Poll: 71% shun GOP handling of debt crisis

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor listens to Speaker of the House John Boehner during a news conference after a House GOP caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol, July 15, 2011 in Washington, DC.

/ Getty

Updated 9 a.m. ET

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

Americans are unimpressed with their political leaders' handling of the debt ceiling crisis, with a new CBS News poll showing a majority disapprove of all the involved parties' conduct, but Republicans in Congress fare the worst, with just 21 percent backing their resistance to raising taxes.

President Obama earned the most generous approval ratings for his handling of the weeks-old negotiations, but still more people said they disapproved (48 percent) than approved (43 percent) of what he has done and said.

Tune into the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley at 6:30 p.m. for the full poll results.

CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports there was no visible progress over the weekend, despite warnings from debt rating agencies that the nation's credit rating could drop, even if there is a deal, if government spending isn't cut.

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Congressional leaders' inability to convince their own party members that concessions are necessary is likely driving the dismal approval for lawmakers involved in the testy negotiations.

Approval drops to 31 percent for the Democrats in Congress, and only 21 percent of the people surveyed said they approved of Republicans' handling of the negotiations, while 71 percent disapprove.

Even half of the Republican respondents (51 percent) voiced disapproval of how members of their own party in Congress are handling the talks. Far fewer Democrats expressed disapproval of their own party's handling (32 percent) or President Obama's (22 percent) of the urgent quest to raise the nation's debt limit ahead of a looming default on Aug. 2 if action isn't taken.

The Obama administration has pointed to the warnings from rating agencies as evidence that not raising the debt ceiling could have severe consequences for the economy, and even suggested the government might not be able to make Social Security payments if there's no agreement.

However, some remain skeptical; 36 percent said the administration is trying to scare people by painting the potential outcome if the debt ceiling is not raised as more dire than it really is. But slightly more, 40 percent, say the administration's warnings are valid.

While the poll shows little confidence in the men and women doing the negotiating, there still seems to be hope that the politicians will be able to stop politicking for long enough to avert financial disaster.

Sixty-six percent of those polled said they believe an agreement will be reached before the Aug. 2 deadline, while only 31 percent say it's unlikely.

Read the complete poll (PDF)
Search the CBS News poll database

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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 810 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone July 15-17, 2011. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus four percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[tjs723]

One thing Amerians need to uderstand is that the Republicans DELIBERATELY created this debt crisis, cutting taxes and increasing spending for the purpose of forcing the privatizing of SS and Medicare.

http://www.governmentisgood.com/articles.php?aid=14

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/paul-krugman-starve-the-beast-fiscal-calamity-is-the-gops-plan-to-shrink-government-234845/

It is fascinating to see the mainstream media, CBS included, avoid reporting on this despite the fact that the last 3 GOP presidents signed TWENTY deficit riddled budgets and saddling Pres. Obama with a $1.3T deficit! This is no accident. It couldnt be! If the GOP had NOT done both of these things, there would BE NO DEBT CRISIS!

http://zfacts.com/p/318.html

Who benefits?? Well, the GOP plan is to privatize the entitlements, funnel;ing all that money to the same people who crashed the economy! The mainstream media avoids this subject like the plague! As such, they abrogate their responsibility to inform the people of what is happening with their government! I guess that Republicans thought that their plan was so monstrous that nobody would believe it.But the evidence is very clear. Yet, despite endangering our national security,, our fiscal stability and econmic future, none DARE call it TREASON!! Just research "starve the beast"!

[cyberbuff]

the Republicans have turned the US Supreme Court, into the law firm of do we cheatem & how...enabling Corporations to BUY Elections, Witness $30 Million spent in Wisconsin, ON STATE SENATE RECALLS...

They Kill Every Attempt to Close Loopholes and End Corporate Welfare...during Debt 'debate', Republicans Stormed out, when it was suggested that the US End $27 Billion in annual subsidies to Oil Companies, who make $100 Billion NET Profit, in Every One of the Past 5 YEARS...

THEY have declared war on the Middle Class, Poor, Social Security, Justice...and, in the House of Representatives, have taken Sanity Hostage!!!

[Guitfiddel]

When you write a song, arrange the music, and start recording it in a studio you not suppose blame the BAND because the drummer can't play adequately enough to keep rhythmical meter and wants to sabotage the music with his own wild, stupid drum fills. It's even worse if that drummer is in charge of the session. In Congress=BAND, you've got Tea Party Republicans= inadequate meter, sloppy playing, no finesse, narcissistic, egotistical, won't listen, knows all the other musicians are proficient on their instruments while he's lacking on his so, he has to BLACKMAIL everybody by threatening to SHUT DOWN THE STUDIO if he doesn't get to do his wacked out, crazy drum licks that basically ruin the song, duped the PROMOTER to get the gig DRUMMER. It's not all of Congress; it's that damn DRUMMER I tell you!

[WhttevrrWorks]

The Republicans have Declared War on the American Economy, Women, The Middle Class, and The Poor! From Allen West to Jon Kyl, the Republican Party has become a tool for the Oligarchy.

Please vote these Bozo's out of office.

[gfraab]

The Chicago Tribune editorial recently stated, in substance,whether you dislike the tea party Republicans or not, at least it's not business as usual in Washington by the Democrats. I would like to see some compromise; however, I recall, with disgust, situations like Pelosi saying you have to pass the bill to read it. At the same time Obama's arrogance was painful to see. Tax payers do not want their taxes raised. That includes legions of small businesses who create jobs. God help us if Obama is reelected.

[catmomtx]

Tax payers do not want to see their tax dollars going for tax cuts, subsidies and tax incentives to businesses, corporations and big oil while average hard working Americans are told they have to sacrifice. I recall with disgust how Republicans in Congress have shown such total disrespect for our President, refusing to work with him, refusing to compromise or negotiate with Democrats and saying loud and often that they want him to fail and doing everything in their power to see that happen. God help us if the people who are intent on destroying our country just because they don't like the President are reelected or even elected.

[clcmm36]

Next election I won't be voting for a single Republican. I'm sick and tired of this BS.

[Archie53]

Sure there are more people that vote for tax increases. It looks like about 2 to 1 in favor? That's because 2/3's don't pay taxes. The 1/3 that do not want to raise taxes are tired of carrying these freeloaders.

[sadexrep]

What an asinine comment. Where did you get your figure that 2/3's of Americans don't pay taxes? That statement is nonsense - you must have made it up out of the air. I have been paying state and federal income taxes since 1955, and I don't know anyone who doesn't pay their taxes.One reason is that the IRS checks reported income figures paid by companies and pension plans, including Social Security. So, somehow you think that the entire IRS organization doesn't know how to do its job. It seems to me if that were the case, we'd be reading about it every week in newspapers and TV programs. Somebody has been feeding you a line of bull - or maybe you're just self-feeding. Grow up. Follow the news in papers or TV or the internet. Learn something. The next time you want to write an opinion like this, print it on toilet paper and just flush it down the john, because that's where it belongs

[forrestt56]

Who are Exxon Mobile and GE carrying?

[hsinco-2009]

Just be sure to be registered to vote and then VOTE!

Vote for all candidates and on all ballot questions.

Send the TeaBaggers packing in 2012!

[sadexrep]

Great suggestion. They and the ideologue Grover Norquist are on a track to kill or make insignificant the Republican Party. And it's happening. this debt crisis is the most serious threat the US has faced since the Cuban missile crisis in the 1960's, and Republicans are treating it as if it were a video game. I was a consistent Republican voter from Eisenhower through McCain, but I doubt that I'll ever see a Republican candidate I could support, ever again. The Tea Party jamokes have just caused the biggest "tax" increase in our country's history, because the financial rating agencies are going to lower America's AAA rating, and "all of us" will end up paying those increase costs, since the source of the increased cash that the Federal government will have to pay is citizens and companies.

[AmericanChristian]

It sill be a long, long, long, long time before I ever vote for another republican or tea pary member. They have put their interests and buddies above almost all amercians.

[maureenfloridausa]

I never voted for them....but I hope those that did agree with you. OUR Republican and Tea Party senators/congressmen have cut state jobs, destroyed our Water Mangement District that was attempting to restoring the Everglades and decreased unemployement benefits. Lovely group of Americans.

[sadexrep]

I couldn't agree more. I think they are guilty of sedition, and that they all ought to be impeached.

[rhodzimm]

When did the will of the people become second choice behind those of the special corporate lobbyists and Koch sponsored "Alec" - the powerful club that keeps Republicans in office as long as they toe the line.