Poll: No, Obama Isn't Doing Too Much
The new Pew Poll takes on the "Obama is doing too much" meme:
So far, do you think Barack Obama is ...Trying to address too many issues at once - 35%
Focusing on too few issues - 4%
Doing about right - 56%
As one might expect, the "too many issues" response is being driven by 53% of Republicans, with 37% of GOPers saying he's doing about right. It would make perfect sense for Republicans to think Obama is doing too much -- quite a lot of them don't like what he's doing to begin with.
The poll also contains an interesting piece of data about Republican attitudes: Not only is disproval of President Obama going up as the honeymoon effect wears off -- which was to be expected -- but approval of their own GOP Congressional leaders is going down, too.
In the Pew poll from a month ago, Republican respondents approved of the GOP leadership by a 55%-33% margin. But now, that numbers is down to 43%-37%. Among all respondents, the GOP leadership's approval is at 28%-51%, down from 34%-51%, so they're definitely not succeeding politically right now.
Overall, Obama's approval has gone from 65%-17% in February to 59%-26% now. Republican disapproval of Obama has gone up from 41% to 56%, disapproval among independents has gone from 14% to 27%, and Democratic disapproval has gone from three percent to...five percent.


















but approval of their own GOP Congressional leaders is going down, too.
Unhappy no matter what's happening.
I imagine that it isn't just Republicans who feel this way. There isn't one place to look for good news.
March 16, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I were a Republican, I wouldn't be too happy with my leadership either. The wingnuts think the party leadership doesn't pay enough deference to Rush Limbaugh and the few moderates remaining think the leadership pays TOO MUCH deference to Rush Limbaugh.
What I'm really wondering is what sort of people are the Democrats who disapprove of Obama. Are they the Reagan Democrats or are they from the very liberal wing who doesn't think Obama is far enough to the left?
March 16, 2009 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
PUMA
March 16, 2009 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's amazing that the Republicans can start a stupid meme and the media will start repeating it as fact. Then pollsters will poll about it.
Every single time, it turns out that the republicans were just talking out their asses and beltway pundits were just talking!
March 16, 2009 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if the major networks will mention this poll.
I'm betting no. Anyone want to bet a penny?
March 16, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope, that one's not even worth the penny.
March 16, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
45% say no
34% say yes
11% don't understand the question
10% prefer tacos
March 16, 2009 6:54 PM | Reply | Permalink