Since the elections last week a number of conservative politicians and political pundits have suggested that the Republican wins were a mandate. The question is; a mandate for what?
Republican's didn't have a national issue that they rode to victory. Some Republican ran on the belief that the economy was broken and need to be fixed while others suggested the economy was flourishing under their tutelage. Many Republicans resorted to fear mongering over the faint threats of ISIS and Ebola. Essentially the only issue that Republican candidates agreed on was making this election about President Obama. While effective, this is hardly and endorsement of standard Republican policy.
The reality is that the congressional Republican agenda stands in stark contrast to the interests of the general public. For example while Republican legislators have voted over 50 times on some form of repeal of the Affordable Care Act (affectionately known as Obamacare) only 39% of Americans support a repeal. Instead 57% want to keep the law in place.
Of course Republican legislators’ views on the ACA are just one of many topics where their opinion diverges from voters.
For years Republican politicians have been looking for ways to eliminate a women's right to choose however only 22% of the public agrees with this stance. Even in deeply red states so called "personhood" measures have been soundly defeated.
Many Republican lawmakers have fought tooth and nail to keep same sex couples from enjoying the benefits of marriage in spite of the fact that such bigotry has been deemed unconstitutional by a number of courts. All told just 42% of Americans currently agree with the Republican position. But perhaps worst yet for these Republicans is the data that shows nearly 8 out of 10 adults between the age of 18 and 29 support marriage equality.
President Obama made income inequality a top concern for his administration however Republican legislators have so far stood in the way of any meaningful legislation to address what many economists see as a serious concern for economic growth. This despite the reality that 67% of Americans are dissatisfied with the current wealth distribution. In fact a minimum wage increase which is thought to be a solution to the income inequality issue not only is their strong support for an increase of the minimum wage to $10.10 but four red states voted in favor of raising their states minimum wage.
The power of the NRA to manipulate politician's, especially Republican politician's, resulted in the death of a bill that would have approved universal background checks despite the fact that 92% of voters and 92% of gun owners support such a measure.
When discussing climate change many Republican have resorted to the party approved talking point of "I'm not a scientist". Apparently they believe their lack of knowledge is a valid excuse to act in opposition to what 84% of those who are scientist agree upon. Of course being completely devoid of qualifications doesn't seem to matter to these same Republican politicians on issues like abortion, the economy or poverty. Having said that, regardless of whether people believe in the science behind climate change 74% of Americans support regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A full 81% of Americans believe we should have net neutrality instead of offering the Republican backed position of "fast lanes".
More than 8 in 10 Americans supported a Senate bill that would have given illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship. Unfortunately this bill was shelved by the Republican controlled House.
Republican politicians stand in opposition to legalizing pot despite the increasing number of states that have voted in favor of decriminalization.
Public education and teachers in particular have come under attacks by Republican politicians across the country even though 75% of parents are satisfied with their child's education. So while Republican continue to sell the idea of a crisis in education that can only be fixed by eliminating teachers unions, paying teacher less, and corporatizing students Americans believe that lack of funding is the biggest problem currently facing education. Additionally two thirds of American's say they would pay more taxes to help struggling cash strapped urban schools.
Americans also disagree with Republican politicians on the use of vouchers in public education with 56% of responding against using public funds for private schools.
This is also true of vouchers for Medicare where only 34% of Americans support such a change.
Of course these only represent a small portion of the divide that exists between Republican politicians and the general public. 80% of Americans are against the Citizen's United ruling, only 28% of Americans agree with the Republican assertion that we spend too little on the military, 83% of Americans are against an increase in student loan rates, 55% of Americans believe Capital Gains should be taxed at the same rate as other income not at a lower rate or at zero like many Republican legislators believe, just 40% of Americans support the Republican position of cutting food stamps, and 60% of Americans favor raising taxes on the rich.
In the end the best thing Republicans had going for them in this election was the fact that they weren't in the same party as President Obama. It would be a huge mistake for them to act as though this was an endorsement of their policies - a mistake they seem likely to make. A mistake that seems destined to be part of the 2016 Republican autopsy.
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