Blame for Downturn Not Fixed on Obama-6 in 10 Back His Handling of Economy

[babylonsister]

Blame for Downturn Not Fixed on Obama
6 in 10 Back His Handling of Economy


During an open town hall meeting at the White House about the economy, President Obama listens to a question posed via Web camera by students identified as Alex, Kristin and Mallory, all sophomores at Kent State in Ohio, who asked about college loans and national service.


By Jon Cohen and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, March 31, 2009; Page A01


The number of Americans who believe that the nation is headed in the right direction has roughly tripled since Barack Obama's election, and the public overwhelmingly blames the excesses of the financial industry, rather than the new president, for turmoil in the economy, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

At this early stage in his presidency, Obama continues to benefit from a broadly held perception that others should bear the bulk of responsibility for the severe economic problems that confront his administration. Americans see plenty of offenders, but only about a quarter blame the president and his team for an economy that's in the ditch.

Despite the increasing optimism about the future, the nation's overall mood remains gloomy, and doubts are rising about some of the administration's prescriptions for the economic woes. Independents are less solidly behind Obama than they have been, fewer Americans now express confidence that his economic programs will work, barely half of the country approves of how the president is dealing with the federal budget deficit, and the political climate is once again highly polarized.

The percentage of Americans in the new poll who said the country is on the right track still stands at just 42 percent, but that is the highest percentage saying so in five years and marks a sharp turnabout from last fall, when as many as nine in 10 said the country was heading in the wrong direction. Fifty-seven percent now consider the nation as moving on the wrong track.

Overall perceptions about the country parallel a rapid increase in the percentage of Americans who say the economy is improving. For the first time since late 2004, the gap between the numbers saying the economy is getting better and those saying it's getting worse is in the single digits (27 percent to 36 percent).

Two-thirds of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling the country's top job, and six in 10 give him good marks on issue No. 1, the flagging economy. Those figures are little changed from last month. But he receives lower marks for dealing with the federal budget deficit after submitting a plan that would see continued huge deficits over the next decade. Fifty-two percent back Obama on his approach to the deficit, with the public split about evenly over whether belt-tightening or big increases in spending should be used to try to improve the economy.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033003415.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

[onehandle]

1. But we're DOOMED. And it's his fault. The GOP says so. 24/7. In every media imaginable.

I just don't know who to believe anymore.

GOP toadies. Or people.

[LynnTheDem]

2. At least we're in the majority of the American opinion, babylonsis!

If not on DU.

:eyes:

[babylonsister]

3. I hear you, Lynn. I try to

ignore the naysayers, 'cept when I don't. :evilgrin:

[Occam Bandage]

4. Obviously they polled fake Democrats and not the True Progressives here on DU.

True Progressives know Obama is worse than Bush.

[babylonsister]

6. Have you poked a hole in your cheek with your tongue?

:rofl:

[Jennicut]

7. The polling was fixed, don't trust anyone!

Obama is the biggest capitalist loving corporate whore ever!

[redqueen]

8. Hah.

I was just thinking the same thing. :)

[ClarkUSA]

5. Krugman, Limbaugh and their ihateobama followers will be so disappointed at this shocking news.