Right-wing politicians and their media mouthpieces like Fox News have failed to persuade Americans that the federal deficit is more important to their survival than US social safety nets.
What a breath of fresh air.
A new Fox News poll was released and the results are devastating to Republicans at large.
Moreover, the poll finds 71% think it is more important to fund the entitlement programs at their current levels than reduce the deficit (26%).
That’s a major change from a decade ago, when a slim majority (54%) said continuing funding programs was important and 40% preferred cutting the budget (April 2013).
In almost all aspects related to US social safety nets (Republicans try to characterize them as entitlements), the democratic party has been successful in explaining to the working class how important they are to their well being.
On Fox News Sunday, host Shannon Bream put up a graphic of the Fox News poll and then her producers quickly took it down.
Speaking to Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, Bream mentioned the poll data.
"We asked people about how to get our fiscal house in order. 71% of them say they want these programs to remain untouched," Bream said.
Instead of discussing the poll results, the Fox News host charged that Democrats would use the news in an underhanded way.
"You know how Democrats are going to play this," she said. How should they play it, Shannon?
Fox News made sure to play audio of Rep. Omar, a Congresswoman Fox News vilifies at every turn.
"Republicans have made it perfectly clear they do not want to govern. they would rather target vulnerable communities scapegoat minorities. they would rather gut Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, slash Snap benefits and housing assistance that makes sure people have the housing and healthcare they need."
In this case Rep. Omar is spot on.
"So Democrats are going to say you guys are going to rip apart entitlements. Our polling shows people are afraid for those programs to be touched," Bream said.
Sen. Cassidy responded that the programs will face cuts if nothing is done and then played the both-sides are at fault game.
Of course the Senator offered no solutions.
With all the lies and hyperbolic chit chat about how our social safety nets are vaporizing, it's heartening to see these poll results.
