CBS News Poll: Most Americans oppose raising the debt ceiling

CBS News: Despite Obama administration warnings that failing to do so would devastate the economy, a clear majority of Americans say they oppose raising the debt limit, a new CBS News/New York Times poll shows.

Just 27 percent of Americans support raising the debt limit, while 63 percent oppose raising it.

Eighty-three percent of Republicans oppose raising the limit, along with 64 percent of independents and 48 percent of Democrats. Support for raising the debt limit is just 36 percent among Democrats, and only 14 percent among Republicans.

Seven in ten who oppose raising the debt limit stand by that position even if it means that interest rates will go up. [MORE]

If you think those numbers are pretty astounding, consider that Ed Morrissey at Hot Air finds that the polling data has been weighted towards the Democrat's favor!

With numbers like this, I cannot for the life of me understand why Republicans were so damn quick to capitulate on raising the debt limit. I have always contended that on November 4, 2010 John Boehner should have stated in no uncertain terms that Republicans would not vote to raise the debt limit and that Democrats should immediately get to work on finding programs to cut.

Instead, Boehner allowed Democrats to create a story of doom and gloom if the debt limit was not raised. From the looks of this poll, it seems like only the GOP leadership was scared by the Democrats' story.

Not raising the debt limit doesn't mean we automatically default on our obligations. America takes in $7 billion a day in revenue and can pay its debts with that. Politicians and unwilling to do this because it would mean that they would have to confront their bad spending habits now rather than later. This is because we would be forced to live within our means, prioritize our spending and make real cuts immediately. The ugly truth is that there simply isn't enough testicular fortitude in Washington today to undertake such adult action.

For some additional reading, check out Senator Pat Toomey's Op Ed at Real Clear Politics.  Toomey points out that should the US default on its debts, the blame must be laid at the feet of Turbo Tax Cheat Timmy Geithner.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: CBS News
Via: Hot Air

Via: Real Clear Politics