Election has consequences:Obama facing some doubts among Americans
He remains personally popular, but President Barack Obama is starting to see signs that some of his economic policies are causing doubts among many Americans.Two polls published on Thursday illustrate the political risk Obama faces as he turns his attention toward an overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, an issue so contentious that previous attempts have failed to address high cost and availability issues.
The New York Times/CBS News poll put his job approval rating at 63 percent, an impressive number given the high 9.4 percent unemployment rate.
In spite of his popularity, the polls showed a public concerned about deficit spending as a result of a $787 billion economic stimulus package and government intervention in the wake of the government’s bailout of banks and auto companies.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll said a solid majority of 58 percent believe Obama and Congress should focus on keeping the budget deficit down even if it means delaying a recovery. The deficit is forecast to skyrocket beyond $1 trillion for the 2009 fiscal year.
The Journal/NBC poll said 56 percent oppose giving financial aid to ailing automaker General Motors in exchange for the federal government obtaining a stake in the company.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Americans are “rightly frustrated with where the economy is and how we ended up where we did” and that Obama recognized all his decisions on fixing it were not popular.
“Some of those things are popular, some of those things aren’t popular, Gibbs told reporters. “I think the president would tell you he’s going to do what he thinks is in the best interest of the American economy.”
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com …
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