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President Barack Obama is losing the support of white voters. A Washington Post/ABC News poll found that Obama's support among white voters dropped to just above 40 percent from a post-election high of 60 percent. Only 46 percent of white voters under the age of 40 and 39 percent of whites ages 65 or older approve of the president's job performance.
The shift could have serious consequences for the upcoming midterm elections, especially since white voters make up 79 percent of the midterm electorate, up from 76 percent in 2008. The Boston Globe writes:
With the November midterm elections fewer than four months away, Obama's standing among white voters has sunk, leading some party strategists to fret that the president's erosion -- and the party's -- could hurt Democrats' chances of holding on to their House and Senate majorities.
"Since in the past House elections white voters tended to represent the Independent vote, [the midterms] will surely be devastating for Democrats running in an election that will be a referendum on the Obama agenda,'' predicted one senior Democratic operative who tracks House races.
I, however, tend to agree with David Bositis, senior research associate at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that studies public policy issues affecting African Americans.
In an interview with Aol. Black Voices, Bositis said that Obama's poll numbers among white voters are not that far out of line given the state of the country. Obama's numbers would be better if Republicans did not continually block his agenda for the sake of politics, Bositis added.
"The 60 percent number was a brief honeymoon period. He got 43 percent of the white vote in the election. You'll never assume that Obama or any Democrat is going to have that much more than that," Bositis said from Washington D.C. "During the honeymoon period, yeah, 60 percent. That's what presidents get before they've done anything."
The problem with Obama's numbers among white voters is that white Southern conservative support for Democrats is low, even "hostile."
"If you tool the South out of the calculation, his numbers among whites aren't that bad," said Bositis.
There's always been concern about how whites would perceive President Obama; however, Obama's support among younger white voters remains strong, partially because of the higher education level of younger whites and their open-mindedness toward issues such as race.
Republicans, Bositis said, have an interest in not moving Obama's agenda, because it helps their own re-election hopes and plans to take control of Congress.
"There are a lot of people suffering, but there is a limit to what Obama and Democrats can do about it. Republicans are showing they don't care about this country and that they only care about their prospects," said Bositis.
Despite the Republican roadblock of much of his agenda, Obama -- and the Democrats -- have achieved major accomplishments, such as health care reform. Once midterm elections are over, Bositis said, expect to see President Obama's demeanor toward Republicans change significantly.
We got a taste of that last week, when Obama attacked Republicans for their resistance to the financial regulatory bill.
"We know what their ideas are, we know where they led us," Obama said at an event in Wisconsin.
White Americans need unemployment benefits and protection from financial predators, too. The president should be pointing out how Republican opposition for political purposes hurts the average person. If Republicans disagree with Democratic policies, they need to deliver viable alternatives.
"Obama has already accomplished a lot, but after the 2010 midterm elections, he will be running for re-election and then the gloves will come off," said Bositis. "When things he wants don't get through Congress because of Republicans, he will go campaign on those things."
Comments: (53)
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By: alie on 7/06/2010 2:34PM
He will lose more support if he is seen to oppose arizona immigration law and favouring hispanics purely for their voting potential, never mind african americans are fed up with him anyway favouring other agenda's but as he likes to say to blacks he is president for all of america good luck with that president obama!
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By: el on 7/08/2010 12:12PM
By: alie on 7/06/2010 2:34PM
He will lose more support if he is seen to oppose arizona immigration law and favouring hispanics purely for their voting potential, never mind african americans are fed up with him anyway favouring other agenda's but as he likes to say to blacks he is president for all of america good luck with that president obama!
First of all Alie, many illegals can't vote and the one's who can ( Mexicans )are for are for a immigation law as well as the President. He opposes this recent Arizona bill as well law enforcement officials because this bill could promote racial profiling aim at one group of people which is illegal in the United States.
Oh, by the way, Speak for yourself when you say African Americans are fed up for him favoring other agendas. I, for one think he's doing a great job in light of what the last president left him and I'm Black. He's the President of many people, not just Black folks.
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By: alie on 7/09/2010 12:39PM
PHOENIX — Illegal immigrants in Arizona, frustrated with a flagging economy and tough new legislation cracking down on their employers, are returning to their home countries or trying their luck in other states.
For months, immigrants have taken a wait-and-see attitude toward the state's new employer-sanctions law, which takes effect Jan. 1. The voter-approved legislation is an attempt to lessen the economic incentive for illegal immigrants in Arizona, the busiest crossing point along the U.S.-Mexico border.
And by all appearances, it's starting to work.
"People are calling me telling me about their friend, their cousin, their neighbors — they're moving back to Mexico," said Magdalena Schwartz, an immigrant-rights activist and pastor at a Mesa church. "They don't want to live in fear, in terror."
Martin Herrera, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant and masonry worker who lives in Camp Verde, 70 miles north of Phoenix, said he is planning to return to Mexico as soon as he ties up loose ends after living here for four years.
"I don't want to live here because of the new law and the oppressive environment," he said. "I'll be better in my country."
He called the employer-sanctions law "absurd
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By: Mimi on 7/13/2010 11:46PM
REPUBLICANS HATE AMERICANS.
REPUBLICANS LOVE BIG BUSINESSES SUCH AS:
BANKS
INSURANCE COMPANIES
BIG OIL COMPANIES LIKE BP
ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS TOLD ONE OF THE BP EXECUTIVES THAT HE WAS SORRY THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE BP PUT MILLIONS INTO A FUND FOR THOSE AFFECTED IN THE GULF FROM THE OIL SPILL.
A VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN IS A VOTE AGAINST AMERICANS.
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By: Mimi on 7/14/2010 12:05AM
I DON'T BELIEVE THE POLLS. REPUBLICANS ARE PAID TO ANSWER POLLS AND TELL LIES WHILE ANSWERING THE POLLS.
IT AMAZES ME HOW SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALZHEIMERS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS MORE CRAP TO DEAL WITH THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA.
I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE THINK THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS FACING AMERICANS IN THE SHORT PERIOD HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.
HELL...IF THE PROBLEMS WERE THAT EASY TO BE FIXED THAN WHY DIDN'T BUSH FIX THEM PRIOR TO HIM LEAVING OFFICE?
BUSH COULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEMS AND THE REPUBLICANS COULD HAVE BEEN BACK IN OFFICE.
THE REPUBLICANS HAD NO INTENTION OF FIXING ANYTHING. THE REPUBLICANS DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
JOHN MCCAIN SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ECONOMY AND THAT HE WANTED THE WAR TO GO ON FOR 100 YEARS.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING....YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE REPUBLICANS.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE SCARED AS HELL AT THE CHANGES PRESIDENT OBAMA IS MAKING.
THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO GET HIM OUT OF OFFICE WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME THING THEY DID TO BILL CLINTON.
AMERICA WAS DOING GOOD WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS IN OFFICE...PRESIDENT OBAMA IS TRYING TO GIVE AMERICANS THE SAME TAX BREAKS THAT BILL CLINTON IMPOSED.
IT'S JUST SO SAD THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COMMON SENSE TO SEE THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA IS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE (HEALTH CARE REFORM, BANK REFORM, ETC) AND THE REPUBLICANS DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT AMERICANS.
THE REPUBLICANS WOULDN'T BE DOING ALL OF THE LYING CRAP THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IF THEY WERE NOT SCARED THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA IS GOING TO GET A SECOND TERM IN OFFICE.
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By: Mimi on 7/14/2010 12:18AM
IT TOOK BUSH TWO TERMS TO DESTROY THE MIDDLE CLASS AND SCREW EVERYTHING ELSE UP.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE PRESIDENT OBAMA TWO TERMS TO UNDUE ALL OF THE DESTRUCTION DONE BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2012!!!!!!!
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By: OncealwaysaMarine on 7/06/2010 2:36PM
The author, as is Obama and most Obama supporters, is suffering from an extreme case of cognitive dissonance. He cites Obama's ramming his socialist health care bill down the public's throats as "an accomplisment." Well...it is an "accomplishment" if you insist on viewing it as such. What he accomplished is the exact opposite of what 2/3rd of the American people begged, screamed, demonstrated and warned they would not except: the government forcing them to buy a product not of their choosing. In doing so, he accomplished one more thing: turning the people against him and his Democrat socialist "progressive" comrades who proved just how oppressive "progressivism" truly is. The voters turned against Obama after they realized that Obama was waging war on them!....and calling his trampling of the Constitution, our individual freedom of choice, and our liberties--"victory."
I tell you what though: Keep scratching your head and pretending you just can't understand why so many people have turned against Obama and the Democrat Party...and after all "the good" he has done for them. Yeah, right.
Oh yeah...and another thing: Keep pretending it's a 'black/white' thing, instead of what it truly is: a FREEDOM thing...
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By: paul revere on 7/07/2010 2:53PM
Another conservative separatist, freedom my good man is alive in our democracy. Cannot u tell by all the republican politics going on to undermine the democratic chosen leader? One thing on healthcare, it is easy for those who have it to demand no change. People are always uneasy about change because it presents an elimination of imbalance and perhaps a shift in entitlements. I my friend was turned down for medication by my insurance company. I interpret that as, hey fellow the medicine was to expensive so die, slowly. Health insurance needed an overhaul don’t u agree? People always claim their tired of politicians that have forgotten the common man. Now the job of the crowd is to castrate the one who they heralded.
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By: budoinst on 7/09/2010 7:05PM
Thank you so much!!! You are RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!!
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By: OncealwaysaMarine on 7/06/2010 2:50PM
Obama and the Democrats: "We are the champions of Civil Rights! We decide what is "right" for you to forfeit to the ever-expanding and costly government bureaucracy, and we expect you to remain "civil" while we force you to live according to how WE decide you should live."
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