The latest numbers from a national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center and USA Today, indicate low numbers for President Barack Obama.
Throughout the past year, the President has undoubtedly faced serious challenges beginning with the political targeting inside the IRS, the NSA leaking and subsequent complications of Edward Snowden, the government shutdown in October, and let’s not forget the most recent and detrimental to the administration’s political standing: the horrendous launch of the Affordable Care Act and healthcare.gov.
The poll, which was conducted December 3rd-8th among 2,001 adults, found that the public’s positive outlook of Obama and his policies has dropped significantly since January 2013, shortly after Obama won reelection.
Americans’ view of the President as ”not trustworthy” rose from 30% to 45% and 51% now hold the view that he is “not able to get things done,” a number that stood at 37% at the beginning of the year.
The disastrous launch of healthcare.gov generated strong thoughts and opinions throughout the country and those numbers show up in this latest poll, 54% disapprove of the 2010 healthcare law and 50% believe that the glitches have demonstrated “fundamental flaws in the law”.
Though the public also expressed their faith in the President’s ability to handle the healthcare crisis, rather than GOP leaders.
50% of those surveyed have confidence, whether it be a great or fair deal of confidence, to do what is right in setting straight the healthcare policy. Following the President are Democratic leaders in Congress at 48%, with Republican leaders in Congress trailing at 32%.
The real question remains: Has the Obama administration mislead the American people?
According to the Pew research poll, Republicans say overwhelmingly that the American people have indeed been mislead, (73%), while Democrats believe the reverse (22%). Interestingly and perhaps most tellingly, 52% of independents believe that the administration mislead the public.
It should come as no surprise that the President’s approval ratings are as low as they are. However, the polarization of both parties continues to perpetuate the problems in Washington, as both ends of the political spectrum remain cold as ice with no room to budge for compromise. The American people have the least amount of faith in Congress that the nation has seen in years and will await, yet again, the possibility of ANOTHER government shutdown as a result of an inefficient group of lawmakers.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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