.
This follows on Florida public opinion news I preciously posted:
Will voters buy the idea that GOP is sabotaging economy? by Greg Sargent
Steve Benen flags what seems to be a first: A poll gauging whether voters are prepared to believe that Republicans are deliberately sabotaging the recovery in order to take back the White House. With the Obama campaign and Democrats signaling that this argument will be central in 2012, this seems like a relevant question.
The poll, which surveyed Florida voters, was conducted by Suffolk University. I tracked down the poll’s internals, and here’s the relevant question:
Do you think the Republicans are intentionally stalling efforts to jumpstart the economy to insure that Barack Obama is not reelected?
Yes 49
No 39
Undecided 12
This is only one state, but as Steve notes, “it’s a large, diverse swing state that both parties take very seriously.” And nearly half of these voters say they believe this — even though the question is asked in a very provocative way.
If he GOP senses this in the wind, it might explain, as Jamess reported, the distance some Rep leaders are putting between themselves and job killers:
Just another Random day at the Office for Speaker Boehner
Boehner must be taking a lead from Herman Cain -- John, like Herman, didn't fess up, where fessing was due ... instead he is just making "stuff up" ...
That could get a person in trouble ...
Boehner Calls Norquist, Engineer of 'The Pledge,' Just 'Some Random Person'
by Maggie Astor, The International Business Times -- Nov 3, 2011
According to House Speaker John Boehner, Grover Norquist -- the man who has gotten nearly every Republican in Congress to pledge never to raise taxes -- is just "some random person."
[...]
Many words have been used to describe Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform and one of the architects of the 1994 Contract with America, but "random" is a new one.
Norquist Anti-Tax Pledge Is Conservative Litmus Test
[...]
Today, the pledge is a de facto prerequisite for any Republican running for political office. Of the 289 Republicans in Congress, more than 95 percent have signed the pledge. Only 13 -- seven in the Senate and six in the House of Representatives -- have not done so, and Norquist lists them on the Americans for Tax Reform Web site as a sort of hall of shame.
Question is, will the Corporate Media just let this Boehnerism slide?
Or will they follow-up with more pointed questioning, about WHO is really setting the rules, and pulling the strings, for the modern-day Republican Party?
Maybe, maybe not. But Harry Reid's latest is bound to stir some interest:
From The Hill Newspaper:
Reid throws down gauntlet with veterans jobs bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) challenged Republicans on Monday to join Democrats in supporting their latest jobs proposal, a bill that would create tax incentives for businesses to hire veterans.
Before laying down the challenge, Reid listed the jobs packages that Republicans have blocked so far this year, which he said has cost the economy hundreds of thousands of jobs.
“Now we will see if Republican lawmakers are willing to put jobs for veterans at risk as well," said Reid.
Give 'em Hell, Harry.
If the voters' BS detector keeps picking up signals, we could be seeing a major shift in political fortunes, along with a shift in policy priorities.