GOP Pollster Says Tax/Spending Debate Has Radically Shifted

Writing in the Los Angeles Times [1], Republican pollster Frank Luntz effectively admits that thanks to progressive pressure, the economic meltdown, and the disgusting spectacle known as the Wall Street bailout, public opinion on taxes/spending have radically shifted towards progressive goals, moving the real center of public opinion even farther to the left from the faux "center" in Washington, D.C.:

Last month, I conducted a national survey of 800 registered voters on their attitudes toward infrastructure investment...The survey's findings were unlike any other issue I have polled in more than a decade...A near unanimous 94% of Americans are concerned about our nation's infrastructure. And this concern cuts across all regions of the country and across urban, suburban and rural communities. Fully 84% of the public wants more money spent by the federal government -- and 83% wants more spent by state governments -- to improve America's infrastructure. And here's the kicker: 81% of Americans are personally prepared to pay 1% more in taxes for the cause.

This isn't "soft" support for infrastructure either. It stretches from Maine to Montana, from California to Connecticut. Democrats (87%) and Republicans (74%) are prepared to, in Barack Obama's words, put skin in the game, which tells you just how wide and deep the support is...

The context of the poll is clear: Americans have a serious case of bailout fatigue. They've seen government pony up to Wall Street and Motor City. Yet the stock market continues to fall, jobs continue to disappear and the spending just plain continues. Top executives received their Christmas bonuses, and the rest of America was left asking, "Where's my bailout check?"

Thus, as we push for a bigger stimulus package with more spending and less tax cuts, and as we try to stop Obama and Congress from cutting more blank checks to Wall Street, we should know that even top Republican pollsters see that ou efforts are supported by the vast majority of the American people. In other words, we the progressive movement are representing the real center of American public opinion - and it's our job to now force Washington to represent that real center, too.