Democracy Has Prevailed.

March 4, 2017

Senator Toomey's Poll Data Hypocrisy

In his recent defense of Trump's address to the Congress, Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey wrote this:
The American people overwhelmingly want the Democrats to take the same approach-to reach across the aisle and look to cooperate with President Trump where possible. There are many issues where a bipartisan Congress and the President can make real progress: reforming the tax code, fixing our schools, improving our broken health care system. I hope my Democrat colleagues will look at each discrete issue, work constructively, and then decide whether or not to support an idea based on its merits. Unfortunately, some of my friends on the other side of the aisle may be hearing a call to promote gridlock. I hope the recent level of obstructionism, meant to prevent the President from even having advice from his own cabinet, does not foretell their approach to legislation.

None of us will agree with the President all the time. Nevertheless, the country needs lawmakers to resist the call of obstructionism and work with the President, where they can, to tackle the great fiscal, economic, and security challenges of our time.
First Senator, you're not exactly being truthful about that poll you cite, are you?  Here's what it says:
A nationwide poll of 2,148 registered voters by Harvard University’s Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) and the Harris Poll reveals a strong yearning for compromise and bi-partisanship after a tumultuous honeymoon period for the Trump administration. More than 2 in 3 registered voters (68%) believe President Trump should compromise on his agenda and work together with Congress, and nearly 3 in 4 registered voters (73%) feel Democrats should look to cooperate with President Trump and his administration to make deals on the issues they support, rather than boycott and resist. [Emphasis added.]
It's "on issues they support," not on issues "where possible."  Any issue is a "where possible" issue, isn't it?

Granted, it's a nuanced skew on your part, but it's a skew none the less.

And by the way, where's the part about how that same poll says that 68% believe Trump "should compromise on his agenda"?  Why did you leave that part out in your attack on your "Democrat colleagues?"  Nearly as many think that he should compromise than think that Democrats should cooperate with Trump on issues they support (see how that works?) Where's your call to Trump for him to compromise?

Why did you decide to leave that part out?

In any event, if you want some cooperation, you can start by being a tad more courteous and dump the incorrect "Democrat" in favor of the correct "Democratic"  when you're picking out adjectives for your political opponents.

Oh and let me ask you this: don't you think it's hypocritical of you to cite poll data to back this whole argument up?  Democrats should cooperate, you say, because the American people say so.

Where was that exact same idea 11 months ago when 64% of the American people wanted the GOP-controlled Senate to hold hearings and vote on Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland?

Do you think we've forgotten your participation in GOP obstructionism?


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