GOP to Blame if Health Care Bill Fails

Original Link: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/09/22/wsjnbc-news-poll-gop-to-blame-if-health-care-bill-fails/

By Susan Davis

If a health care overhaul is not approved this year, a plurality of Americans said Republicans will be at fault, according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

More than one in three Americans, 37%, said congressional Republicans will be “most to blame” if the bill fails.

That’s almost four times the 10% of respondents who said President Barack Obama will be to blame, and nearly three times the 16% of respondents who said congressional Democrats will be to blame. Nearly a quarter, 23%, said all three will be to blame.

The results may be a surprise considering Democrats control the White House and Congress and therefore are much more responsible for the fate of the health care bill.

GOP lawmakers to date have been nearly unanimous in their opposition to proposed legislation on Capitol Hill. The opposition to the Democrats’ bill has been particularly contentious in recent weeks as seen in August town hall meetings and South Carolina GOP Rep. Joe Wilson’s shout of “You lie!” to Obama during his congressional address on health care earlier this month. The poll was conducted Sept. 17-20.