A new poll just out from Rasmussen shows the credibility of the Supreme Court has been severely frayed among likely voters.
A telephone poll conducted after the Obamacare and gay marriage decisions shows fully 33% of likely voters believe their states should ignore decisions of the Courts. This is a 37% increase from only four months ago, when Rasmussen asked the question for the first time. Only 52% of likely voters disagreed with the proposition.
The results will not surprise even conservatives on the Court, who in their dissents blistered what they saw as the un-Constitutional decisions reached by the majority.
With Obamacare, the majority is seen as acting like a super-legislature ignoring the plain meaning of words in order to reach a preferred policy position. In the marriage decision, after more than 30 states enshrined man-woman marriage either constitutionally or legislatively, the Court found a constitutional right to same-sex marriage hitherto undiscovered since the Founding.
Many have worried that such overreach by the Court would have a negative impact on the Court’s credibility. They seem be right. Rather than simply having a negative view of the Court and its decisions, many now seem to believe we are in a constitutional crisis that requires states to stand up to the Court.
As might be expected, Republicans and Conservatives feel more strongly about this than Democrats and liberals. Fifty percent of GOP voters believe states have the right to ignore judicial rulings, though nearly a quarter (22%) of Democrats agree, along with 30% of unaffiliated voters.
Fifty percent of conservatives agree that states should ignore Court rulings, while 27% of moderates and 15% of liberals agree.
Rasmussen also reports that “negative views of the Supreme Court are at their highest level in nearly nine years of regular surveying,” though “positive opinions are also up to a less dramatic three-year high.”
The poll shows such opposition to the Court has increased across all demographic groups.
So far, no state governor has indicated they would take such a stand, though anger toward the Court may continue to grow.
Follow Austin Ruse on Twitter @austinruse
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.