As Obama’s ratings continue to plummet, ABC News tries to salvage the President’s reputation by comparing him to Ronald Reagan. When Obama took office, his economic approval ratings peaked at 72 percent. Six months later, only 56 percent of Americans approve of Obama’s approach to the economical crisis. Reagan’s approval rate continued to drop as unemployment reached almost 11 percent. Unemployment ratings are approaching 10 percent now.
The comparison makes sense if one looks strictly at approval ratings. Like Reagan, Obama took office in the middle of a recession and the drops in Obama’s approval ratings are almost identical to Reagan’s approval ratings during the former president’s term of office.
However, unlike Reagan, Obama has abused the Congressional majority that his party maintains. Reagan did not have such good fortune, and needed to convince fiscally conservative Democrats of his economic policy in order for it to pass through Congress. Obama can afford to disregard Republicans views because he does not need them to pass his policy through Congress.
The Democratic majority in Congress also made it difficult for Reagan to pass through social policy without support from members of the opposing party. Obama has not had to appeal to the Republican Party and Congress is now working on nationally controversial policies and programs, including Cap-and-Trade and government-run health care. While Republican votes may not be enough to stop legislation, these policies have armed the Republican Party with plenty of ammunition to target President Obama in the media and lower his approval ratings with well-aimed criticisms. Perhaps Obama should follow Reagan’s path of reaching across party lines as well.
Obama’s Trouble on Stimulus and Deficit (ABC News)
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