Throw the bums out

January 4, 2006

With the kind of message discipline usually reserved for Republicans, Democrats in DC have been criticizing the “culture of corruption” theme for a year now. Republicans, of course, have made it easier by consistently giving Dems new opportunities to push the phrase, but the fact remains that the public seems to believe it.

About half of U.S. adults believe most members of Congress are corrupt, a poll released Tuesday suggests.

According to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, 49 percent of respondents said most members of Congress are corrupt. Although 46 percent of respondents said most aren’t, the margin of sampling error — plus or minus 4.5 percent — makes it clear that the perception of congressional politicians is largely negative.

Congress’ image could emerge as an election topic, with 55 percent of respondents saying corruption will be “the most important” or a “very important” issue to consider when voting in November, when all 435 House seats, and 33 Senate seats, will be decided.

The one question that wasn’t asked that might be interesting is, “Do you think your member of Congress is corrupt?” A lot of people may have a reflexive disgust for politicians, particularly now with so many political scandals in the news, but if these same people think their representatives are the salt of the earth, these poll results lack a certain salience.

For that matter, it would also be interesting to know if the same poll questions produced similar results several years ago, before Republican scandals started dominating the headlines. These results suggest Americans are pretty disgusted, but is this just a constant level of repulsion for politics in general, or are people actually angrier now based on recent events?

As for partisanship, 19% said “almost all” Republicans are corrupt, while an additional 28% said “many.” Democrats did better, but only by a very little — 17% said “almost all” Dems are corrupt, while 27% said “many.”

This pox-on-both-houses sentiment may suggest that the current mood will punish both sides equally, but I’m not so sure. If voters want to throw the bums out, Republicans should worry — they’re in the majority, so they have more bums.

It’s true. Lord knows I’d love to take back the House, but I doubt even this will be enough to do it. If there is significant bipartisan turnover, I think that’s healthy too. More Republicans will probably fall as a result of a corruption “housecleaning,” not enough to swing it over, but enough to damage the irob-clad discipline of the PArty. Getting a bunch of new guys in there (even Republicans) will be good.

  • If the Abramoff scandal lives up to its billing,
    it will be interesting to see the results of the
    same poll a couple of months from now, or
    are we going to be shielded from his songs
    until after the election?

    And it probably won’t live up to its billing.
    Have to remember that. Plamegate had
    several going down, and Cheney resigning.

    Anyway, this poll shows that not much
    change is in the offing for 2006. I’ve seen
    results before where Americans believe
    their Congressmen are fine – it’s the rest
    of them who are bums. I bet it’s the same
    now. And there’s no significant differences in
    the results of this poll between Dems and Repubs,
    which is surprising in light of the Repubs problems.
    Which shows how really tough it’s going to be
    change anything. And the Dems don’t seem
    to be trying very hard – just waiting for the
    Repubs to implode. Ain’t happening.

  • But it’s no good news for the Democrats. What it is is ripe news for alternative third parties. Or better yet, massive reform.

    “Do you think your member of Congress is corrupt?”

    I’ve no doubt anyone here represented by a Republican isn’t happy with him. I’m fairly lucky to be represented by a guy I trust, Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in the House, and in the senate by Ron Wyden (D-OR) but also unfortunately Gordon Smith (R-OR) who’s no Rick Santorum, just a typical Republican, and doesn’t really speak out against his party a whole heck of a lot. I figure it’s a give and take. Oregon’s about evenly divided, politically, so they have their senator and we have ours, and I sort of leave it at that. I think a lot of Oregonians probably think similarly.

  • It comes down to the individual districts, and how well the individual Republicans can be tied to the dirt. As no Dems are involved it would be hard to tarnish them.

    Also, who turns out to vote will be the deciding factor. Will the Republican leaners be turned off and not show? Will Dems be angry and turn out in large numbers? What will the Indies do?

  • Mr. Furious:
    I agree with you. I think the R’s will be hurt, but not enough to lose the House.

    I think of congressmen as “legislator scum.” There’s good scum and there’s bad scum, but they’re all scum, including mine (Mike McCaul – Texas) Took ARMPAC money from DeLay and voted with him 96% of the time. Then sends out letters about how he’s “working to improve the lives of Texas children and their families.” I could just gag.

  • The Republicans in the Abramoff scandal include: Bob Ney, Tom DeLay, Conrad Burns, Doolittle …

    The only Democrat that I heard that received money from Abramoff was Sen. Bryon Dorgan of North Dakota. Has anybody heard about any other Democrats?

  • If the new report I heard this morning isn’t mistaken, this poll was taken BEFORE Abramoff’s guilty plea. Since then, the media profile of Washington corruption has skyrocketed, and has overwhelmingly cast an ill light on the right.

    I’d be interested to see what a similar poll says in a week or two.

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