The Republicans continue to find themselves in a pattern with Obama. While they provoke conflict but as soon as the left-leaning media accuses them of creating a needless crisis, they go back to ‘responsible governance’ that is a result of panicking instead of opting for legislative confrontation.
And despite all the talk about dysfunction and the Republicans working with the Democrats which makes them look good politically speaking, the President, quite remarkably, also rebounds in the polls.
At the close of the 113th Congress, leaders promised to end showdowns and legislative cliffs and instead work for the people yet the result of it all: Obama’s favorability ratings have reached 53% which is an 18-month high. This usually occurs at the same time when the Republicans also believe that they are doing well at the polls too.
Yet it’s clear that Obama benefits when the approach of bipartisanship is taken and loses out when Congress takes an opposing posture.
When the debt-ceiling showdown as well as overspending took place, Obama’s approval ratings dipped below 40 percent and those numbers dropped even further during the 2013 Obamacare funding debate as well. So, when legislators make accommodations so as to avoid a stalemate, Obama clearly gains in numbers.
This is for the simple reason that the President to many voters is the government of the United States and in the absence of bad news, they will, more often than not, give him the benefit of doubt.
So, it only makes sense that while debate causes gridlock, both sides – conservatives and progressives – must be given the opportunity to present their visions for the country and let the voters’ decide as a result.
Thus, avoiding this to prevent dysfunction means only empowering Obama all that more – an aspect that the Republicans should consider more carefully.