By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A recent poll indicates that 47 percent of Americans hold Republicans accountable for the government shutdown, contrasting with the 30 percent who blame Democrats. The poll, conducted by The Washington Post, surveyed 1,010 Americans and found that the most common sentiment regarding the shutdown was “somewhat concerned.” Despite President Trump’s efforts to assign blame to Democrats, including the use of artificial intelligence and government messaging, the majority of Americans place responsibility on the GOP, particularly given their control of all branches of government. This shutdown affects federal workers, who face unpaid leave, and also impacts essential services such as the military and TSA.
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Trump’s Spin Not Convincing Voters Dems Are Responsible for Shutdown – Significantly more Americans view the president as at fault for the government shutdown, according to a new poll.
Well, it’s really not surprising, is it? When the government grinds to a halt, and one party controls all the levers of power, the blame game usually points squarely at the top. This whole situation really feels like a textbook example of “the buck stops here,” a lesson it seems some folks in Washington are still learning. And, honestly, considering the sheer volume of past pronouncements on this very subject, you’d think it would be pretty straightforward. Remember those old quotes? “If there is a shutdown, I think it would be a tremendously negative mark on the president of the United States. He’s the one who has to get people together,” and “A shutdown falls on the President’s lack of leadership. He can’t even control his own party and get people together in a room. A shutdown means the president is weak.” Oh, and let’s not forget, “The president is the leader, and he’s got to get everybody in a room and he’s got to lead.” These were the very words spoken by the man who is now, apparently, struggling to convince everyone else it’s not his fault.
Calling his rhetoric “spin” feels overly generous, to be honest. It’s more like a series of disconnected pronouncements that lack any real cohesion. It’s hard to argue with the basic fact that when you control the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, you are, by default, in charge. The average person, for better or worse, tends to hold the president accountable. And, hey, there’s a certain consistency in that, even if it isn’t always pleasant for the person in the Oval Office. It’s pretty clear to see who’s in charge.
He has been employing the same tactics he’s used for years – the refusal to negotiate, the demand that everyone just accept his terms, and the insistence that any perceived fault is someone else’s. It’s a strategy that probably works great with contractors, but it’s not exactly winning hearts and minds on a national scale. The recent video of him saying these very words is probably not helping him.
It seems that 53% of people either don’t know, don’t care, or somehow still think the Democrats are to blame. It’s almost mind-boggling, and it makes you wonder what kind of reality people are living in. There’s a reason his approval ratings have been up and down like a rollercoaster – it’s the simple truth of who holds the power. The current president owns the situation, plain and simple. He can say what he likes, but the public isn’t buying it. The lies are failing.
The constant finger-pointing on federal websites, the repeated insistence that others are to blame, it all just amplifies the responsibility resting on the shoulders of the president. The fact that the current president holds all the cards makes this so easy. What are we, living in a world where the South won the Civil War? The bottom line is this is his fault. Remember, he’s on record saying as much himself.
If you are a Republican or MAGA supporter, try to go just one week thinking that perhaps all the information you are consuming is not the truth. Try to see yourself in a neutral position. It is very possible that those who are the loudest aren’t necessarily right.
Now, of course, the shutdown itself is a complex issue with a lot of nuances. But the simple truth is the president has the power to get things done. He is the leader. He’s the one who has to bring everyone together and hammer out a solution. And right now, it doesn’t appear that he’s doing such a good job.