Dem Insiders Think Sequester Will Hurt GOP
Political Insiders are split over which party would be hurt if the automatic budget cuts that President Obama and Congress agreed to, go into effect.
|
If the sequester is allowed to go into effect, will it hurt either |
||
| Democrats (107 votes) |
Republicans (96 votes) |
|
| Hurt Democrats | 1% | 19% |
| Hurt Republicans | 50% | 17% |
| Neither | 14% | 15% |
| Both equally | 35% | 49% |
Democrats disproportionately, and unsurprisingly, say the cuts would hurt Republicans, with 50 percent saying the GOP would suffer.
"The GOP is seen as the party of NO. There is now a perception with voters that when the wheels fall off the government cart it's probably because of Republican intransigence," said one Democratic Insider.
Republicans, meanwhile, expect the sequester will hurt both parties equally, in part because the public sees Washington as dysfunctional, even broken.
"If it hurts economic recovery, once again it will hurt both parties and the Washington 'brand,'" argued one GOP Insider.
Nearly an equal share of Republicans say the cuts would hurt their party as much as it would the Democratic Party. They argue that the president has effectively used the White House platform as a megaphone to convince the public he's right.
"The Bully Pulpit is proving too much for our anemic leadership. Dems are defining the fight," one Insider said.
Still others are hopeful the public will ding the Democrats because they prevailed in November.
"They won. They control White House and the Senate. Make the system work," a Republican Insider said.
Leave A Comment