GOP's problem is their message, not just their brand

Via Josh Kahn at The Next Right, a new poll finds that voters like the Democratic messages better on the key issues of the economy, Iraq, trade, and taxes. (Yes, taxes.) The interesting thing about this poll is that some questions asked people whether they agreed with the Democrats' message without attributing it to the Democratic Party.

Let's start with the economy. When voters know what party each message comes from, we [Republicans] lose 37% to 58% and trail among independents by 18%. Ouch. However, when you read both messages without telling voters who they come from, the story gets worse.

Republican voters like the Democrats' message more than their own party's message by a large 14% margin when they don't know which party it comes from. Just as disturbing, numbers among independents drop by another 10%... giving the Democrats a massive 28% advantage. Even our horrifically damaged image is better than our message on the economy. Independents and even Republicans simply like the Democrats' plan more than ours. [...]

When the parties' names are removed [on the tax question], Independents are almost evenly split, giving the Democrats' message a small 5% advantage. However, Republican voters stampede away from the GOP message. Among Republicans, support for the GOP message on taxes drops by a gargantuan 53% when the parties' names are removed, leaving the Democrats with a 14% advantage. You read that right; on the nonpartisan test, Independents like the GOP message on taxes more than Republicans do, and even Independents slightly favor the Democrats.

It's what we've been saying all along — Americans agree with us on the issues, and they prefer the direction that Democrats want to take the country. The entire Republican strategy for the past 30 years has been to distract Americans from this fact (by focusing on abortion, gay marriage, flag-burning amendments, prayer in schools, etc., etc.). It'll be very bad for the GOP if the news gets out that Americans don't want lower taxes, less government, and so-called "family values" and instead want effective government that solves problems, a fair tax structure, and equality under the law.

And if you think this poll is an outlier, a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found similar results last July. On 16 of 20 issues, including taxes, respondents trusted Democrats more.