Maddow: Why republicans should never say their agenda is "what people want".
For the right, this is a terrible argument, in part because the GOP leaders are wrong, and in part because it relies on an unhelpful premise -- the more Republicans say policymakers should care about "what people want," the more difficult it is for them to explain why they're ignoring the wishes of the American mainstream.
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Take immigration, for example. A new ABC News/Washington Post poll, released this morning, included this chart showing public attitudes on various ideas to improve the existing immigration system. The main components of President Obama's immigration-reform agenda all enjoy the support of a clear a majority of Americans. And yet, Republican opposition to reform remains strong, regardless of "what people want."
A new national Morning Joe/Marist poll, also published this morning, found most Americans also want expanded background checks for gun purchases, and by a 2-to-1 margin, want policymakers to prioritize job creation over deficit reduction. The results on economic policy echo recent findings from Gallup. A variety of national polls also show most Americans support marriage equality. It, too, is "what people want."
The first issue is the gap between the wishes of the American mainstream and the demands of the Republican base. Most of the country supports immigration reform, new gun laws, civil rights, a balanced approach to debt reduction, budget deals that leave Medicare intact, etc., but most GOP voters believe the exact opposite. Republican policymakers have a choice -- listen to the will of the electorate or listen to the will of their electorate -- and they obviously prioritize the latter.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/04/03/17584766-what-people-want
