In John Campenelli's excellent diary residing atop the Rec list he points out that Americans mostly support the stimulus package. I am pleased he included the Gallup data, but believe his diary plays down the strong support for the stimulus package that actually exists.
Depending on the poll source you cite, support for the stimulus package rests at about 51-54% vs. 34-39% opposed. One interesting fact, however, is that these poll questions ask without providing information about what is actually being proposed.
Basically, people are responding to the question of whether we should or should not spend money regardless of how the money is/should be spent. However, informing the public as to how the money is spent has a definite effect on their attitudes.
For example, Diageo/Hotline conducted a poll at the end of January. In the poll, half the respondents polled were each presented with a different version of the question. The first half sample was presented with the same type of question presented in Campenelli's Diary:
"In general, do you support or oppose Congress and the President passing an $825 billion economic stimulus plan to jumpstart the economy, even if it means increasing the federal deficit in order to do so?" N=401, MoE ± 4.9 (Form A)
Support - 54
Oppose - 34
Unsure - 13
Notice that they merely ask whether respondents support or oppose the package, while asserting it will increase the deficit. The support match that of data we've seen. However, the second half sample was offered this second alternative instead:
"As proposed, the $825 billion economic stimulus plan would include $550 billion in new spending for alternative energy technology, roads and bridges, state governments and local school districts, and increasing benefits for the unemployed. The remaining part of the stimulus package contains $275 billion in tax cuts and credits for individuals and for business to help generate more jobs. In general, do you support or oppose Congress and the President passing this $825 billion economic stimulus plan to jumpstart the economy, even if it means increasing the federal deficit in order to do so?" N=399, MoE ± 4.9 (Form B)
Support - 66
Oppose - 27
Unsure - 6
Notice how support for the bill increases to 66%, a 12 point increase, while opposition falls by 7 points. Thus giving the person information regarding what is included in the poll actually increases support for it.
The lesson here is that we definitely need to be talking a lot about what is in the bill. Americans overwhelmingly support expenditures on education, infrastructure, health care and alternative energy.
In fact, support for spending on alternative energy is off the charts. In a February 2006 study by the Program on International Policy Attitudes, respondents were presented with a chart of discretionary spending proposed by Bush back in 2006 for the 2007 fiscal year. Big ticket non-discretionary items, such as Social Security and Medicaid, were left off the chart. Respondents were then allowed to manipulate the budget, with the ability to increase or reduce spending in each of the 17 broad categories and to devote some resources to deficit reduction if they chose.
Interestingly, on average, spending on alternative energy was increased by almost 1100% and spending on job training and employment by more than 250%. Importantly, the poll was conducted in 2006 well before our current economic crisis became so serious.
So Republicans are not exactly winning the PR War as Hesiod suggests, but it is correct that Republicans are tempering support for the bill. Basically the problem with the current debate is that the media, with help from the Republicans, is framing this issue in a way that causes the public to initially give only tepid support to the bill; granted its majority support, but tepid regardless. As long as the public believes the spending is pork, enthusiasm will not be as strong. But when the public is given more information, which lets them know it is directed at priorities they support, then approval for the bill increases dramatically.
Here's where Obama comes in. Though President Obama has begun to use the Presidential bully pulpit more to drum up support for the bill, we need a full court press, and in this case, President Obama has the support of the American public behind him to do so.
Not only does Obama enjoy fairly strong support among the public (Republicans excepted), but Americans generally perceives him as reaching out to the Republicans for bi-partisan support.
In a poll conducted by CBS this week, Americans were asked:
Do you think Barack Obama is trying to work with Republicans in Congress in order to get things done, or isn't he?"
Is Trying - 81
Is Not - 12
Unsure - 7
As you can see, the public overwhelmingly believes the President is reaching out. Americans even believe that the Democrats in Congress are making a greater effort to reach out to Republicans than are Republicans to Democrats. A plurality of Americans (49%) believe the Democrats are reaching out to Republicans--as opposed to the 38% who think they aren't. By contrast, 47% of Americans believe the Republicans are not reaching out to Democrats--as opposed to the 41% who think they are.