PDA

View Full Version : Wash. Post/ABC Poll: Most Americans Back Obama on Stimulus, Mortgage Plans


Richard Tafoya
Feb 23rd, 2009, 06:21 PM
Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/23/AR2009022302176.html?hpid=topnews

As President Obama prepares to address a joint session of Congress tomorrow night, he receives strong grades for his first full month in office, as large majorities of Americans support his $787 billion economic stimulus package and the recently unveiled $75 billion plan for stemming mortgage foreclosures, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Nearly seven in 10 Americans believe Obama is delivering on his pledge to bring needed change to Washington, the poll found, and about eight in 10 say he is meeting or exceeding their expectations. At the same time, however, the bipartisan support he enjoyed as he prepared to take office has eroded substantially.

Just 37 percent of Republicans now approve of how he has done his job, a sharp drop from a month ago when 62 percent gave him good marks for his handling of the transition. Also, nearly seven in 10 Americans oppose making $14 billion in new loans to automakers General Motors and Chrysler, something Obama is considering in an effort to prop up the ailing industry and preserve jobs.

Richard Tafoya
Feb 23rd, 2009, 06:22 PM
Continued...

Overall, 68 percent of Americans approve of Obama's job performance, a finding that puts him on par with the average for past eight presidents at this point in their tenures. Ninety percent of Democrats and 67 percent of independents approve of Obama's job performance. Despite tax problems and stumbles that have led to three of Obama's top nominees withdrawing from consideration, 64 percent of Americans said they approve of how Obama is handling appointments to Cabinet posts and other top positions in the administration.

While Obama has encountered near unanimous GOP opposition to his stimulus plan in Congress and widespread criticism for a housing bailout plan some critics say rewards people who have been fiscally irresponsible, 64 percent of those polled back the economic recovery package and the same percentage backs the mortgage proposal.

Overall, 60 percent of poll respondents approve of how he is dealing with the economy.

About nine in 10 Democrats and seven in 10 independents said Obama is living up the central promise of his campaign and has succeeded in bringing change to Washington. Most Republicans, by contrast, said he has not.

DoubleEdgeSword
Feb 23rd, 2009, 06:27 PM
I don't get it. The Republicans were in power six of the last eight years. They had their chance and they ran this country off the road and into the ditch. What? They want more of the same? What? Honestly, I don't get it.

Whoda Thunk?
Feb 24th, 2009, 01:17 AM
I don't get it. The Republicans were in power six of the last eight years. They had their chance and they ran this country off the road and into the ditch. What? They want more of the same? What? Honestly, I don't get it.

I'm guessing they don't realize they ran the country into said ditch. How long did it take for a lot of them to admit the country was in serious trouble?

DoubleEdgeSword
Feb 24th, 2009, 04:59 AM
Some in Congress still don't admit it. They're wearing, "What's the rush?" buttons.

Or maybe it's "We believe in Rush!" buttons. Either way...