Reporting on a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, The Post writes, “Deepening economic pessimism has pushed down President Obama’s approval rating to a near record low . . . . In the survey, 47 percent approve of the job Obama is doing, down seven points since January. Half of all Americans disapprove of his job performance, with 37 percent saying they ‘strongly disapprove,’ nearly matching the worst level of his presidency.”
According to the poll, “57 percent disapprove of the job the president is doing dealing with the economy, tying his highest negative rating when it comes to the issue. And the president is doing a bit worse among politically important independents.” Overall, 46% “strongly” disapprove of President Obama’s handling of the economy. That’s more than his total approval rating on the economy of 42%.
Importantly, The Washington Post notes, “Driving the downward movement in Obama’s standing are renewed concerns about the economy and fresh worry about rising prices, particularly for gasoline.” Indeed, according to the poll, 71% say recent gas price increases have caused “financial hardship.”
It’s interesting to consider that result in light of a new CNN poll finding increased support for offshore drilling. According to CNN, “A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 69 percent of Americans favor increased offshore drilling, with just over three in ten opposed. That 69 percent is up 20 points from last June, while the oil spill was still in progress, and is back to the level of support seen in the summer of 2008. ‘Although support for increased drilling in U.S. waters is highest among Republicans, a majority of Democrats also favor it,’ says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. ‘Fifty-six percent of Democrats favor more offshore drilling, compared to 70 percent of independents and 86 percent of Republicans.’”
And yet, the Obama administration only recently began to lift a moratorium it placed on new offshore drilling permits for many months. Even former President Bill Clinton said last month there are “ridiculous delays in permitting when our economy doesn’t need it.” Back in February, when the first new permit was finally issued, CNN reported, “The deepwater moratorium was officially lifted in October, but no new permits had been issued until Monday. The industry argued the delays have cost jobs and hurt domestic production.”
As Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said recently, “Over the past two years, the administration has undertaken what can only be described as a war on American energy. It’s cancelled dozens of drilling leases. It’s declared a moratorium on drilling off the Gulf Coast. It’s increased permit fees. It has prolonged public comment periods. In short, it’s done just about everything it can to keep our own energy sector from growing. As a result, thousands of U.S. workers have lost their jobs, as companies have been forced to look elsewhere for a better business climate.”
The Obama administration’s energy policies are certainly is not the best approach to dealing with the financial hardship higher gas prices are imposing on many Americans.
Senate News Briefing 4.19.11
Article written by: Tom White
