Public Wary of Deficit, Economic Intervention

WSJ ^ | 6/18/09

[FromLori]

WASHINGTON -- After a fairly smooth opening, President Barack Obama faces new concerns among the American public about the budget deficit and government intervention in the economy as he works to enact ambitious health and energy legislation, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds.

These rising doubts threaten to overshadow the president's personal popularity and his agenda, in what may be a new phase of the Obama presidency.

"The public is really moving from evaluating him as a charismatic and charming leader to his specific handling of the challenges facing the country," says Peter D. Hart, a Democratic pollster who conducts the survey with Republican Bill McInturff. Going forward, he says, Mr. Obama and his allies "are going to have to navigate in pretty choppy waters."

There's good news for the administration, too, including tentative support for Mr. Obama's health-care plan and approval of his nominee for the Supreme Court. The public seems more optimistic about the country's economic future than it did a few weeks earlier, and Americans are still more likely to blame the last administration for the deficit.

But the poll suggests Mr. Obama faces challenges on multiple fronts, including growing concerns about government spending and the bailout of auto companies. A majority of people also disapprove of his decision to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Nearly seven in 10 survey respondents said they had concerns about federal interventions into the economy, including Mr. Obama's decision to take an ownership stake in General Motors Corp., limits on executive compensation and the prospect of more government involvement in health care. The negative feeling toward the GM rescue was reflected elsewhere in the survey as well.

[ABQHispConservative]

They keep saying that 0 is popular, despite falling approval. That line really grates me. What are they going to say when his approval is at 20%? Then again, the MSM has a tingle on their leg every time they think about 0.

[dannyboy72a]

Any poll made public during this administration is useless. That is true of most administrations, but for this administration polling is being used with the result already written and only the ‘right’ poll responders to be found.

With the amount of money that has flowed out to unknown sources, the left has flush pockets to secure every national election for the next 5 decades. A conservative would have to carry 70% of the electorate to win a razor thin victory. I put D corruption at a 12+ point buffer - comprised of dead voters, voter intimidation, made up ballots, multi-state voting, state-jumping voters, found ballots in backseats, etc.

[Deb]

Even the people who are attempting to expose the Obama power-grab keep repeating the P.R. lies. Since when is bone-crushingly dull and mind-numbingly boring “charismatic”? This grinning mannequin is guaranteed to induce sleep within 60 seconds. He’s a walking, vapid cliche.

[kara2008]

From the article:

"Laura Zamora, 40, of Orange, Calif., voted for Mr. Obama but says she is frustrated by the economy and finds her support for the president waning.

"He's bailing out the private sector. He's putting all kinds of money into the private sector," says Mrs. Zamora. "The money should be going to social programs, not to bailing out banks and GM. It should go to people who are unemployed."

This quote is so disturbing. But, at least the very confused Sheeple are starting to wonder why Barry hasn't delivered their pie (and new kitchen, new car, Chicken McNuggets etc).

[hope]

O-fatigue so soon?

[hope]

"The money should be going to social programs, not to bailing out banks and GM. It should go to people who are unemployed."

hahahaha, fools!

[torchthemummy]

Remember when reading this article that this is the news side of the WSJ that leans left.

[reformedliberal]

However, if he loses the gimme pie crowd, we have a better chance of him being only a one-termer.

These moochers have no idea where the money comes from. No private sector=no jobs=no profits=no tax revenues. They can try to confiscate and nationalize everything, but still, the time comes when there is nothing left for the moochers to loot.