Obama facing doubts among Americans

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-19 13:09

WASHINGTON: 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 US healthcare system, an issue so contentious that previous attempts have failed to address high cost and availability issues.

US President Barack Obama speaks at the DSCC/DCCC democratic fundraiser at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, June 18, 2009. Recent polls show that his economic policies are causing some doubts among Americans. [Agencies]

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."

COST CONCERNS

The Times/CBS poll showed that Obama has his work cut out for him on healthcare. It gave him 44 percent approval in his handling of the issue, with 34 percent disapproving, a sign that many are taking a wait-and-see approach.

"What the polls suggest to me is that there is concern from a lot of Americans about the government being too intrusive in directing the affairs of businesses and corporations and individuals," said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University in Atlanta. "It's not popular that the government owns 60 percent of General Motors."

Black said Obama needs to have a full discussion with Americans about the ramifications of the healthcare proposals, both the costs and the impact on their medical plans.

"This is one where if the programs are implemented and they don't turn out to be satisfactory to voters, there's a huge (political) price to this," he said.

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