Obama's Deal with GOP May Help Him Win Back Independents, Poll Suggests

[AlbertCat]

Some political analysts are viewing President Obama's willingness to rankle Democratic leaders and anger liberals by striking a deal with Republicans on extending the Bush-era tax cuts as a bid to win back independents in advance of the 2012 elections. A new Gallup poll suggests that, politically, it may indeed have been a good way of moving towards that goal.

(snip)

Republicans and Democrats had differing levels of enthusiasm for each part of the deal. Eighty-five percent of Republicans favored extending the tax cuts but only 43 percent supported extension of unemployment benefits. Eighty-four percent of Democrats backed extension of unemployment benefits, while only 52 percent backed extending the tax cuts.

By contrast, independents were strongly in favor of both elements. Sixty-seven percent backed extension of the tax cuts and 71 percent supported extending unemployment benefits.

"The White House reportedly agreed to extend the Bush tax cuts for all Americans partly to help lure independents back to the Democrats' fold by 2012," Gallup said. "That reasoning seems sound. By yielding on the tax cuts, Obama extracted Republican leaders' support for extending unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed -- and large majorities of independents support both measures."

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/08/obamas-deal-with-gop-may-help-him-win-independents-back-a-poll/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7C1%7Clink3%7C30027


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So... according to Gallup, Obama is thinking "Reelection! Reelection!". That's his goal?

What about the deficit?

If you are for extending tax cut, you simply ARE NOT SERIOUS about reducing the deficit. Period.


BTW... the whole article has charts and results from other polls as well. But is this the time for popularity contests? WHAT ABOUT THE DEFICIT? Is OBama a Dem or an Indie?

:wtf:

[msongs]

1. solidifying his new base, repubs + indies? nt

[glitch]

22. That's the plan but not all indies are RW

However their votes are more easily rigged to appear so since as indies they don't have a public affiliation.

[dkf]

2. Obama decided growth was more Important than the deficit.

[social_critic]

3. Obama is pragmatic, wants to be re-elected, and is learning on the job

I suspect he's learning how to deal with the GOP, and does want to make sure he gets reelected. As a moderate Democrat, I think the agreement is "ok" - I'd rather see taxes go up for the rich, and the unemployment benefits should be changed to special welfare type payments, rather than unemployment - it's dangerous to tinker with labor law, but at the same time unemployment is real, and we can't cut all the unemployed cold turkey.

The question is, will he move to cut the Pentagon now to offset the higher spending elsewhere? This is where we have a huge amount of fat, and where cuts can be made by taking troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

And to keep the left wing happy, all he has to do right now is just tell Congress to give him a quick head count on how they feel about gays coming out of the closet in the military. He'll get a majority, and then he can just write Gates to change regulations, toss out don't ask don't tell, let gays serve openly, and make sure their benefits structure is changed so gay partners can get the same treatment heterosexuals do. It's pretty straightforward. The only problem I see is that many gays who did stay out of the service will join, and I really hate to see good people wasting their lives fighting abroad in all those stupid wars.

[sunwyn]

4. It's all on the backs of the poor....true class warfare

[Canuckistanian]

5. So he gains a few undecideds and loses his (previously) fired-up base

I'm not seeing the math on this one.

[katnapped]

6. Republicans ain't voting for him, that's for sure

Doubt the undecideds will make up for the people he's pissing off daily.

[Marr]

10. I don't think he gives a shit.

He's there to accomplish certain goals-- undercut Social Security, rescue corrupt, wealthy industries like big banks and insurance companies, etc., etc. It seems like these goals are his primary concern, and if he ends up being a one-termer because of it, so what. Just means he starts making big bucks on the corporate lecture circuit a few years earlier.

[somone]

15. There will be a rich reward

for those who serve them well.

[glitch]

23. The Univ of Chicago school of economics will probably erect a statue of him.

Hometown hero, everyone will want to golf and play poker with him.

[Individualist]

24. Agree. He's a place holder for the neocons.

[Poboy]

11. Right. He will/IS losing the go-getters and passionate ones who turn the wheels.

If he thinks the wishy-washy fical 'independents' will go out and fight for him, he's delusional.

[social_critic]

12. Evidently it's not "a few undecideds"

Maybe you don't see the math because you assume it's a few undecideds, and you also assume the left will abandon Obama in 2012. I suspect that's not the way it works, and Obama's poll ratings will probably be going up to 50+% approval next week. Check it out and we can discuss this after we see the numbers.

[Canuckistanian]

28. I meant to say "a few percentage points"

Because I think that's all it will amount to.

[JoePhilly]

7. No one is seriously concerned with the deficit.

The Dems certainly are not ... and the GOP only pretends to care about it when they are out of power.

[Renew Deal]

8. That's correct.

:thumbsup:

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. So he lied when he said he rather be a good one term president than a bad two term prez?

[somone]

13. Again, actions speak louder than words

[readmoreoften]

14. I guess he won't need my vote then.

How'd those independents pull through for him in the midterms?

[readmoreoften]

16. Independent=Non-Fundie Republicans

[somone]

17. I'm sure the independents will be knocking on doors and working phone banks

for him in 2012

[Dawgs]

18. Independents will forget about this bill in two years.

:hi:

[Hepburn]

19. I am a really, really left liberal...but I have friends who one would consider independent.

I don't know one person who I would consider and independent and/or who considers him/herself independent who approves of that bullshit.

[Wednesdays]

20. Matthew 16:26

(For those who don't know it, look it up. Apropos for this subject.)

[somone]

21. Not sure if he really cares about that stuff

Sadly

[jtown1123]

25. Stop trying to win independents and win back your OWN party. Sheesh

[Individualist]

26. The only voters he'll win are DLC supporters.

[bigtree]

27. this is just political punditry

The President gave his reasons for choosing the course he did, and there's plenty other considerations that make this analysis a joke. He may well do better with some 'independents' but he isn't changing his approach, philosophy, ideology, or policies to advantage himself with that one narrow, nebulous group..

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Damn better some tell him that not all indies

are in the mystical center....

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