Poll: 73% Disapprove Of How Congressional Republicans Are Handling Their Job

Some not so good numbers for the GOP from the latest CNN/ORC poll [PDF]

When asked whether they approve or disapprove of the way Congressional Republicans are handling their job, we get these numbers:

  • 25% Approve
  • 73% Disapprove
  • 2% No Opinion

By contrast, President Obama’s job approval numbers are as follows:

  • 51% Approve
  • 47% Disapprove
  • 3% No Opinion

Yikes.

FILED UNDER: Congress, Public Opinion Polls, US Politics, ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. legion says:

    Considering the entire party has spent the last 4+ years (at least) ignoring the will of the vast majority of Americans in order to cater to the whims of the bottom-level GOP base and the upper-level 0.01% that writes them checks every week, this is a totally predictable result.

  2. Scrappy says:

    @legion:

    Says the guy who supports the party that rammed through Obamacare and had an even lower approval rating at the time.

  3. anjin-san says:

    @ Scrappy

    Most Americans like what’s in Obamacare when it’s explained to them. I do give the GOP credit for a strong disinformation/scare campaign on Obamacare, EG: “death panels”. A lot of people fell for it. Are you one of them?

  4. Moosebreath says:

    “■25% Approve
    ■73% Disapprove
    ■2% No Opinion”

    The problem is that the 25% who approve are the majority of Republican primary voters. As a result, they have few incentives to move to the center.

  5. OzarkHillbilly says:

    100-73=….. there’s that number again…27%@Scrappy: Says the guy who supports the party that rammed through Obamacare the Republican health care plan and had an even lower approval rating at the time but just stomped the ever living tar out of his GOP opponent in his re-election.

    FTFY Scrappy. Happy to be of service. You will bet my bill in the mail.

  6. DC Loser says:

    I feel like I’m watching the movie “Downfall” in real time.

  7. mantis says:

    I’m sure filibustering gun safety legislation will turn those numbers around.

  8. Scrappy says:

    @anjin-san:

    Oh yeah, that whole pass the bill to find out what’s in it. That was fun.

  9. anjin-san says:

    @ Scrappy

    Are you unhappy because insurance companies will no longer be able to take payments you make for years in good faith, then punt you when you actually need coverage? That they will no longer be able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Or perhaps you are Superman, and you don’t ever have health issues…

    Oh, and free riders will not be able to leave themselves uninsured, then go to the ER and send you the bill. You are part of the party of “personal responsibility”, are you not?

  10. Tsar Nicholas says:

    This isn’t surprising.

    In addition to poor educations and various other maladies Republican Derangement Syndrome has become one of the country’s most basic lowest common political denominators.

    The college kid who voted for Obama in ’08 and then voted for Obama again in ’12, and now is 25, still living at home, unemployable, has no chance of succeeding in life, and can’t grasp the various layers of irony, didn’t entirely happen by accident. The white trash malcontent living in a trailer park in Southern Ohio, with not a penny to his name, who voted for Obama because he figured that meant free healthcare, free housing and free money, didn’t happen by accident. Nor did the AFDC and Medicaid cases in Cleveland, Miami, Detroit, Philly, Chicago, NYC, L.A., Milwaukee, St. Louis, San Francisco and New Orleans, who’ve reflexively been voting Democrat for two full generations and, gee whiz, still are mired in rank poverty, crime and despair.

    All part and parcel of the catastrophic U.S. decline.

  11. Scrappy says:

    @anjin-san:

    Nope. I’m unhappy because ever since Obamacare passed my insurance cost have continually gone up at a faster rate than they ever did before Obamacare.

    I’m unhappy because for being a responsible adult and carrying health insurance before I needed it (unlike all those whiners with pre-existing conditions who waited until they got sick to see the need to get insurance) I get to pay for their irresponsibility.

    I’m unhappy because people like you are too dumb to realize the costs both finacially and in terms of personal freedom massive social engineering legistaion like that cost our country.

  12. Septimius says:

    @Scrappy:

    Remember when all the Democrats said that Obamacare would lower insurance premiums? That was a good one.

  13. Dave Schuler says:

    63% of those polled disapproved of the way Democratic Congressional leaders were doing their jobs.

    Unfortunately, we don’t elect Congressmen at large and Congressional leaders aren’t elected by the voters at all—they’re a product of seniority and their houses. Consequently, the exercise is meaningless.

  14. anjin-san says:

    Nope. I’m unhappy because ever since Obamacare passed my insurance cost have continually gone up at a faster rate than they ever did before Obamacare.

    Feel free to document that. Be sure and show specifics of the cause and effect between Obamacare and your higher costs.

    And you can also link to the many posts you no doubt made decrying the fact that health care costs more than doubled during the Bush era, while the compensation for C level guys at Wellpoint and other health insurance companies skyrocketed.

  15. Scrappy says:

    @anjin-san:
    But none of that changes the fact of your hypocrisy for going on about approval ratings now, but defending what Democrats did with an even lower approval rating.

    But, but, but, they really meant to approve when it was my guys… sigh.

  16. Scrappy says:

    @anjin-san:

    hehe. You’ve got all the bases covered. when it’s your guy in control it’s not his fault, when the other guys are in control it’s entirely their fault. You can’t lose with rules like that.

  17. john personna says:

    That’s nothing a little epistemic closure can’t fix.

  18. anjin-san says:

    @ Scrappy

    your hypocrisy for going on about approval ratings now

    Please show were I even mentioned approval ratings.

    Sigh.

  19. anjin-san says:

    @ Scrappy

    You’ve got all the bases covered. when it’s your guy in control it’s not his fault, when the other guys are in control it’s entirely their fault.

    Well, show us where you took Bush to task for soaring health care costs during his administration. Failing that, you are talking about yourself.

  20. john personna says:

    @Scrappy:

    Seriously, the “Romneycare is ok, Obamacare is the devil” stuff is what got you in this place.

    Voters understood the absurdity of it all.

    (Or a mandate might be OK for states (huh?) but blah blah blah nationally (serious?))

  21. C. Clavin says:

    “….The college kid who voted for Obama in ’08 and then voted for Obama again in ’12, and now is 25, still living at home, unemployable, has no chance of succeeding in life, and can’t grasp the various layers of irony, didn’t entirely happen by accident…”

    No…it happened because of a 30 year war waged against the middle class by Republicans. I’m sure the layers of irony are beyond your grasp.

  22. john personna says:

    @Tsar Nicholas:

    Shorter Tsar: “let me repeat my prejudices.”

  23. john personna says:

    @Dave Schuler:

    I would “indirect” rather than “meaningless.”

    The general disregard for Republicans in Congress will play out in swing states.

  24. Scrappy says:

    @anjin-san:

    I’m not here defending Bush. You’re here taking both sides I just pointed out.

    And to John Persona, I’m not here defending Romneycare either. I thought that was shit too.

    So you guys keep assuming what my positions are and I’ll keep holding you to the ones you actually type in your comments on this page.

  25. john personna says:

    @Scrappy:

    We are saying it was nonsensical for you to pretend mandates were a purely liberal idea and that it was pushed through without conservative support (or invention!)

    I mean, if you hate Romneycare too, what is your party?

    You’ve definitely split from the Republican Presidential Nominee.

  26. Scrappy says:

    @anjin-san:

    Um, perhaps you’re in the wrong thread if you think this conversation isn’t about approval ratings…

  27. C. Clavin says:

    “…all those whiners with pre-existing conditions who waited until they got sick to see the need to get insurance…”

    You do realize that people with pre-existing conditions…GET DROPPED…and that’s why they tend to not have insurance…right?
    This is the thing with Republicans…they are either stupid or lying or both…but they cannot make an argument for any of their positions without this being true.

  28. Scrappy says:

    @john personna:

    You’re right, he was far from an ideal candidate for the party. On that we can agree.

    But please spare me if you think that the overall republican position is in strong support of Romneycare.

  29. Scrappy says:

    @C. Clavin:

    To quote your friens above:

    anjin-san says:
    Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 12:52

    Feel free to document that. Be sure and show specifics of the cause and effect between Obamacare and your higher costs.
    preexisting conditions and getting dropped.

  30. legion says:

    @Scrappy: Considering that “Obamacare” is something that will actually help a large number of Americans, yes – I’m glad it was rammed in over Republican obstructionism, and I’m happy to support the party that did it.. If the GOP is fighting against it, it’s a pretty safe bet it’s a good thing for most Americans.

  31. legion says:

    @Scrappy:

    Um, perhaps you’re in the wrong thread if you think this conversation isn’t about approval ratings…

    Perhaps _you’re_ in the wrong thread if you think those approval ratings are driven by how Congress voted on Obamacare; after all, that’s the single solitary example you’ve brought up.

  32. anjin-san says:

    @ Scrappy

    Let’s review your comments:

    @anjin-san:
    But none of that changes the fact of your hypocrisy for going on about approval ratings

    Um, perhaps you’re in the wrong thread if you think this conversation isn’t about approval ratings…

    I am only responsible for what I say. You addressed me directly, and called me a hypocrite. Back it up.

  33. john personna says:

    @Scrappy:

    Well we have a little common ground here, seeing the problem as one which divides core Republicans, broader Republicans, and the general electorate.

    The problem Republicans have had is that their core, their primary voters, are more ideological on these things than their party in general, and of course in comparison to the general voter.

    This completely strikes at the 73% disapproval. That’s where it comes from.

    You can and you have made a case that will appeal very much to 25% of the country. But when you fault “liberals” you miss the meaning of these numbers. Everybody center and left wants better, more complete, and lower cost health care.

  34. anjin-san says:

    @ Skippy

    “…all those whiners with pre-existing conditions who waited until they got sick to see the need to get insurance…”

    Do you actually think that is the only way people are denied insurance on the basis of pre-existing conditions?

  35. john personna says:

    tl;dr – you can keep on appealing to the 25%, and you’ll end up again with 25%

  36. john personna says:

    @anjin-san:

    He doesn’t understand that insurance companies can find a preexisting condition for anyone. They have phone banks and specialists dedicated to it.

    They really only want to sell group business insurance and grant individual coverage only grudgingly.

  37. Gromitt Gunn says:

    @Tsar Nicholas: I hate to have to be the one to bring you up to date, TN: there hasn’t been a program called AFDC since the 1996 Welfare Reform bill. Kind of ironic for you to reflexively rage against a social program that was dismantled 17 years ago, doncha think? All part and parcel of your mental decline.

  38. wr says:

    Isn’t it nice that “Jack” and “Scrappy” showed up on different forums at the same time to spew stupidity? What an astonishing coincidence this is.

  39. al-Ameda says:

    @Tsar Nicholas: Yeah and the young people who voted Republican in 2008 and 2012 have barely enough money to pay for deferred maintenance on their Meth Lab apparatus in their parent’s basement (s).

  40. Tran says:

    Considering how many “conservative” commentators write angry posts at Redstate, HotAir or NRO about how the current GOP Congresspeople are insufficiently conservative, I wonder how bad these numbers really are. I believe a significant number of those disapproving want them to go even more to the right.

    And a comparison with the President is hardly fair for several reasons.

  41. Justinian says:

    In reply to the main article (and thus not to any of the ensuing comments):

    Let’s compare apples to apples, please. Here are the data:

    CNN/ORC Poll: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republican leaders in Congress are handling their job? Approve: 25%. Disapprove: 73%. No Opinion 2%.

    CNN/ORC Poll: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democratic leaders in Congress are handling their job? Approve: 35%. Disapprove: 63%. No Opinion 2%.

    Gallup Poll (http://www.gallup.com/poll/159812/congress-begins-2013-approval.aspx): Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job? Approve: 14%. Disapprove: 81%. No Opinion 5%.

    Note that “No Opinion” usually means “didn’t answer” or “vacillating” or any number of things in both of these polls. It really is “Other.” Also, the margin for error in the CNN/ORC poll is given to be 3%; the Gallup Poll advertises its margin of error at 4%. The difference between Republicans and Democrats is still there, according to the CNN/ORC poll, but it is not anything to go “Yikes” about.

    The Congress has “the lowest approval rating in history” according to the Gallup Poll. (Same page as cited above.) Comparing Republican Congressmen to a Democratic President is truly comparing apples to oranges. The apples to apples statistics are supplied above.

  42. Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  43. labman57 says:

    And these same Congressional Republicans, channeling their inner Dick Cheney, respond to these poll results with a resounding … “So?

  44. Elizebeth J says:

    @anjin-san:

    How about Sebelius finally coming clean and admitting it? Face it Obamacare was passed against the will of a majority of americans … is nothing more than the largest tax increase in our history …didn’t reform the system…doesn’t improve our healthcare delivery system…was ‘sold’ to the american people who did support it with made up facts, cooked statistics and outright lies…won’t lower the deficit … raises premiums for almost everyone

    http://www.humanevents.com/2013/03/27/hhs-secretary-finally-admits-obamacare-is-raising-insurance-costs/

  45. David M says:

    @Elizebeth J:

    Face it Obamacare was passed against the will of a majority of americans

    Most if not all reputable polling shows more support for keeping / improving Obamacare than for repealing it, and almost all individual pieces of the law have high levels of public support.

    is nothing more than the largest tax increase in our history

    Not true, many previous tax increases were larger.

    didn’t reform the system

    This is either meaningless or false, simply for the reason that the GOP would not have thrown a giant hissy fit if it wasn’t going to be effective and help a lot of people.

    doesn’t improve our healthcare delivery system

    I’m pretty sure the approximately 30 million people who will have better access to health care would disagree.

    was ‘sold’ to the american people who did support it with made up facts, cooked statistics and outright lies

    I’m not inclined to believe this, given the other less than accurate claims here.

    won’t lower the deficit

    100% false

    raises premiums for almost everyone

    Again, you’re claim of “almost everyone” isn’t true. If you’d gone with “some people” you might have a case.

    Every single one of your claims are not true as a quick google search would show, and most are obviously false that they shouldn’t have seemed believable.

  46. dennis says:

    @anjin-san:

    Of course he is, anjin!

  47. RAK57 says:

    It’s not the college kids fault that corporate fat cats move the good paying jobs overseas so they can abuse third world workers and reap bigger profits. Plus they won’t pay American workers a livable wage or provide benefits to survive. I’m sure Mitt Robme would have taken better care of American workers since he is so concerned about real family problems! Democrats might not be able to solve all that is wrong in politics but they are better than the alternative!

  48. Tony W says:

    @Elizebeth J: On a side note, does this mean you have a ponytail again?

  49. anjin-san says:

    @Elizebeth J

    The secretary’s remarks are among the first direct statements from federal officials that people who have skimpy health plans right now could face higher premiums for plans that are more generous.

    People will get more, and it will cost more. Ummmm. Do you really think that that’s a gotcha?