Americans’ Opinion of Congress Plummets After Debt Ceiling Debate, and Tea Party Seen More Unfavorably
One poll said the top one-word response of those surveyed about the debt limit negotiation was “ridiculous” and another that the participants on all sides had acted like “spoiled children.” Now, a new New York Times/CBS News poll conducted Aug. 2-3 says that public disapproval of Congress is at an “historic level” with 82 percent giving negative marks to its performance.
The Times said the disapproval figure was higher than any since it began asking the question in 1977.
The poll said nearly three-quarters of Americans believed that the long and rancorous debate had harmed the image of the U.S. in the world, and more than four in five said the debate was more about all the participants trying to gain political advantage than doing what was best for the country.
Seventy-two percent said the Republicans compromised too little and 66 percent said the same of the Democrats. When it came to President Obama, who tried to position himself as above the fray and trying to push for a deal, the public was divided in its opinion on how he handled the negotiations. Forty-seven percent approved of his approach and 46 percent disapproved.
The tea party movement took a hit, with it being seen unfavorably by 40 percent and favorably by 20 percent. A mid-April poll had that ratio as 29 percent unfavorable and 26 percent favorable. Forty-three percent said the movement has too much influence on the Republicans, up from 27 percent in April.
A new Gallup poll conducted Aug. 2 found that 68 percent of tea party supporters disapproved of the debt ceiling deal compared to 46 percent of Americans overall.
Follow Poll Watch Daily on Twitter
