Poll: GOP to blame if "fiscal cliff" talks fail

Negotiations with Republicans over the so-called "fiscal cliff" may be slow going for President Obama, but a new survey shows the president has the public on his side.

If Washington fails to avert the "cliff" -- triggering a series of spending cuts and tax hikes at the start of the new year, possibly dragging the economy into another recession -- most Americans, 53 percent, would blame congressional Republicans, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Just 27 percent would blame Mr. Obama, according to the poll, conducted Nov. 28 - Dec. 2.

More than three-fourths of Democrats say the GOP would be to blame, while 16 percent of Democrats would blame Mr. Obama or both sides. By comparison, 33 percent of Republicans agree that the GOP would be more to blame, and 62 percent say Mr. Obama would be.

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Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress agree they should enact legislation to stop the fiscal changes slated to kick in next year, but they disagree on how to do it. The president put forward a plan that would raise $1.6 trillion in new taxes, in part by letting the Bush-era tax cuts expire for the top 2 percent of income earners. Republicans, meanwhile, unveiled a counter proposal Monday that would raise $800 billion in revenue through tax reform -- not tax rate increases.

While the basis for a deal seems to exist, some lawmakers think the "cliff" won't be averted. According to the Pew poll, Republicans (69 percent) and independents (52 percent) agree. Democrats are more optimistic, with 55 percent saying they're optimistic a deal will be reached.

Most Americans, 57 percent, say they have a good understanding of the consequences of going over the "fiscal cliff," and most -- about six in 10 -- say it would have a negative impact on both the nation's economy and their personal finances.

[tenbender]

I say shut her down. The country is gone anyway. With all the bailouts , Detroit LOL , unions , obama phones, food stamps, 99 weeks unemployment,
obama care taking our 401k, ! Just give obama a book of food stamps and turn the keys to 1600 Penn. Ave. over to China.

[stevehamilton858]

What do you mean, "shut down"? Do you know anything about what the fiscal cliff is? It doesn't have a single thing to do with shutting down the country, you dope. And, you should know that there isn't really any such thing as shutting down" the country. America is not a corner grocery store, where you could shut the business down by locking your door and leave and then wait for your creditors to come after you. You obviously have no concept of the government that was created in accordance with the Constitution, with how many legal obligations the country has to citizens, veterans, government contractors, and other nations, not to mention government employees of all types, like judges, persons in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. You can't just say, "the country doesn't exist anymore; we shut it down". How much education do you have? High school graduate, GED, Community College graduate, Elementary school graduate? My vote is the last item in my list. It's hard to imagine that you even made it through junior high.

Your comment has to be the all-time dumbest one I have ever read. Maybe you could get a job writing scripts for new releases of "Dumb and Dumber" movies; you've got the natural talent - like the old country song, "They're Gonna Put Me in the Movies, They're gonna make a fool out of me....all I got to do is act naturally". Keep up the good work; we all need a good laugh now and then. BTW, for Christmas, you ought to ask for one of the cone shaped hats worn by the happiest of the Seven Dwarfs - and get your girl friend a T shirt that says, "I'm with Dopey".

[lah99]

Unfortunately there will be little motivation for reducing spending or tax reform following resolution of the fiscal cliff. Personal rates and/or deductions need to increase/decrease while corporate tax needs to be more in line with other countries. Current penalties for repatriation of foreign earned capital needs to be dropped since it is, in part, responsible for the low rate of US investment by corporations who get double taxed. I have little faith in government to actually solve any of this whether democrats or republicans. Reagan campaigned on cutting taxes and spending, but once taxes were cut he ran into a wall on cutting spending from both parties which is largely why his administration had deficits. Despite what the republican revere him for they didn't actually "get it" then nor do they now.

[antoniof123]

More than three-fourths of Democrats say the GOP would be to blame, while 16 percent of Democrats would blame Mr. Obama or both sides. By comparison, 33 percent of Republicans agree that the GOP would be more to blame, and 62 percent say Mr. Obama would be.

This pretty much sums it up. The Republican party is falling apart. The 33 percent or a few less with become independents or Democrats and the Repbulicans well you can see where this is going.

[Maerzie]

Stephanie~ "Mr." Obama's PROPER title is PRESIDENT Obama! He has achieved that title TWICE, fom the majority of our population, so it is about time that the intentional defamation, lack of respect game, by immature sour grapes adolescents, is ended. When did the entire press EVER continuously call the disgusting idiot failure, G.W. Bush, "Mr." Bush??

[Think4times]

Wow.. someone reported Angel?

For quoting Xmas songs?

Sad.

[Think4times]

Angel was singing all kinds of songs, yes including silent night..

Even Bad_Ranger was posting "One Tin Soldier" with the altered ending of One Bad Ranger Rides Away...

I don't feed Dan anymore legal.. he can get his negative attention from someone else.

[TimeToEvolve]

What is really comical is that none of this was an issue when we had a Wall Street Republicon pResident. And the Republicons were spending us into oblivion. All of a sudden its a problem.

[MrLiterally]

Letting this administration tax and spend this country into the ground would be "fail". So let's head off that "fiscal cliff" and reap what we have sown at the voting booth.

[julesarcher1]

Who was that?

[Lindag20]

A good and kind spirit that lightened the day.

[TimeToEvolve]

You guys can believe in whatever fantasy you want about heaven and god and other such rubbish. Just don't expect anyone else to listen to you.

[julesarcher1]

You say the funniest things when you're drunk

[GrassRootRevolt]

Yep, Obama has not been accountable for anything, he just plays the blame game.

[Think4times]

The blame game? Does it go like this?

Blame Blame bo bame, banana fana fo fame, fee fi mo mame?