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Subscribe to RSSPresident Obama said he's willing to compromise, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will reject House Speaker John Boehner's back-up plan which would prevent tax hikes on those making less than $1 million. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
An overwhelming majority of Americans want Congress and the Obama White House to reach a deal featuring both tax increases and spending cuts to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, according to the latest national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
Click here for full results from the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll (pdf)
In fact, majorities of Democrats, Republicans and political independents each support such a deal.
Yet respondents are split over whether any kind of agreement can be reached, and nearly seven in 10 believe that the coming year will feature Democrats and Republicans in Congress showing little willingness to come to an agreement on important matters.
Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff, says the public is sending this one-word message to Washington: compromise.
“Doing something trumps doing nothing,” Hart said.
Related: Boehner: 'Serious differences' separate GOP from Obama
The survey – conducted a month after November’s election – also shows a positive uptick in opinion toward President Barack Obama, and more negative views about defeated GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and the Republican Party. The poll also finds that a majority of Americans now support gay marriage.
Fiscal cliff talks have stalled as 'serious differences' remain between both parties – and according to the latest NBC/WSJ poll the public wants an agreement, soon. Although both sides are still discussing ways to avoid the fiscal cliff, neither side is optimistic that they'll come to a resolution before Christmas. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
‘Hints of a thaw’
According to the poll, a combined 68 percent of Americans say that the fiscal cliff – the looming combination of tax increases and spending cuts set to take place at the beginning of next year if nothing is done – is either a “very serious” or “fairly serious” problem.
A similar two-thirds of respondents are willing to accept an increase in taxes or cuts in federal government programs they care about to reach an agreement to avoid the problem.
Asked another way, 65 percent say leaders in Congress should find a compromise to reduce the budget deficit, even if that means Democrats would need to accept targeted spending cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and that Republicans would need to accept targeted increases in tax rates.
NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss the latest developments in the fiscal negotiations between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner.
By comparison, just 28 percent believe that leaders should stick to their traditional positions on the deficit – even if that means Congress goes over the fiscal cliff, triggering those automatic spending cuts and tax increases.
“There are hints of a thaw here, compared to previous data we’ve seen,” McInturff says.
Indeed, for the first time in the poll, a majority of Republicans (59 percent) want GOP leaders in the House and Senate to make compromises in order to gain consensus in the current budget debate.
Previously, in 2011, majorities of Republicans said they preferred GOP leaders to stick to their positions rather than make compromises.
And the percentage of Democrats who favor compromise on this question (70 percent) is now at an all-time high in the survey.
With Christmas less than two weeks away, the White House is faced with the same key question – Can House Speaker John Boehner deliver enough Republican votes for whatever debt deal he and President Barack Obama agree on. The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports.
Who’s to blame if there isn’t a deal? Everyone
Yet the public is split – 48 percent of respondents are optimistic, and 48 percent are pessimistic – over whether Congress will be able to reach consensus to avoid the fiscal cliff. And another 69 percent believe that the next year on Capitol Hill will be marked by division and little willingness to compromise.
If there is no compromise on the fiscal cliff and the automatic tax increases and spending cuts go into effect at the beginning of next year, 24 percent say they will blame congressional Republicans more, while 19 percent will point the finger at Obama and congressional Democrats.
But a majority of respondents (56 percent) say they’ll blame both sides equally.
Still, twice as many Americans say they trust the president more in handling this fiscal situation (38 percent) than House Speaker John Boehner and the congressional Republicans (19 percent).
And significant majorities believe Obama holds a clear mandate from the election on issues related to this subject:
- 68 percent say he has a mandate on cutting taxes for families earning less than $250,000 per year
- 65 percent say he has a mandate on reducing the deficit by both increasing taxes on the wealthy and reducing federal spending
- And 59 percent say he has a mandate on eliminating the Bush-era tax cuts for household income over $250,000 a year.
Obama’s lift vs. the GOP’s decline
Speaking of Obama, the poll shows an uptick in his numbers after his victory in last month’s presidential election.
Fifty-three percent of adults approve of his overall job performance, and 49 percent approve of his handling of the economy – higher marks on these questions than at any time during the 2012 campaign.
Another 53 percent say they feel either “optimistic and confident” or “satisfied and hopeful” Obama will do a good job as president, which is up three points from Oct. 2012.
“Any president has a little bit of a lift heading into the first few months of any new term in office,” McInturff, the GOP pollster, says.
Thursday's "Gaggle" which includes Jackie Kucinich, Margie Omero, Perry Bacon and Bob Costa talk about the fiscal cliff negotiations.
But if Obama is getting a lift after the election, the Republican Party is seeing a further decline.
The GOP’s favorable/unfavorable rating in the poll now stands at 30 percent/45 percent (minus-15 points), which is down from 36 percent/43 percent (minus-7) right before the election.
That’s compared with the Democratic Party’s 44 percent/35 percent rating (plus-9 points).
What’s more, asked to give a word or short phrase to describe the Republican Party, 65 percent offered a negative comment, including more than half of Republicans.
Some of the responses: “Bad,” “weak,” “negative,” “uncompromising,” “need to work together,” “broken,” “disorganized” and “lost.”
By contrast, 37 percent gave negative descriptions of the Democratic Party, while 35 percent were positive.
“Republicans have gone off the image cliff,” says Hart, the Democratic pollster.
“Elections have consequences,” McInturff adds about the GOP. “And among those consequences is the cost of losing.”
The consequences of losing also exist for Romney, whom Obama defeated in November.
Romney’s favorable/unfavorable rating in the poll is 35 percent/44 percent (minus-9 points), down from his 43 percent/44 percent score (minus-1) before the election. Much of that drop comes from Republicans and conservatives.
Majority supports same-sex marriage
Finally, for the first time ever in the NBC/WSJ poll, a majority of respondents – 51 percent – support same-sex marriage.
That percentage in support is up from 30 percent in 2004, 41 percent in 2009 and 49 percent in March 2012, demonstrating how quickly public opinion on this issue has changed in just eight years.
The NBC/WSJ poll was conducted Dec. 6-9 of 1,000 adults (including 300 cell phone-only respondents), and it has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points.
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Boehner should make sure he checks with Grover before he speaks. Remember you sore loser Republicans the President is here for another 4 years so get over it!! Why do people pay any attention to Grover anyway? Who voted for him? Why does this nincompoop not run for office? He should be arrested and charged with trying to peddle political influence or blackmailing elected officials. If i was one of those lame Republicans who felt obligated to sign his ridiculous pledge---I switch parties.
I agree: just shut up and get the deal done soon
All of Congress that is. Yes, both parties.
How can the deal be done if there is no congressional democratic leadership?
You see Boehner duke it out with Obama... where as it should be Boehner duking it out with the top congressional Democrat and Obama playing the great mediator. Do you see now what the problem is?
Boehner dukes it out with Obama, because Boehner is the one who has to pass the first round of legislation in this deal. The Democrats in the House have no bearing on this, because they CAN'T do anything. Reid doesn't have to work with McConnell UNTIL Boehner's group gets the first draft out the door, and Pelosi can't do anything in this situation except advise the President. The President is the one who is supposed to be leading the country on this and every other issue- he is the one who sets the agenda, which is why Boehner has to talk to him. That's how it works. Perhaps a civics class might help....
Thanks DB. Some people...I tell ya.
Someone needs to tell Mr.Obama that the election is over, he won, he can stop campaigning now, come back to work,put on the big boy pants and act like a grown up, sit down and talk it out face to face. He's not going to get everything he wants so stop the whining and pouting.
Obama hasn't found his big boy pants since he took office his first term! And he is not looking for them.
soxfan -
"come back to work"
Obama hasn't work a day in his life so he sure can't come back to work. Even if he showed up at the office he's clueless.
Obama is one sick puppy...he has an acute narcissistic personality disorder and should be removed from office for mental health reasons and put on permanent disability. The evidence is overwhelming...
Well he was a community organizer here in IL.. does that count as working? LOLOL, wtf! How did this tragic turn of events happen I ask myself :(
Republicans learned what legitimate rape was during the last election but looking at their actions after the election they must enjoy legitimate rape.
Rape? You don't know what rape is... although that can be arranged.
Don't hold your breath people... the GOP did anything and everything to put our country into this position... Yes, this was the Bush days with the banks and Wall Street gaining anything and everything they wanted... These same people spent money like it was water...
They should start in their own office and get rid of most of the 30-40 people they hire that does their work for them and start earning the salary they get while in the House and the Senate... Both parties should trim from within their ranks instead of constantly crushing the middle class, or what is left of us...
GOP? Really? They spent and borrowed all of this money? They printed all of this money?
Are you going to be blaming Bush for the next 100 years? It's been 4 years and Obama hasn't done a single thing to help the situation. Not a single one!
Think before you post!
jimboza (30.1): What a stupid statement! The repulsicons were (are) sore losers--they vowed to make Obama a one-term president, so they blocked anything and everything he and the Democrats tried to accomplish. They wouldn't even try to work with him. No compromise, no if, ands, or buts--it was their way or no way. So now, according to you, Obama "hasn't done a single thing to help the situation during the past four years? That's because the Repulsicans did everything and anything to stop him. Don't be so ignorant AND stupid.
It's call Balkanization. Has nothing to do with any specific political party.
Really? With a 1000 people polled you're making statements as to what most Americans want? You need to fire your statisticians along with you intern wanna-be-journalists!
The Longer The GOP Takes To Come To Terms With OBAMA The Worst They Look -- They Are Doing Exactly What OBAMA Wants Them To Do -- In Fighting -- Becoming More Divided -- Avoiding -- Just Keep Chopping Yourselves Up At The GOP -- The Americans People Have Spoken And Obama's Position Is Clear & He Holding It -- THe GOP Has To Come To Terms With Obama And The American People Not The Reverse! The GOP Days Are Numbered In The House!
2014 / 2016 --- Is One Day Closer!
Tick Tock!
History In The Making -- The Slow Painful Death Of A Political Party -- The GOP!
The president is offering what he ran on and won with. The Republicans are offering (if you call it that) what they ran on and lost with. Who should be compromising with who?
If they lost, how come the still control the house?
Republicans should be compromising with Democratic house leadership... what is that leadership? Nowhere to be found, as usual.
Think before you post.
Jim, the lost seats in both the US Senate and US House.
They sill have a majority in the House, but it's shaky. The TP crybabies (ie Allen West) got sent packing!
Gerrymandering is the only reason they still control the house. In my district, Paul Ryan would be unemployed if a large part of RWNJ Waukeesha country wasn't added to our district.
Democratic House candidates totaled a million votes more than Republican candidates.
If jimboza hadn't napped through civics class, he would know that the House by design renders the minority party essentially powerless. The only impact it can have is by becoming the Party of No and forcing all legislation to pass on a strictly partisan basis. If Pelosi has not taken the initiative to compromise with Boehner -- as if his wingnut caucus would stand for it -- then she's giving him a dose of his own medicine. So what?
But again: Why compromise? The Republican position is a proven electoral loser and has no traction with public opinion. The president shouldn't budge an inch.
When will the Orange One sober up enough to comprehend that the GOP-TP LOST in Nov?
The GOP is making idiots of themselves right now.
The GOP’s favorable/unfavorable rating in the poll now stands at 30 percent/45 percent (minus-15 points), which is down from 36 percent/43 percent (minus-7) right before the election.
And the Republicans worked hard to earn that unfavorable rating. So who says they cannot be effective?
And considering they got about 47% of the vote, it's obvious that some of their voters held their nose. Now that it's down more, how long before the defections start?
This American is not asking the GOP to compromise. I say hold the line at all cost. To give in to the dems on this issue is to flush Amaerica down the toilet. Please please please, no compromise. There must be significant spending cuts, anything else will not do.
You sound like a corporate troll. You would have been a good subject for King George III. You scrape and bow quite well.
You sound like a nit wit Osama freeloader, whom I'm sure you scrape and bow to quite well...with all due respect.
I have trouble taking this poll seriously. It completely contradicts every poll I've seen on Social Security and Medicare.
Social security doesn't even affect the deficit and should not be part of this discussion. The corporate media keeps pushing the idea that social security is driving the deficit and it is a lie designed to get people to think cuts are necessary. They right wing has been trying to kill it ever since it came in.
Bill, what's not to understand unless your'e a Liberal. When S.S. was started there were 42 workers for every 1 person collecting. Now there is 2.9 workers for every person collecting. A third grader can understand that the program can't sustain itself unless changes are made.
If you think about it what reason do they have to actually get things done ahead of time?
Wake up America
If the president gives into any of these outrageous demands from the Republicans In their implacable obsession
to make the rich, richer on the back of the middle class, many of us, friends, relatives, and neighbors that are hard core Democrats are saying we will for ever lose our Democrat Base. Its also obvious the Rolling Over of the Democrats one more time on the ridiculous, insidious, and inflexible demands from these fastidious people, wanting more bartering in their favor, will terrible undermined the changes of Mrs. Clinton to run for president, and gain the presidency in 2016! We have suffer enough economical stagnation for many years from the dismal political, and erratic socio-economical policies of Bush, and their dismal abuse of the people, in wars, unpaid taxes, and disastrous economical expenditures that had brought us to this present fortuitous situation, to this living travesty of the present Fiscal Cliff. The loud voice from all the Democrats around here is that, we nearly lose the country to Bush economical debacles of 2008, we are ready to suffer some more pains, not to tolerate any more further abuses of the House of Representatives Tea party, and Republicans in the relentless discard from the millions people’s hunger, and their perpetual discord putting our USA in chains against our wishes for food, and jobs any longer! This time it be much better, to win than losing our honor one more time.
ramses, WOW, what a bull s%#t rant. Time to get off whatever drug your on. "your honor"
The Federal Reserve projects the unemployment rate will stay elevated until late 2015, suggesting it will keep short-term interest rates low for the next three years.
Hows that hope and changey working for you Democrats?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FED_FORECAST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-12-14-29-01
I always Watch CNN and CBS they always have news on
politics.
I can’t believe some republicans come on live TV and lie.
I saw this republican say that Obama wanted to raise taxes
On the middle class if He can’t get the speaker of the house
and
Republicans to raise taxes on the wealthiest 2%. Isn’t that
what
What Is holding everything up. The fact that republicans don’t
want to
Raise taxes on the 2%?
You need to read into the facts about the taxation on the 2% of the rich. They already pay over 40% of the taxes as it stands. Get rid of the free loaders and work for what you get!!
The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, 'merely a fool'. It is far less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their President.
Amen to that. Merry Christmas not Happy Holidays. Stand up and be heard!!
Has this Congress ever shown any interest whatsoever in what the people want?
At this stage of the game it would be best to go "over the cliff" as it were. It just shows how inept this nation's leaders really are. My thoughts are that if in six months this nation cannot see some improvement from mandatory tax hikes and spending cuts, the wrong people are obviously in Washington D.C. The current impasse just begs for the implementation of term limits for people in Congress. Long term politicians become so entrenched they lose sight of serving the constituents that put them in office. I firmly believe more productivity would be realized from people who know they have a finite amount of time to achieve results.
Who knew 50.6% = "a clear mandate?"
Sure, make a deal, as long as obama doesn't get what he wants. Since that won't happen, go over the cliff and do what you do best - blame. On second thought, let's nationalize everything. What can it hurt, right?
The Repub's better get a deal done, or they are toast. The American people will never forgive them....
tax the poor make them really poor tax disability checks ( now i will have 80% of the people here against me)
Fall off the cliff and see what happens. Both sides are liars anyway. If the Federal Government would have stayed out of the mess they created, the free market would have cleaned it up anyway. Too many times in history when the govenrment gets too involved it means failure. Read your history books!!