Republicans find themselves in awkward position

Apparently the White House's efforts to make the cuts clear and specific to the states, is opening up the possibility that Republican governors pressure their colleagues in Congress to ease up.  Politico reports, according to Greg Sargent, that "some seem to be edging up ever so gingerly to the idea."

They don’t say so in those terms, but many of them are urging all parties to come to the table to make a deal. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is urging lawmakers to figure out a way to avert the sequester, but as Politico notes, he no longer appears to be willing to blame only Obama for the current standoff. ...Greg Sargent, WaPo

Even more to the point, a poll just out confirms that 69% are firmly opposed to cuts to the "entitlement" programs -- Medicare and Social Security.

High numbers of both Republicans and Democrats said they would oppose cuts to social programs: 62 percent of Republicans and 82 percent of Democrats opposed cutting Medicare and Social Security, while just 29 percent of Republicans and 12 percent of Democrats supported potential cuts in those areas. 

Notably, a higher percentage of Republicans opposed cuts to social programs (62 percent) than professed opposition to defense cuts (56 percent). 

Further underlining the general preference for reductions in defense spending over cuts to social programs, 37 percent of respondents said America spends too much on the military, while just 18 percent said America spends too little. ...The Hill

Comments

[Joseph]

I was just commenting on this yesterday. It seems that now that the election season is passed republican governors are taking a step back from the ideological cliff. First the embracing of so-called Obamacare, and now this. Before you know it, they'll be radical moderates.

[Jay Salter]

Regarding the beltway perception that the President and the Dems must take the hit, PLEASE read THIS, by an actual journalist:
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/sequestration-by-state-022513
Courage, shuffle the cards.
Jay Salter

[PW]

That's terrific, Jay -- thanks! I do most of my work in the early am, so hadn't yet seen that Pierce.