Americans are united across party lines in thinking that threatening a government shutdown as a negotiating ploy is unacceptable. In a new CBS News/New York Times poll, 80 percent of people said no, it's not okay to do that.
Americans are putting the majority of blame for shutdown threats right where it belongs, on Republicans. Just 23 percent of those polled said Republicans in Congress are trying to work with President Obama to avert a shutdown, while 51 percent said Obama is trying to work with Republicans. In fact, less than half of Republicans polled think their party's representatives in Congress are trying to work with the president on this.
The widespread disapproval of threatening a government shutdown as a budget negotiating ploy is likely related in part to the fact that 74 percent believe a shutdown would hurt them, with 49 percent being "very" concerned, according to another new poll. It's good to know that means at least some people who aren't worried about the impact of a shutdown on themselves personally still believe that taking the entire country hostage isn't an acceptable negotiating tactic.
Sep13d Morning Release by CBSPolitics
