Seriously, now.
To be technically precise, Pres. Obama said that “80% of Americans favor a ‘balanced’ approach” to attacking the deficit-debt problem.
For Obama, “balanced” means tax hikes.
Problem: data doesn’t seem to support the case.
According to the latest Rasmussen survey “55% Oppose Tax Hike In Debt Ceiling Deal”.
- Most voters oppose including tax hikes in the deal.
Just 34% think a tax hike should be included in any legislation to raise the debt ceiling; 55% disagree and say it should not.
- There is a huge partisan divide on the question. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Democrats want a tax hike in the deal while 82% of Republicans do not.
- Among those not affiliated with either major political party, 35% favor a tax hike and 51% are opposed.
- Even those who earn less than $75,000 a year are opposed to including tax hikes.
Where’s the rub?
“By a 59% to19% margin, Political Class voters favor a tax hike in the debt ceiling deal.
By a 68% to 22% margin, Mainstream voters oppose tax hike in the debt ceiling deal.”
* * * * *
Ken’s Take: I still want to see the survey that asks “Do you favor the gov’t raising YOUR taxes to reduce the national debt?”
If 80% is the over/under, I’ll bet the ranch on the under.
The Homa Files 
July 18, 2011 at 10:31 am |
Most Americans do not want to make any sacrifices that affect them to reduce the deficit, whether in the form of tax hikes or lower entitlement spending. While there are good reasons to oppose a tax hike (a tax hike is a tax RATE hike, which doesn’t always bring in more taxes, the point of the Laffer curve), I don’t think that pointing to polls that equally show that Americans do not want to cut entitlement spending vitiates Obama’s point.
July 18, 2011 at 12:28 pm |
Obama’s statement seems to be taken from the latest Gallup poll and a Quinnipiac survey also supports his statements See: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jul/15/barack-obama/barack-obama-said-80-percent-americans-favor-both-/
Rasmussen Reports has been criticized by a New York Times columnist, Time, and the Washington Post on allegations of biased questioning tactics. I think I’ll stick with Gallup and other reputable polling organizations, thanks.