Gallup: Americans’ Confidence in Obama Unshaken

[FrenchieCat]

Fifty-percent or more of Americans say they have more confidence now in Barack Obama's ability to improve the economy, manage the federal government, and in his ethical standards than before he took office.


PRINCETON, NJ -- President Barack Obama had to face tough questioning from the media this week over his process for choosing his top advisers after Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer withdrew their nominations for failing to pay back taxes. But Americans' support for Obama is hardly shaken, with fewer than one in five saying they are less confident now in Obama's ethical standards and his ability to manage the government than they were before he took office. A majority say they are "more confident" in both regards.



Additionally, the president's 65% job approval rating in Feb. 2-4 Gallup Poll Daily tracking is essentially the same as it has been throughout his brief time in office.



The public may be largely taking these Cabinet controversies in stride because it tends to view them as nothing out of the ordinary, according to the Feb. 4 USA Today/Gallup poll that probed reaction to the controversies.

Specifically, the poll finds 58% of Americans describing the controversies as "a normal part of the process of filling high-level government positions in any new administration." Only half that number -- 29% -- think they reflect poorly on the Obama administration, saying the administration "appears to be having more problems filling high government positions than is typical for new administrations." The remaining 12% have no opinion.

In addition to concerns about his nominees' ethics given their tax woes, Obama has also faced criticism for making exceptions to his pledge to not appoint former lobbyists to positions in his administration. This may have also applied to Daschle, who drew considerable income from healthcare consulting after finishing his Senate career, and was to be tasked with overhauling the nation's healthcare system.

Nevertheless, at least half of Americans think Obama has made progress so far on his promises to change the way Washington works (50%) and to limit the influence lobbyists have in his administration (53%).



http://www.gallup.com/poll/114187/Confidence-Obama-Remains-High-Cabinet-Troubles.aspx

[FrenchieCat]

1. And don't think that the media hasn't been trying hard to shake

our confidence in our President, because they have.

He's dropped some points due to all of the negative garbage on Television,
but he will be back up a few points in the next few days. Watch and see.

Poor Corporate Media. :cry:

They have tried so hard without looking apparent, although they have looked apparent to those who know what apparent looks like.

[w4rma]

8. Exactly. (nt)

[Hekate]

2. Kick for hope and optimism in dark, dark times. nt

:kick:

[Egnever]

3. Yea we picked a good one this time :)

Thnx for that! It was exactly what I needed before bed.

[Eurobabe]

4. Just a reminder

For the doubting thomases (not us!)

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. It's a good thing this poll was taken outside the DU community. I heartily

agree with its findings. With regard to the media, when do Democrats get equal representation in the M$M as the Repubs? It doesn't seem to matter if we're in the minority or the majority, the GOP seems to always dominate the media coverage.

[Undercurrent]

6. The numbers reflect what I see

in the real world too. The corporate tool media is lying day in and day out.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Maybe...just maybe...the American people have tuned out the M$M.

But, where are the liberal think tanks to counter the Heritage Foundation & the Brookings Institute? The Repukes managed to pick apart the stimulus and make some of its proponents sound so silly. We have to have strong supporters of the President on the evening news. He's just one man, and he can hardly be expected to counter all the rightwing talking points alone.

Aside from the occasional appearance of Claire McCaskill, Barbara Boxer and John Kerry, we are seriously outnumbered, and we appear to have let the GOP define the message again. When will the media & the rightwing acknowledge that the American people heard ideas from both parties, and they chose ours?

[Undercurrent]

9. I agree.

McCaskill, Boxer, Kerry and a couple others are the only ones who are going before the public.

Most of the other Congressional Dems have not been pitching in to help carry the load. I guess that bunch expects a few, and especially the President to do all the work of explaining and promoting. The bums. They know, just like we do that the MSM is biased, and they have to fight to get the Dem message out. But they don't fight. They make little squeaky noises, and people ignore them.

[Spazito]

10. I remember reading the public IS tuning out the MSM and turning, instead, to....

the internet in greater and greater numbers to get the facts. The percentage of the public that used the internet during the run-up to the election was quite high. There is little trust in the MSM anymore, imo, and even that little bit is quickly disappearing.

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch. The news has been

cancelled for quite some time. I have to admit, I only watch Keith O, and I listen to progressive talk radio, so my views are a bit slanted to the left. That being said, I do read online news reports, and I most appreciate the news media outside the country.

[Jennicut]

12. Most people don't even watch the news channels

Its ALL about the internet now.

[HOLOS]

13. Repukes are well known for their desire to hate, destroy, repeat....

[BlooInBloo]

14. Proof positive that DUers are nothing like average...

Thank the gods for that.

[Jennicut]

15. So the MSM and Rethugs have NOT destroyed the Prez yet?

I am having a good laugh over this poll.