61% Of Americans Disagree With Obama's Refusal To Negotiate With Republicans

In speech after speech in Washington DC and across the country, Obama (who it must be noted voted against a debt ceiling increase in 2006) has been making it clear to all with ears to listen, that he will not dirty his hands negotiating with “extortionist” Republicans over the debt ceiling.

In his Sept. 16th speech that coincided with the Navy Yard shootings, he said “in case there’s any confusion, I will not negotiate over whether or not America keeps its word and meets its obligations; I will not negotiate over the full faith and credit of the United States. Let’s stop the threats, stop the political posturing.”

Last Saturday in a “rousing speech” before the National Black Caucus, the president reiterated his position,  saying, ” let me say as clearly as I can: It is not going to happen. We have come too far. We have overcome far darker threats than those.” 

Last Friday, one day after Speaker Boehner released a very effective ad pointing out that the president was more willing to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin than with Republicans, Obama phoned Boehner to let him know that he would not negotiate with Republicans:

Boehner told the president he was “disappointed” to hear his position, an aide said.  “Given the long history of using debt limit increases to achieve bipartisan deficit reduction and economic reforms, the Speaker was disappointed but told the president that the two chambers of Congress will chart the path ahead. It was a brief call,” the aide said. Obama has insisted for months that he will not be “extorted” by Republicans for an increase in the debt ceiling, which will likely be needed sometime next month to prevent the government from the risk of default.

A new Bloomberg poll finds that a strong majority of respondents disagree with Obama’s position.

Americans by a 2-to-1 ratio disagree with President Barack Obama’s contention that Congress should raise the U.S. debt limit without conditions.

Instead, 61 percent say that it’s “right to require spending cuts when the debt ceiling is raised even if it risks default,” because Congress lacks spending discipline, according to a Bloomberg National Poll conducted Sept. 20-23.

That sentiment is shared by almost three-quarters of Republicans, two-thirds of independents, and a plurality of Democrats. Just 28 percent of respondents backed Obama’s call for a clean bill that has no add-on provisions.

The poll also found that nearly two-thirds would rather see the automatic sequester cuts replaced with targeted spending cuts. 

Americans clearly expect to see more effort on the part of this administration to fix the economy.