Washington Post reports: Obama losing support among independents, still supported strongly by blacks

[alp227]

Black voters still support Obama but are ambivalent about midterm elections

KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Curtis Adams, who owns Curtis A's barbershop here and who is also the establishment's senior political analyst, is a close observer of President Obama. This is something of a full-time job itself at Curtis A's, a gathering place in a black neighborhood five miles from downtown. All day every day, men (and occasionally women) come for a trim and wind up lingering to argue about jobs and the oil spill and the war in Iraq.

But mostly jobs. "If Obama was in this chair right here, I would tell him to give me a job. That's what I would ask for," said customer E.J. Jones one recent afternoon. Jones has worked off and on since he was let go from an Army ammunition plant in 2008.

The recession was especially rough on Kansas City's black community, where unemployment is 15 percent, nearly three times the rate for whites. Adams pointed to the empty chairs in his shop. He's down 75 customers a week. Of Obama, he said: "That man has a hell of a workload, and Bush left a hell of a mess. I like what he's doing. But I can't feel it."

Despite his frustration with the slow pace of the recovery, Adams, who has portraits of the first family on the walls of his shop, doesn't think Obama bears the blame for his troubles. And neither do most black Americans. Just the opposite: Polls show that 90 percent of African Americans believe Obama is doing a good job, far higher than the president's overall 46 percent approval rating. Obama's popularity has dropped among nearly every segment of the population -- old, young, Republican, Democrat, white, Latino. Yet blacks still overwhelmingly support him, even though they are among those who have lost the most since he was elected.

"We understand the difficulty of being a black man in his position, because of our close proximity to race and how it affects our lives, so we are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt," said Rodney Knott, who runs a fatherhood initiative and blogs on local issues. "Black folks are taking this personal because we identify with him so much. It's like somebody in our family. I can talk about them, but you better not."

"even though they are among those who have lost the most since he was elected"...and yet they still support Obama just because he's not Bush or what?

Meanwhile...

Democrats battle independents' weakening support of Obama and Congress

Of all the problems Democrats face this fall, none may be more challenging than trying to win back the support of independent voters.

President Obama has been going backward with independents for more than a year, and the Democrats stand to suffer the effects in the November elections. The Gallup organization reported this week that just 38 percent of independents now approve of the job Obama is doing, the lowest point in his presidency and down from 56 percent a year ago.

Top Democratic strategists are gloomy enough about the prospect of turning those voters around quickly that they believe the more important priority for the next four months is to maximize turnout among the new voters who backed Obama in 2008. Those new voters may be receptive to partisan appeals. Whether that will help with independents is another question.

What caused the defection of a group that stood solidly with the Democrats in 2008, as well as in 2006, when the party was returned to power in Congress? The factors include dissatisfaction with the economy, a rebellion against the president's agenda and disappointment that Obama hasn't delivered on his campaign promises to change the culture of Washington.

John Weaver, a Republican strategist, pointed to the weak economy as the main cause of Obama's problem with independents. "We have nearly 10 percent unemployment, and the broad middle of the body politic has lost faith in Obama's ability, or focus, in dealing with job creation and the economy," Weaver said. "The president doesn't appear empathetic, though I'm sure he is, and he's allowed the debate to be defined about rising deficits and increased spending."

Jim Dyke, another Republican strategist, said other policy decisions by the president have turned off independents. "The health care law is a good example," he said. "They view it as a government expansion that will increase the deficit, and they are uncertain how it will impact their health care services coverage. They don't believe that the stimulus package has created private sector jobs."

"This is not a liberal country," said Republican strategist John Feehery, "but it is now being governed by liberals in a liberal way, so it was almost a certainty that this reaction would take place."

White House senior adviser David Axelrod said that the criticism of Obama as a big-spending liberal grows out of decisions the president felt he had to make to prevent a depression. "We were forced to do things from the start to deal with this economic crisis that helped create a false narrative about spending and deficits that's had some impact on independent voters," Axelrod said. "And that's something we have to work on."

Think about it: Independent voters (who aren't necessarily pledged to one party) have a lot of influence on elections. Scott Brown anyone?

[sandnsea]

1. Lost the most in Bush's Financial Collapse

But let's blame it on Obama instead. Gotta love that librul media.

And the people who believe this shit.

[RBInMaine]

2. You win Indies largely by ATTACKING the GOBP's alignment with the TeaRadicals. Do that, and we win.

[Andy823]

3. Sorry but I don't buy it!

While I am sure people are not happy with the economy, no matter what party they are in, I don't think that most independent voters are going to want to go back to the same old BS that the republicans gave us when they were in charge! Sure there are some who claim to be independent teabaggers, but the vast majority of people with half a brain know that we are in this mess because of what the "REPUBLICANS" did when they were in charge. Any one with an ounce of sense knows that the mess the Obama inherited can not be fixed in only 18 months! It's taken years to get us into this mess, deregulation, NAFTA, tax breaks for the rich, two wars, etc. Now I admit that many people are upset with the way things are going, but the media is make it far worse than it really is. Yes, we need jobs, and the president and the democrats need to get an extension for the unemployed passed, and until they do there will be a lot of ticked off people out there, but will they actually be stupid enough to put republicans back in charge?

Now I agree that if things don't change, and Reid doesn't get his act together and get tough with republicans, force them to stay in D.C. till things get done, make them stand on the floor till they drop if the want to filibuster, and if he doesn't show the public he is doing everything he can to help the "PEOPLE" and not the corporations, there will be seats lost, but even then I can't see that many seats being lost to republicans. If the president and congress can get tough, kick some ass on both sides, and show the public democrats care abut the people and republicans only care about corporations, I think they will keep their majorities, maybe not as much as they have now, but still the majority in both houses. Now is the time to put the republicans on the defense, and hammer at them from now till election time!

[asjr]

5. I would like to see the media on the defensive. I

watched Meet the Press this morning for the first time in ages. I watched because I knew Rachel Maddow was going to be on. I watched David Gregory, Karl Rove's dancing partner, make an ass of himself with Gibbs. I think David should run for chairman of the RNC. He could make an ass of himself again with that job.

[impik]

14. It's all in the narrative. They see how fiercely the Left is attacking Obama

It's enough to influence them. Hey, if even his supporters are against him....

[Bitwit1234]

4. Why the big mystery that blacks would not support Obama and

the Democrats. When have the republicans ever ever ever supported anything for black people. For that matter when have republicans supported any thing than laws and privileges for the rich and big business. At least black people are not as dumb as some of us whites. The ones from the middle class who are supporting republicans.

[dana_b]

6. back in the 1800s?

Other than that - I got nothing.

[Yavin4]

10. Middle and Working Class Whites Still Cling To A Tribalist Mindset

They still believe that because the economic elite is made up of primarily White people that they will look out for them and help them out.

This is why during the financial crisis so many blamed African Americans and not the Wall Street elite.

[Dr Morbius]

7. I believe some distinction must be drawn between...

..."independents" and those I'll call DKDC's; don't know, don't care (about politics). DKDC's vote but not always, and don't stay active in or informed about politics. Hence the name DKDC; they don't know what they're voting for and don't care much about politics. The bulk of the voters are DKDC's in Presidential elections, but not in off-year elections. In off-year elections a greater percentage of actual voters are Democrats and Republicans. Many who call themselves independents are naught but disenfranchised conservatives, who've rightly come to suspect the Republican party but never did and never will trust the Democrats. What we're calling "independent voters" can fall under either group. Are these DKDC's or conservatives who trust neither party? Will DKDC's turn out this year?

Isn't this distinction worth looking at?

[Jennicut]

16. I totally agree with your assessment. These independents are more right leaning types

that have become ashamed to call themselves Rethugs. But they have no loyalty toward the Dems and on issues like the deficit they believe the lies that conservatives spout. Think of them as Perot independents. No love for either party but clear a right leaning bias.

[KingFlorez]

8. And when the actual election results are in, we'll see what the Republican strategists have to say

The thing the GOP idiots are missing is this. Just because independents are disapproving of the President, doesn't mean they are going to vote for Republicans.

[Diamonique]

9. In reply to the OP's question:

""even though they are among those who have lost the most since he was elected"...and yet they still support Obama just because he's not Bush or what?"


Black people have always gotten the worse end of anything bad that happens in the U.S. As the old saying goes: "When America catches a cold, African-Americans catch the flu." This isn't new to Obama's presidency, so we don't fault him for it.

[Number23]

19. Thank you, Diamonique

As the old saying goes: "When America catches a cold, African-Americans catch the flu." This isn't new to Obama's presidency, so we don't fault him for it.

Yep. And it's interesting that the person who wrote this article and the piece the OP decided to highlight was this bit:

"Yet blacks still overwhelmingly support him, even though they are among those who have lost the most since he was elected."

What "most" have we "lost" since he was elected? Some quantifiable data in this report would have been nice.

[impik]

11. F*** this country. Obama should go home in 2012 and give his "supporters" the president they deserve

[jesus_of_suburbia]

12. Feel free to leave this country if you want it fucked.

[impik]

13. Oh, i will. One day after some Palin wins the 2012 election, i'm out of here

[DCBob]

18. I almost left when Bush won the second time. If a Palin-type wins I'm gone too..

The angry lefties deal can with it... seems that what they want anyway.

[Tarheel_Dem]

25. +1

[spoony]

32. No, you won't.

That would require two impossibilities. Palin winning, and some country accepting you.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

33. Obama = dreamboat....USA = "fuck you!"

Unreal.

[kjackson227]

45. "Obama fans..." This is a rude and offensive statement...

which is your intention. This president has quite a few accomplishments that do not go unnoticed by his "SUPPORTERS". Obama is no phucking rock star which is what you are disrespectfully alluding to, and we are not a bunch of phucking "fans". And, I agree, that if we as voters are too MISINFORMED, ideological, indifferent and/or spiteful, to give credit to this man for bringing us this far (even though we do have a long way to go), then we do deserve everything we get from these upcoming elections. I think most intelligent voters, regardless of their race and regardless of whether or not they're Independent will realize this and vote accordingly.

[impik]

49. People gets what they deserve. This is not about being Obama fans.

This is about undermining and weakening the most accomplished president in decades. Someone who made an amazing progress in 18 months. If people are so ignorant and can't see it, then they deserve whatever comes at them in 2012.

[BluegrassDem]

15. Independents are mostly Republicans who are embarrassed to admit it

The media never tells that. People who call themselves independent are mostly likely conservative, former Republicans, who don't like to call themselves Republicans. I'm not really concerned with Obama "losing" Independents. It's just media spin.

[DCBob]

17. +1

Some even voted for Obama in 08 because it was the "fashionable" thing to do. Now their true stripes are showing.

[totodeinhere]

20. Whoever they are, we need their votes. There aren't enough registered Democrats to win

elections by themselves in many parts of the country.

[Beacool]

21. I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked by these conclusions.

9 out of 10 AA voted for Obama in the primaries and 9.5 out of 10 voted for him in the GE.

[Tarheel_Dem]

26. And 10 out of 10 will vote for his re-election.

[Beacool]

27. But, but, race has nothing to do with it...........

[Tarheel_Dem]

29. Race has everything to do with it. Just ask Bill Clinton. We supported him as well, remember?

Because we are a loyal democratic constituency. But I guess loyalty is a one way street?

[Beacool]

36. I wasn't referring to the GE.............

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. This isn't the first time you've made racial overtones with regard to blacks

supporting their own. We supported Bill Clinton in the same numbers that we're supporting our current president. I bet you'd be singing a different tune had the primaries turned out differently. I suspect that blacks would be Hillary's largest and strongest block of support at this point in her presidency.

So your race baiting is all for naught. Black people support Democrats. GET IT? Unlike many, we continued to support Bill even after his pecadilloes became headline news. I know exactly what you're getting at, but if you want to hold on to that, you have my deepest sympathies.

[Number23]

55. You know it

I suspect that blacks would be Hillary's largest and strongest block of support at this point in her presidency.

Yeah, if Hillary was in office, you can bet the fact that blacks are the most consistently loyal block of Dem voters would have Bea SWOONING over all of us with melanin.

Now, I get the distinct impression that large elements of DU are actually pissed at black people because we continue to support this president and his policies in large numbers. Wanna know what I have to say to that?? Fuck 'em.

[firedupdem]

50. +1000

Thank you! We were okay when we lined up to vote for Bill, but we most certainly only support this president because he's black.

[Tarheel_Dem]

52. She just confirmed what I knew all along. Her contempt just got the best of her. (nt)

[geek tragedy]

37. Blacks are loyal Democrats, so of course they will vote for him. nt

[Starbucks Anarchist]

28. Actually, they were lined up solidly behind Hillary at first.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

Clinton's and Obama's support among white voters changed little since December, but the shifts among black Democrats were dramatic. In December and January Post-ABC News polls, Clinton led Obama among African Americans by 60 percent to 20 percent. In the new poll, Obama held a narrow advantage among blacks, 44 percent to 33 percent. The shift came despite four in five blacks having a favorable impression of the New York senator.

African Americans view Clinton even more positively than they see Obama, but in the time since he began his campaign, his favorability rating rose significantly among blacks. In the latest poll, 70 percent of African Americans said they had a favorable impression of Obama, compared with 54 percent in December and January.

And of course, 90% of AAs vote Democratic every time, regardless of color, but go ahead and piss on our most loyal constituency. Your bitterness gets funnier every day.

[suzie]

30. +10

[Beacool]

35. Yes, they were at the beginning because they thought Obama was not viable.

Once he won IA they peeled away, except for some who stayed in Hillary's camp and suffered plenty for it.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

42. you guys fightin again! BEHAVE.

[Beacool]

44. Well, it wouldn't be DU if the fur didn't fly on a regular basis.

It keeps the juices flowing......

[Starbucks Anarchist]

46. So in other words, they didn't immediately flock to Obama because he's black.

And how do you explain 90% of AAs voting for white Democrats repeatedly?

[ecstatic]

56. Wow! I can't believe you're still so bitter!

That was 2 years ago, time to get over it!

[depakid]

22. Axelrod buying into the Republican narrative- again. These guys never learn

Of course, had the policies been done right when they had the chance, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

23. This point is moot until we know who the GOP candidate will be.

By 2012 the GOP will have distanced itself enough from Bush. The public has a very short memory and the more they
perceive the parties as being more alike than they are different, the more importance they will put on the individual.
Obama needs to distinguish himself as a Democrat, but that's looking more and more unlikely.

[davidpdx]

34. +1...Exactly

Right now any measure of polling would be against a generic Republican. Yeah maybe it would be close, but there is no presidential election this year. We need to focus on the Congressional Races and keeping control of both chambers. If Palin were the nominee against Obama I guarntee a majority...nah screw that 90% of those who say they have swung away from the president will swing back.

[jenmito]

24. It's because many "Independents" are really teabaggers who don't call themselves Repubs anymore. n/t

[geek tragedy]

38. Wait, black people are partisan Democrats?

Well, who would have ever guessed that a pillar of the Democratic base would be acting like the base?

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. +10,000

[saltpoint]

39. It might be instructive to ask those unhappy independents

exactly who they do like for the job of president, and to determine who among the names they offer is electable.

Ron Paul? I don't think so.

Any of the Republican field? I don't see any independent there at all. Ron Paul is the closest they can get and Ron Paul is a racist kook.

[alp227]

43. Uhh, you might mean Rand Paul, Ron's "right to discriminate"-promoting son. n/t

[saltpoint]

48. Meant 'Ron,' the kook DaddyO, who ran last time

and was mashed by Rudy Giuliani in that one debate confrontation, which is kind of pathetic considering how Giuliani's campaign was swirling the drain at the time and about to tank altogether. But you're absolutely right -- if Rand defeats Jack Conway he will become a much-mentioned name for the Pukes' '012 nom.

I think you have it exactly right also in characterizing Rand's "right to discriminate" position -- that is it exactly, and that is why Rand was spitting and slobbering and whining when Rachel Maddow grilled him alive on her program about the Civil Right legislation. It exposed his racism, evidently inherited from the old man. She even gave him multiple opportunities to fine-tune it, finesse it, and finagle his way out of it and he just kept shoving his foot deeper into his own mouth.

Ron Paul is getting on in years but he may feel that there's one more national run in him. If Rand wins the Kentucky Senate seat, Ron may decide to step away from the limelight and let Junior do a turn.

[kennedyphan]

51. The Austin NAACP chief said Ron Paul is not a racist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvAuSXq5etA
http://www.infowars.com/articles/us/ron_paul_naacp_pres...

[saltpoint]

53. I beg to differ, then, with the Austin NAACP.

link:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x408cr_ron-paul-s-raci...

[FrenchieCat]

54. The media must be fucking rolling over with joy!

This is the results they have been working for, for soooo very long.

It must feel good to have manipulated public sentiment to where
we are made to feel sorry for folks who cry about losing their way of life,
while still supporting Deep sea oil drilling.

Must feel really, really good.