Even though the media is all A FLUTTER telling us the President's poll numbers are dropping like a rock, I think that the current poll numbers for President Obama are just great!
Why you ask?
- Because there has been a $1.5 million dollar a day effort to confuse the American public about health insurance reform, primarily featuring LIES about the plan that nobody with a microphone feels compelled to correct.
(The point is to make Americans feel uneasy and confused, and with a media corp that gets oh so BORED with policy, it is no surprise that it is working. Always does. )
- Because the "news" media has trumpeted all negative news about health care, especially anything from the CBO, but ignored all positive news for health care, like the CBO finding that a public health option WILL NOT destroy the private insurance industry.
(I mean, we just had two MAJOR break throughs in the House and the Senate, but both of those will take a back seat to these poll numbers that don't really tell us anything we didn't already know. )
- Because the "news" media has given a megaphone and a platform to anyone who opposes the President, no matter how baseless and unreasonable the critique.
(I mean we are actually spending DAYS discussing the President’s citizenship status – I’m not making that up. )
- Because the "news" media consistently reports what "Republicans say" without the added context of whether it is true or not.
- Because despite the "creative framing" of poll numbers, the simple fact is that the country is evenly divided on whether the NUMEROUS health care proposals they are hearing would be good for them (none of which is final), and the media conveniently ignores the significant percentage of Americans who are still UNDECIDED.
And in spite of it all, a MAJORITY of Americans APPROVE of the way the President is doing his job.
All things considered, and factoring in the 24/7 constant drum beat of fear and ignorance that the American people have been subjected to, I think the President’s poll numbers are amazingly good.
Despite all the political pundits focus on poll numbers, the reason we elect our Congressional representatives and Presidents is to LEAD the country.
So if in our current political culture, the only way to lead is to face the fear and smear brigade, then I say so be it. I’d rather the President DO something than continue to kick the can down the road to save his own a$$.
But that's just me.