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GOP Pollster Baffled After Poll Shows Republicans Think Trump Has More Power Than Governors--It Did Not Go Well
Frank Luntz—a conservative pollster, pundit, and 2010 Lie of the Year winner—has worked to define Republican causes and talking points for decades now.
So he was understandably baffled with a recent poll indicating a stark reversal from a defining principle of the Republican party.
Luntz responded to a recent YouGov poll regarding the current dispute between the nation's governors and President Donald Trump.
Governors across the country implemented stay-at-home orders to curb the virus that's caused a national health crisis in the United States from spreading. Trump, eager to begin touting the economy in favor of his reelection, is chomping at the bit to see these orders scaled back.
Trump falsely insisted that he has "total" authority to scale back these orders himself.
Predictably eager to fall in line with whatever the President says, a majority of Republicans agreed that federal powers supersede state powers.
Do Americans think the President of the United States or state governors have the ultimate authority to decide whenâ�¦ https://t.co/OMHSFGgsJO— YouGovUS (@YouGovUS) 1586964608.0
Of all voting groups, Republicans are the only ones who believe Trump's power supercedes that of governors with it comes to loosening stay at home orders.
And Luntz was at a loss.
Câ��mon, Republicans â�� this is textbook federalism. https://t.co/Ru92W80rdh— Frank Luntz (@Frank Luntz) 1586965023.0
As Luntz mentions, a mainstay of the Republican party platform has been the sanctity of states' rights. The conservative invocation of states' rights has been used to stall everything from same-sex marriage to gun control to voting rights.
People pointed out that Luntz has spent his career helping the party get to this point of blind devotion to an executive, instead of the principles upon which the party has traditionally been based.
The House That Frank Built https://t.co/tAOWajuMIZ— EF (@EF) 1586967066.0
My new favorite genre of tweet is "Republicans reckoning with what their party really is." https://t.co/2NhK4FUyUI— Christopher Keelty ð��³ï¸�â��ð��� (@Christopher Keelty ð��³ï¸�â��ð���) 1586965474.0
@FrankLuntz Come on, Frank Their principles were always for sale You knew this— Jay333N (@Jay333N) 1586965297.0
@FrankLuntz These are your people Frank. Congrats!— J. Andrew Moss (@J. Andrew Moss) 1586966182.0
@FrankLuntz Câ��mon dude, donâ��t act surprised.— puff puff pass (@puff puff pass) 1586969250.0
The Republican Party's platform is far more streamlined now: whatever Trump says goes.
@FrankLuntz It's a cult now, Frank. Whatever the Leader wants, they'll support.— Steve Lieberman (@Steve Lieberman) 1586965726.0
@FrankLuntz lol when MAGA-devotion supercedes long standing GOP principles. This is a good indicator of how many wiâ�¦ https://t.co/sf6rOwae3N— WTF IS HAPPENING (@WTF IS HAPPENING) 1586965543.0
@FrankLuntz I don't think this will be a surprise to anyone, but being a Republican today (not a conservative) hasâ�¦ https://t.co/69aUN3Dp8y— Hacking Mile (@Hacking Mile) 1586970166.0
Maybe Republican politicos should begin addressing the elephant in the room—and in the White House—before feigning ignorance at how we got here.
For a look into how the Republican party became the party of Trump, check out It Was All a Lie, available here.