Pew Research - President Obama Has More Credibility On Deficit Then Congressional Leaders

[TomCADem]

Interesting poll that finds that most people thing the deficit should be cut, but there is general opposition to specific proposals for doing so. President Obama has more credibility on the issue, then either Republican or Democratic congressional leaders.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1824/poll-federal-budget-deficit-reductions-tax-spend-specifics-opposed-obama-trust

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The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Dec. 1-5 among 1,500 adults finds that the deficit commission is not the only group that faces public skepticism when it comes to deficit reduction proposals. Neither Republican nor Democratic congressional leaders have much credibility on this issue, with majorities saying they have little or no confidence in each when it comes to dealing with the deficit. Obama is viewed more positively, by comparison, with a slim majority expressing at least a fair amount of confidence in his leadership on the deficit.

Most of the major deficit reduction proposals under discussion meet with public disapproval. Particularly unpopular are provisions that would tax the health insurance people receive from their employers (72% disapprove), raise the national gasoline tax (74% disapprove), and reduce federal funding to states for things like education and roads (71% disapprove). Of 12 ideas tested, just two meet with majority approval: increasing the amount of earned income that is subject to Social Security withholding (64% approve) and freezing the salaries of government workers (59% approve); the latter proposal is supported by President Obama and many Republicans.

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There is broad, and bipartisan, agreement that the best approach to reducing the federal budget deficit involves a combination of both government cutbacks and increased taxes. Roughly two-thirds (65%) express this view, including majorities of Republicans (58%), Democrats (72%) and independents (67%). Relatively few Americans (16%) believe that focusing mostly on cutting major government programs is the best approach to take. Even among Republicans, only about a third (32%) say a strategy focused mostly on cutting government is the right line of attack. Even fewer Americans (4%) believe the best way to reduce the deficit is through a focus on increasing taxes.

[Clio the Leo]

1. there-in lies the problem....

.... everyone wants to cut the debt .... or so they say.

[yourout]

2. As long as they don't have to give up anything.

[TomCADem]

3. Bingo - Majority Against Cutting Defense Spending, Major Cuts To Social Programs, And Tax Increases

So, if we don't cut military spending, but also do not raise taxes, how exactly does the American public want to cut the deficit?

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[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Interesting how the item on the very top of that list, with the strongest support,

was not even MENTIONED in the tax cut deal between Obama and McConnel.

[Union Scribe]

4. So that was through the 5th?

Like, before the deal came out that made the Metrodome look good in comparison?