Americans Want a "Center-Left" Country

A new poll just released by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner shows that, contrary to the most recent righty radio talking point, Americans want a "center-LEFT" country:

Key Findings

Obama’s honeymoon. Despite the attacks during the campaign, almost 60 percent came to view the President-elect favorably and believe he has what it takes to be president. And voters want both parties to work with the new president and his agenda to get the change done.

The mandate. Voters are looking above all for a new middle class economics that cuts taxes for the middle class and asks the richest and corporations to pay their share, a focus on a jobs-led recovery that restores America’s long-term strength, major action to achieve energy independence and affordable health care for all, and a responsible end to the Iraq war.

A new coalition. Obama’s election also created a new coalition of groups that not only looks more politically durable, but that re-enforces the image of the Democrats as more future-oriented, open and growing. Obama won the support of nearly two-thirds of African Americans, Latinos and Asians while also making some gains with white voters. He also won nearly two-thirds of unmarried women and young voters. He took 60 percent of post-graduates and remarkably, 55 percent in the suburbs. Along with winning back many Catholic voters and union households, and running respectably in rural areas, Obama was able to put together an impressive, cross-country victory.

A center-left nation. On virtually every dimension of the liberal-conservatism debate, voters have moved to a new place. They show a new openness for the country to use government for a range of public purposes; support for multilateralism over a go-it-alone, military-centered policy is at historic highs; 54 percent saying homosexuality should be accepted, not discouraged. Yet, voters remain cautious about government spending and taxes after eight years of bloated spending, deficits, corruption, incompetence and special-interest rule.