A new Harper Polling survey of likely voters finds that Republicans are seen as most responsible for the sequester, 46% to 40%.
“The lesson here is that President Obama is on a roll. He has adeptly pinned responsibility for the sequester on Republicans, despite it not being true. It is a remarkable feat by the White House and maddening for Republicans.”
Harper Polling adds this commentary:
This is startling. We did not ask voters who they will blame for the two parties not coming together to stop sequestration. Obama wins under that premise every time. We asked who voters think is responsible for the idea of sequestration. It is now widely acknowledge that the idea originated with the White House. And yet, voters place responsibility for the concept at the feet of Congressional Republicans.
The lesson here is that President Obama is on a roll. He has adeptly pinned responsibility for the sequester on Republicans, despite it not being true. It is a remarkable feat by the White House and maddening for Republicans.
Well, we know sequestration was around in 1985, so the “origin” of the idea goes way back. The concept itself is a good one, but it depends for its effectiveness on both parties coming to an agreement before the cuts kick in. As the public realizes, the Republicans made it impossible for that agreement to take place. The extent to which Republicans were using this and other tools in attempts to bring down Obama’s presidency had become very obvious. That they are disliked — even detested — across the nation by a large majority of Americans should be no surprise.