At his press conference yesterday President Obama made the ridiculous claim that 80 percent of the American people support his demand for tax increases. He's been after Republicans to raise taxes for him ever since he took office, his latest ploy being to build tax hikes into a deal to rasise the debt ceiling.
President Obama on Friday kept up the pressure on Republicans to agree to revenue increases in a deal to raise the debt ceiling, claiming 80 percent of the public supports Democrats' demand for tax increases.
"The American people are sold," Obama said. "The problem is members of Congress are dug in ideologically."
Analysis by Aaron Blake of the Washington Post identified the opinion polls that Obama had both cherry-picked and misrepresented in order to justify his claim.
A Gallup poll this week showed that just 20 percent of Americans – including 26 percent of Republicans – say the deficit should be reduced solely through spending cuts. This leaves 80 percent of all Americans who don’t rule out tax increases. (Important note: Some were undecided and 4 percent said only to use tax increases, so the actual number who support using both spending cuts and tax increases is actually less than 70 percent.)
Quinnipiac University put those ruling out tax increases at 25 percent overall, including 48 percent of Republicans — much worse numbers for Obama’s argument. But for our argument’s sake, we’ll use the numbers more favorable to Obama.
For one thing it's quite a stretch to go from 20 percent who support only cuts to reduce the deficit, to 80 percent who favor higher taxes. Even Gallup hadn't put that dramatic of a spin on the numbers, arriving instead at this conclusion, that Americans prefer spending cuts over tax increases:
Total: Only/Mostly with spending cuts 50 Total: Only/Mostly with tax increases 11
A Rasmussen poll bears out that result. Earlier in the week Rasmussen asked the question, "As part of legislation to raise the debt ceiling, should congress and the president raise taxes?" According to Rasmussen, 55% of voters said no.
Just 34% think a tax hike should be included in any legislation to raise the debt ceiling. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% disagree and say it should not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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.
It is interesting to note that independent voters are opposed by a margin of 51 to 35, yet in his press conference Obama claimed Americans are sold on higher taxes.
Right about the time Obama was lecturing about how time is running out, House Republicans announced plans to vote on a proposal to raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion, along with cuts in the same amount spread over ten years. The Republican proposal does not include tax increases.
It's hard to imagine Americans punishing Republicans if this legislation passes, raising the debt limit without imposing a tax hike. But its not hard to imagine Americans punishing Obama if he vetoes this legislation and the debt ceiling is not raised. Either way, we fervently hope that time is running out on this debacle of an Obama presidency. He has been just awful.
Obama would like nothing more than to ram through major tax legislation under the pressure of a U.S. default. As with ObamaCare, we could find out what's in it after they pass it. No thanks.
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