In recent months, with President Bush's support sliding, there's been much debate about where his actual approval stands. Ranging between the mid-30s and the high-20s, Bush's support has hit rock bottom in nearly every poll. America's satisfaction with this president has never been lower.
But I've got a new number for you, a number that reflects the president's top priorities. A number that represents the true base pundits and politicians universally agree Bush pandered to Monday, when he
threw his support behind a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. A number that corresponds to the percentage of Americans this president faithfully represents.
Three percent. Yes, that's right. Three percent. And even
that's being optimistic. Polling indicates that between 1 and 3 percent of Americans believe what Bush so enthusiastically endorsed Monday is our most pressing issue. So the next time someone asks you what percentage of Americans still stand by the president, tell them the truth:
Three percent.Two polls, one by the
Center for American Progress and the other by
Gallup, asked two very relevant questions. The former asked those surveyed what they thought was the "most serious moral crisis in America today". The latter asked, "What issue do you think should be the top priority for the president and Congress to deal with?" Two very important questions. And two that go right to the heart of Bush's
actual approval rating.
Those polled by the Center for American Progress considered "kids not raised with the right values" the nation's most pressing moral crisis at 28 percent. Next at 22 percent was "corruption in government/business". Third, at 17 percent, was "greed and materialism" or "people too focused on themselves". President Bush's idea of America's most pressing moral crisis, however, is outlawing gay marriage. How many of the poll's respondees agreed? The 3 percent who answered "abortion and homosexuality".
Three percent.The Gallup poll put the president's support in even sharper relief. Forty-two percent considered "situation in Iraq/war" the president and Congress's top priority. A catch-all energy item came in second at 29 percent. Third, at 23 percent, was "immigration/illegal aliens". But, as Monday proved, the president's top priority is writing hate into the U.S. Constitution. How many of the poll's respondees agreed? The 1 percent who answered "ethics/moral/religious/family decline," a rather nebulous category into which I suppose you could fit a ban on gay marriage.
One percent.So, Republicans, do you still want to talk about how
our priorities are out of the mainstream? While the Democrats have been discussing Iraq and, on a larger scale, American foreign policy, the Republicans have been
pandering to their bigoted base. While the Democrats have been charting a course to a future built on sustainable energy, the Republicans have been
worrying about flag burning. While the Democrats have been taking the immigration debate seriously and offering sound solutions, the Republicans have been
attempting to paint those seeking a better life in America as a criminally minded terrorist element bent on taking back the southwestern United States.
I don't know what's worse, actually. Feeling the way you feel. Or throwing your support behind an amendment you
know is destined for failure and that your president doesn't "
give a shit" about in a desperate attempt to keep your base active. Both represent a backward-thinking, cynical perspective that has no place in America, let alone elected office. Thanks to a Republican majority, our once-great nation has not only become the world's bully, but also its laughingstock. While we're still fighting over
evolution, the rest of the world has been progressing without us. Keep it up, Republicans, keep operating with your pre-Enlightenment mentality and watch America spiral into obscurity.
No matter what you say, the overwhelming majority of Americans just don't care about whether or not two loving people who happen to share the same sex marry. The ones who do, those few, bigoted Americans, are the only ones lining up behind the president. And, judging by the polls, the line behind the president isn't very long. An
optimistic estimate places support for Bush's top priority at 3 percent.
Optimistic. The rest of America, Republicans, has
moved on. Moved into the 21st Century, in fact. A century where what confronts this nation promises to be far more important than your desire to treat those who don't look, act or talk like you like second-class citizens. A century where, thanks to moves like the president's Monday, your party is irrelevant.
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