Washington Post-Pew poll: Republicans are losing the fiscal cliff argument

Washington Post-Pew poll

Another piece of evidence that elections have consequences was published this morning by the Washington Post:

A majority of Americans say that if the country goes over the fiscal cliff on Dec. 31, congressional Republicans should bear the brunt of the blame, according to a new Washington Post-Pew Research Center poll, the latest sign that the GOP faces a perilous path on the issue between now and the end of the year.

While 53 percent of those surveyed say the GOP would (and should) lose the fiscal cliff blame game, just 27 percent say President Obama would be deserving of more of the blame. Roughly one in 10 (12 percent) volunteer that both sides would be equally to blame.

Back on November 13 (see Joan McCarter's write-up of the previous poll by this group), the numbers were 53-29 so the GOP argument has made no progress since then.

On November 26, CNN found the GOP would be at fault 45-34, and, importantly, 56% wanted taxes to remain high on high earners with only 36% buying the argument that taxes should be kept low on the wealthy because they are job creators.

Don't forget the recent ABC-Washington Post poll that found this:

Gary Langer for ABC News-Washington Post

All the polls point in the same direction: Republican ideas are being rejected.

Oh, by the way, there was also a recent election, and the Republicans lost there, as well. In fact, that was the election where Romney got 47% of the vote. (Hey, remember Romney's comments on 47%?).

Mitch McConnell was said to 'burst into laughter' on receiving the president's fiscal proposal. You think he's still laughing?

Keep all of this in mind as you watch the battle over the deficit and taxes play out. The GOP is going to fold. The only question is, on what terms?