# Explain Obama's Job Approval Rating to Me **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 20, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284 "2011-10-20T19:12:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/41 "2011-10-21T01:16:25Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > 30% of the country is going to love Obama no matter what, and 30% is going to hate him. But why hasn’t the record outlined above secured Obama’s reelection prospects among the moderate 30%? Is it just messaging? > > Do the middle third really believe the Republican message blaming Obama for all of the lost _public sector_ jobs? If that’s not it, what is it? [To be clear, I’m interested in your answers for why moderates are split on Obama instead of being like 80/20, and less interested in why non-moderates of either stripe are unhappy.] Because the economy still sucks, wages are sinking, unemployment is still really high and people are scared. I think it’s that simple. “It could have been worse” doesn’t resonate with people. Now, personally, I don’t hold the president accountable for the business cycle, but politically, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. Getting Osama was great, but where’s my job and when will my house be worth at least what I paid for it? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/42 "2011-10-21T01:21:51Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > A brief list of Obama’s accomplishments so far: > > - avoided a second Great Depression Was there any threat of it in the first place? > [@](#): > > - presided over massive private sector job growth, adding well over a million net private jobs since the Stimulus, more than George Bush added in 8 years. Because well you know Bush was President in a time of low unemployment while Obama was when it was high, thus when the economy improved it was inevitable there would be more jobs. > [@](#): > > -passed health care reform (which is, among other things, a ban on insurance discrimination based on pre-existing conditions; subsidies for low-income Americans to purchase insurance; coverage for people up to age 26 on their parents insurance; filling the Medicare donut hole and expanding Medicaid to 133% of poverty level; and pilot measures in reducing medical costs – all of which is more than paid for, according to the CBO. Which is unconstitutional in mandating people by health care and which hasn’t gone into effect yet anyways. > [@](#): > > - pulled combat troops out of Iraq Which Obama could do only due to Bush’s successful Surge strategy. > [@](#): > > - proposed a politically risky military operation that successfully killed Bin Laden, not to mention killing many other Al Qaeda leaders Which many leftists have complained about, whining about technicalities and whatnot. And any responsible President would have done so anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/43 "2011-10-21T01:26:22Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > And any responsible President would have done so anyways. So you’re admitting that Obama is a responsible President? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/44 "2011-10-21T01:28:19Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > So you’re admitting that Obama is a responsible President? Yes, he is not some evil Communist/Muslim hellbent on destroying Anerica but a well-intentioned man who is sadly wrong on most issues. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/45 "2011-10-21T01:31:44Z")
> [@treis](#): > > I value intelligent government over most political positions, and we’ve taken a huge step back in the level of intelligence demonstrated by the Federal Government. I recognize that that is mostly House Republican’s fault, but he his “be the grownup in the room” schtick has failed. I’m not silly enough to hand the reins over to Cain, Perry, or Bachman, but I’m willing to consider Romney. Can you elaborate on this part? If House Republicans are the problem, how would Romney change it? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/46 "2011-10-21T01:32:19Z")
Things Obama actually deserve credit for: -Repealing DADT -Killing Al-Awlaki despite liberal whining -The intervention in Libya -The surge in Afghanistan -Dealing strongly with Pakistan’s impudence ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/47 "2011-10-21T01:37:31Z")
> [@Richard Parker](#): > > I’m pretty sure the WSJ understands the difference between a fine rate of increase and a fine overall level. But maybe their readers do not. Well, I’m still confused on how private sector employment is “doing just fine”. I suspect many voters will share this confusion. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Things Obama actually deserve credit for: > -Dealing strongly with Pakistan’s impudence Ha, you’re such a card! ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/48 "2011-10-21T01:39:39Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Can you elaborate on this part? If House Republicans are the problem, how would Romney change it? By not folding like Superman on laundry day. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/49 "2011-10-21T01:44:12Z")
> [@treis](#): > > By not folding like Superman on laundry day. So you expect Romney to fight the House GOP better than Obama? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/50 "2011-10-21T01:48:46Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > So you expect Romney to fight the House GOP better than Obama? Well, the House Republicans won’t oppose everything Romney proposes on principle. Not sure about the Senate Democrats, though! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/51 "2011-10-21T01:50:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, the House Republicans won’t oppose everything Romney proposes on principle. Not sure about the Senate Democrats, though! I wouldn’t be too sure about the former. I agree with the latter, of course. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/52 "2011-10-21T01:52:45Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > He did not propose the plan to kill Osama You’re right, that was Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/53 "2011-10-21T01:54:17Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > You’re right, that was Clinton. Bill or Hill? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/54 "2011-10-21T01:54:56Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > So you expect Romney to fight the House GOP better than Obama? He hardly could do worse. Even if he doesn’t, giving them what they want to begin with is better than having a crisis and then giving them what they want. Like I said, I am willing to consider Romney. I don’t agree with the House Republicans on policy, but I am more concerned with smooth governance than any particular ideological stance. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/55 "2011-10-21T02:24:27Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Things Obama actually deserve credit for: > > -Repealing DADT > -Killing Al-Awlaki despite liberal whining > -The intervention in Libya > -The surge in Afghanistan > -Dealing strongly with Pakistan’s impudence So as long as he continues to put American interests in harms way and assassinates American citizens without offering a shred of proof of their wrongdoing he’s A OK with you? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/56 "2011-10-21T02:32:59Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > So as long as he continues to put American interests in harms way and assassinates American citizens without offering a shred of proof of their wrongdoing he’s A OK with you? First time you’ve seen **Qin** , I assume. If you include in your reading a post he made just a little bit up in this thread, and the posts he’s made elsewhere on the board this evening, you may get a better grasp of his views. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/57 "2011-10-21T03:48:14Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > So as long as he continues to put American interests in harms way and assassinates American citizens without offering a shred of proof of their wrongdoing he’s A OK with you? Hardly, he’s not “A-OK”. I would vote against him if I could. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/58 "2011-10-21T05:14:56Z")
I’m a Democrat, voted for Obama in 2008, probably will in 2012, but I think if I were given an approval rating survey, I’d say I’d disapprove. Part of it just that it feels like he’s not doing anything. The economy is still crappy, he can’t get stuff through Congress, and I’ve been unemployed for two and a half years, looking for a job and not able to find one. And I know, before you say anything, that a lot of that maybe isn’t his fault, and I’m sure you could come up with a logical argument as to why that’s true. But it feels like it is. It feels like he should do something more than what he’s doing, and I just get frustrated that it’s not happening. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/59 "2011-10-21T10:42:20Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > low information voters You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284/60 "2011-10-21T10:55:17Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I’m a Democrat, voted for Obama in 2008, probably will in 2012, but I think if I were given an approval rating survey, I’d say I’d disapprove. Part of it just that it feels like he’s not doing anything. The economy is still crappy, he can’t get stuff through Congress, and I’ve been unemployed for two and a half years, looking for a job and not able to find one. And I know, before you say anything, that a lot of that maybe isn’t his fault, and I’m sure you could come up with a logical argument as to why that’s true. But it feels like it is. It feels like he should do something more than what he’s doing, and I just get frustrated that it’s not happening. See, this is the problem. Everyone is viewing this through the lens of emotion. It doesn’t _feel_ like he’s doing anything, even though you _ **know** _ he is, and even though you _ **know** _ that he’s faced with an obstructionist Congress. So your emotions completely override the facts that you’re aware of, completely override logic, and that’s a reasonable basis for you to comment on this issue? Is this how you _vote_? Sadly, I think this is exactly how too many Americans approach these important questions. It’s all about their gut reaction to things. Stop and think for about 30 seconds and you realize that your gut doesn’t have the capacity to understand governance or politics. But no, it’s more important to _feel_ that the president is doing… stuff you can’t quite explain but just _feel_ he ought to be doing than it is to understand or _know_ what’s actually happening. This is not how adults deal with important topics. This is not how we should be approaching one of the most important elections of a generation. This is frightening. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-obamas-job-approval-rating-to-me/600284.md?page=4)