AEI Political Report: Republicans On Their Party And Their Lleaders In Congress

by Karlyn Bowman, Eleanor O'Neil, and Heather Sims: How dissatisfied are Republicans with their party and with its members of Congress?

The November issue of AEI's Political Report provides the answer, as Paul Ryan contemplates leading the troops. Also, Donald Trump thinks the United States has lost its standing in the world and at home; this Political Report examines whether Americans agree. Finally, we look at what Americans have said over time about the acceptability of presidential candidates' personal traits and behaviors. Would Americans vote for someone with a previous DUI conviction?

Republicans in Congress

• Poor performance review: Twenty-two percent nationally approve of the job Republican leaders in Congress are doing, compared to 33 percent who approve of the job Democratic leaders in Congress are doing (Pew). Twenty-six percent of Republican registered voters approve of the way Republicans in Congress are handling their job (Quinnipiac).
• The state of the GOP: Forty-nine percent of Tea Party Republicans, compared to 25 percent of non–Tea Party Republicans, think a new Republican leader in Congress will make Republicans more successful in passing legislation (Gallup). Fifty-three percent of Republicans describe the GOP as being more divided than united (YouGov).

America's standing in the world and at home

• Is America less powerful? Forty-eight percent say the United States plays a less important and powerful role as a world leader today compared to 10 years ago. Sixty-one percent say the US is less respected in the world today (Chicago Council on Global Affairs).
• Is America still great? More Americans have consistently said America is in a state of decline than not, with current responses split 49 to 48 percent (NBC News/The Wall Street Journal). In September 2015, 72 percent said the United States today is either falling behind or failing (Bloomberg/Selzer & Co.).

Candidates and comfort levels

• Willing to vote for . . . ? In 1937, 33 percent said they would be willing to vote for a woman for president, 46 percent for a Jew, and 60 percent for a Catholic. Today, more than 9 in 10 would vote for such candidates (Gallup). This year, 47 percent said they would be willing to vote for a candidate who is a socialist (Gallup). In 2013, 47 percent said they would not vote for a candidate who had been arrested for a DUI (YouGov).
• Marijuana and marital status: Three-fourths say, and have said for some time, that a candidate's past marijuana use would not matter to their vote (CBS News). In 2014, 71 percent said they would be very or somewhat likely to consider voting for a candidate who has never been married (Harris).

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