COMMENTARY | The tea party faction of the Republican Party has lost ground in the court of public opinion, according to a recent CBS News/New York Times poll. In fact, it appears it was the tea party's perceived role in the debt ceiling debate, where many believe its intransigence led to unnecessary stalemate, brinksmanship maneuvering, fears of government shutdown and debt default, and economic instability in the world's markets, that precipitated the fall in poll numbers.
According to the poll, 40 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of anti-tax, less government movement, down 15 percent from a poll taken in February and 11 percent since April. It is also the worst numbers compiled by the tea party since the question was first raised by The Times in April 2010.
Even worse news for the faction that many Democratic leaders and pundits referred to as "hostage takers" and "terrorists" with regard to the debt ceiling/budget deficit reduction negotiations are the numbers in the "no opinion" category. In April 2010, those who said they did not know enough about the movement to venture an opinion was 46 percent (with another 14 percent undecided).
That number has now dropped to 21 percent (with 18 percent undecided). Those holding a favorable opinion stands at 20 percent, down 6 percent since April, when the tea party was at its most popular (and just before passage of the 2011 federal budget).
The poll indicated Americans were far more likely to blame Republicans for the "difficulties in reaching agreement" during the debt ceiling debate (47 percent to 29 percent over Democrats, with 20 percent blaming both parties equally). An overwhelming majority (82 percent) felt that the debt ceiling debate was used more to gain political advantage than to do what was right for the country (14 percent). Still, overall approval for the results of debt talks was a 46-45 near-split among respondents.
The tea party's uncompromising approach to governance may be at odds with the general public, although some of those hard lines drawn in their respective campaigns for Congress were likely to have been attractive to certain constituencies. But since politics is often a game of give-and-take, of advantage and advantage delayed, intransigence is anathema to a beneficial governing environment.
The American public showed its understanding of the need to compromise in several recent polls, calling on Congress to employ spending cuts to the federal budget as well as revenue increases. However, many Republicans -- and in particular Tea Party Caucus members -- refused to countenance revenue increases of any kind.
The poll is a reflection of how Americans view that particular method of governing.
Since its inception in 2008-2009, the grass roots movement has grown to become a loose-knit organization of several factions, becoming popular enough to affect many elections during the 2010 midterms. However, perceptions of extremism and hard-line conservative stances have seen the movement stay within controversial political parameters.
The Times poll noted 43 percent of respondents believe that the tea party has too much power within the GOP. And if the trend continues (The Times poll corroborated an April Gallup poll which showed disapproval of the tea party on the rise as well), it could very well see the faction lose members of Congress come 2012.
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