On Energy, Obama Finds Broad Support - Poll Shows Backing for Reform Efforts

[Turborama]

On Energy, Obama Finds Broad Support

Poll Shows Backing for Reform Efforts, But Cap-and-Trade Bill Is Harder Sell

By Steven Mufson and Jennifer Agiesta
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, August 28, 2009

Most Americans approve of the way President Obama is handling energy issues and support efforts by him and Democrats in Congress to overhaul energy policy -- including the controversial cap-and-trade approach to limiting greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Even as public support has slipped for Obama's health-care proposals, support for ambitious changes in energy policy has been steady. Although the issue of health care arouses more intense feelings than energy policy does, those who do feel strongly about energy and climate policy tend to tilt toward the administration's position and a broad majority of people echo Democratic lawmakers' views on the benefits of proposed changes.

Nearly six in 10 of those polled support the proposed changes to U.S. energy policy being developed by Congress and the administration. Fifty-five percent of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling the issue, compared with 30 percent who do not. A narrower majority, 52 to 43 percent, back a cap-and-trade system; that margin is unchanged since June. A cap-and-trade system would set a ceiling for the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, and it would allow firms to buy and sell emissions permits.

"Something definitely has to be done," said Marian Eldridge, a former legal secretary from East Windsor, N.J., who participated in the survey. "Anything's worth a try at this point." She said she tries to "ignore the politics; you get discouraged." But she said that higher energy costs were "inevitable" and that "we're too dependent on other countries."

Continues: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/27/AR2009082703823.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[d_b]

1. that's only because

they've yet to hear the part about Obama feeding grandma to the polar bears.

[kestrel91316]

2. He won't do that - she's busy practicing voodoo in the WH house for his benefit.