Wow, did ABC News actually try to put Obama's approval numbers in historical context?
December 16, 2009 12:38 pm ET by Eric Boehlert
Admittedly, it was a fleeting attempt, but hey at least ABC News tried [emphasis added]:
Fifty percent of Americans in this ABC News/Washington Post poll approve of the president's work overall, down 6 points in the last month; nearly as many, 46 percent, now disapprove. On the economy, 52 percent disapprove, a majority for the first time. On the deficit, his worst score, 56 percent disapprove.
Such numbers aren't unexpected; Ronald Reagan, in similar economic straits, dropped to 52 percent overall approval at this point in his presidency.
I've been making this point for weeks now and it's nice to see some journalists take note: despite the exaggerated rhetoric and non-stop hand-wringing about Obama's supposed poll collapse in recent months, his approval ratings remains almost identical to Ronald Reagan's 11 months into his first term.
Yes, that's the same Ronald Reagan who conservatives and most journalists considered to be one of the most successful presidents of the last half century. But boy, you read Obama's clips and he's not Ronald Reagan II, he's already Jimmy Cater II. Funny, how the 'liberal media' puts things in context.
And speaking of context, ABC News actually gets it a bit wrong with its Reagan reference. ABC News tries to suggest that at this point in his presidency, Reagan was already reeling in the polls due to an awful economy. That's not quite right. At this point in his presidency, Reagan was doing fine (he was viewed as a success) because prior to Obama's arrival in the White House, the D.C. press corps never considered a 50 percent job approval rating to be a failure. In previous administrations, a 50 percent approval ratings was considered a good thing. But not for Obama. The press has simply created a new standard for Obama. I mean c'mon, the press corps didn't actually get up the nerve to label George W. Bush's presidency a failure until his approval rating cratered deep into the 30's. But for some reason with Obama, 50 percent is the new demarcation line. (He's suddenly in "thin air" territory.)
And for the record, Reagan's 52 percent approval rating in December, 1981, did not reflect the difficulties he faced due to a poor economy. That came in 1982 and 1983, when Reagan's approval rating plunged to 35 percent. (Sort of like Bush did.)
But remember, according to today's press accounts, a 50 percent approval rating for Obama (for the Democrat!) is a disaster.
He started out with very high poll numbers. People expected miracles from him. We NEEDED miracles - still do. And it takes a while to perform miracles as President. But most people think that Presidents regularly perform miracles. They don't understand how little power they have to manage many of the things that happen in Washington! So, some people are discontent because he hasn't done enough already. Others are upset because they wanted him to be even MORE liberal leaning. Still others are upset that he's done too much. Yet more people have been misled about what he stands for, and they disapprove simply because they've bought into the lies that MMFA fights every day!
He's leaking support from about 6 different directions. His support level right now is not a real worrisome level to him, and shouldn't be to the news media either.
But MMFA can help, along with other fact checking sites. We can inform people, and debunk rumors, so that his good staff isn't falsely maligned, and so his initiatives aren't falsely framed. We can help get rid of the credibility the lying FoxNews people have. We can't stop the 25 percenters who will believe everything FoxNews says regardless, but we can diminish their power and influence with moderates and other news media, because giving them too much credibility hurts our nation.
Look at their video cast on The Note today.
Here is the title: "How low can he go"?
They go on to say that the news is NOT GOOD for Obama.
Only 50% of Americans approve of the job he is doing!!
Now compare that to the 39% that approved of Bush W and I'd say he could go MUCH LOWER ...
Supposed? All one has to do is look at the DailyKos poll and it hits you like a 2x4 between the eyes. Since the first of the year his favorable ratings have fallen from 77% to 53%...his unfavorable ratings have risen from 20% to 42%...supposed?
-- he's not Ronald Reagan II, he's already Jimmy Cater II -- Boehlert
Only in a liberal, out of touch beltway mind could one even dream up the comparison of Obama to Reagan...their ideals are light years apart.
Yes, thankfully.
Thanks
The problem with that framing is that it ignores how outrageously high they were to start out.
The place his poll numbers are right now are not all that remarkable!
The "supposed" relates to the 'collapse'. They've fallen to where they should be. A collapse is bad. This is normal. His poll numbers are reasonable and not a big cause for concern.
But I bet you already knew this, and were solely trying to pretend that you had a point. Since you're Weaselly, you don't have a clue or a point.
Yes, based on how they "feel" about Reagan, not based on actual facts, or anything.
You know, like raised taxes 7 times, started the whole "trickle down" deregulation thing that has helped create the recession.
You know, those kind of things.