A new CNN poll on a potential Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown failed to ask whether Senate Democrats should take the blame, even though they are filibustering the DHS spending bill.
The CNN/ORC Internationalpoll only asked whether Republicans in Congress or President Barack Obama would be more responsible if funding for the agency is not renewed. The poll, which surveyed 1,027 adults, found that 53 percent blamed the GOP, while 30 percent blamed Obama.
CNN did not give respondents the opportunity to blame Democrats, who have blocked a House bill that would continue funding the agency but prohibit the government from enacting the president’s executive actions on immigration.
The Washington Post, Politico, MSNBC, Huffington Post, Mediate, and the Hill each published articles on the poll, pushing the narrative that the GOP would take the blame.
The poll also did not mention that DHS funding is in question due to Republican opposition to President Obama’s amnesty order, which was blocked by a federal judge this week.
A majority of Americans (51 percent) disapprove of the president’s move to grant legal status to 5 million illegal aliens, according to Gallup.
DHS funding will expire on Feb. 27 unless Congress can reach an agreement. However, the shutdown would only affect a minimal amount of DHS employees deemed "nonessential."
CNN has noted, "Many of DHS' most fundamental operations won't be impacted."
If the agency shuts down, 50,000 TSA screeners, 40,000 active duty Coast Guard members, 13,000 immigration law enforcement officers, 40,000 border patrol and customs officers, and 4,000 Secret Service agents would still be required to work, CNN reported.
The CNN poll did find that 59 percent of Americans disapprove of President Obama’s handling of illegal immigration. Only 40 percent approve.