Shocker: Obama's Less Trusted Than Bush On Social Security

[daa]

Source: Campaign for America's Future

When asked whether they trust the President or his opponents in Congress more on the issue of Social Security, people have less trust in Barack Obama than they did in George W. Bush when he had Obama's job. And the question was asked about Bush in 2005, at a time when his unpopular campaign to privatize Social Security was reaching its crescendo.

That's a stunning statistic. The Democratic Party created Social Security, and was seen as its champion for three-quarters of a century. Yet voters have less trust for a Democratic President on this issue than they did for one who had pledged to privatize the entire system, and whose party opposed it from the beginning. And the difference isn't minor. 37% trusted Bush more than the opposition Democrats in 2005, which was considered a low number at the time. Yet only 26% trust Obama over the Republicans, even after their failed attempt to privatize the program - and even though Democrats have a "brand identification" with Social Security.

The Republican privatization attempt was thought to have contributed significantly to that party's Congressional losses in 2006. Yet the President refuses to say that he won't cut Social Security, and he continues to have kind words for the reckless, inhumane, and unneeded proposals of his Deficit Commission co-chairs (the Commission was unable to agree a plan).



Read more: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011010320/shocker-obamas-less-trusted-bush-social-security

[w4rma]

1. I agree with the plurality. I trust Bush's words on Social Security more than Obama's. (nt)

[rko_24550]

15. +100

[Cant trust em]

2. This question is kind of weird.

"Trust the presidents ability to handle social security vs. opposition party"

So 36% of the public trusted George Bush to handle social security vs. the democrats? And we compare that to Obama's ability to handle it vs. republicans.

[msongs]

3. notice that our prez pretty much keeps his mouth shut about everything nt

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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

[opihimoimoi]

4. GOPers are doing everything to denigrate Obama....

[notadmblnd]

5. Well, he's brought that on himself

He can not be trusted to stand up for the people of this country. On the other hand, his track record says that corporate America can and do bank on him.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Bush was honest about where he stood

Obama is otherwise, e.g., public option", "ending Bush tax cuts", and so forth.

Bush was awful, but you knew his intentions.

[earthside]

11. Precisely.

We all knew that Bush/Cheney wanted to eviscerate Social Security ... you could 'trust' them to hold fast to that position.

Pres. Obama is talking (or not talking) about the future of Social Security in the same way he talked about the health care 'public option' ... in other words, nobody knew where he really, truly stood or had any confidence about where he would end up.

So, it certainly is true for me -- right now I simply do not trust that Barack Obama will defend Social Security.

[decidedlyso]

7. This is a disaster. Obama delivered the first punch to Social

Security with the seemingly innocuous payroll tax reduction. What he says regarding Social Security in the SOTU will give us all an indication of what is coming next. If he prefaces his remarks with something about Social Security now being different than it was originally intended, it is all over but the shouting. We are looking at the slow implementation of some of the catfood commission's suggestions. This will play right into the Republican's hands. Next week will be a defining moment for both Obama and the Democratic Party.

[grahamhgreen]

8. Obama - balancing the budget on the backs of widows and orphans.

[HeroTwins]

21. his success must just eat you up inside.

That is a good thing.

[grahamhgreen]

30. Not at all. Student aid reform was fantastic! But extending the Bush tax cuts,

not so much.

[bitchkitty]

35. His success?

Clarify that remark, if you don't mind.

Obama's success sure does eat me up inside. His successful betrayal of his base gives me a very bad taste in my mouth.

Public option? Guantanamo? Tax cuts for the wealthy? And now, Social Security? I don't think this country can stand any more of Obama's success.

Accusing people of being "jealous" because they are unhappy with his duplicity is moronic. It's childish. Peewee Herman politics.

[Imperialism Inc.]

10. That is an incredibly bad poll question.

I have my concerns about Obama and whether or not he is going to come out in support of raising the retirement age. That said, the poll question is just really bad.

"Who do you trust to do a better job handling social security?" and
"Who do you think will better handle the issue of social security?"

What does that even mean? If you are a conservative and you want Social Security privatized and think Bush will do so you'll answer Bush.

[jwirr]

12. The sad thing is that he could have avoided this by tell that commission

that Social Security was off the table because it does not contribute to the problem. Sometimes I wonder what world his advisers are from.

[boppers]

33. If he's going to tell the commission what to do, why even bother?

It's kind of pointless to ask for ideas if you've already made it clear that you have no intent of listening to them.

[jwirr]

36. Even commissions have guidelines.

[boppers]

38. The guidelines, I think, were to consider all options.

...and here we are, arguing over a dead commission's dead recommendations, rather than with any solutions.

[Arkana]

13. I guess wild speculation from the left really DOES have an effect.

[FrenchieCat]

18. When that is what one is dedicated to doing,

yes, it will have its effect.

Will it help those and their "concerns" to have worked against Obama
this enthusiastically pre-emptively? I greatly doubt it.
In fact, the more they speculate based on unsubstantiated hunches hung on a word,
or a committee member, the more they are cultivating a culture of negativity and
in their own way inviting a Republican to win in '12.
They know this, but they just can't stop themselves.
They dislike this President enough that for them, it's worth it to rumor about him now,
while not being insightful enough to have any concern on the consequences they will help
bring onto this country later.

It's a bit like living in their very own twilight zone, and they kinda of like it there...
a place where they can freely dislike this President for reasons that they have sought out,
even if they aren't there.

[great white snark]

25. The fringe is very skilled at the only thing they are capable of doing-being loud.

The conjecture is deafening.

[Hello_Kitty]

37. I guess the WH dropped the ball on the message.

But since nothing is ever their fault it must be those dastardly leftists in the blogosphere.

[Autumn]

14. I have to say, I don't trust Obama on it

and that is just fucking sad. He gets along too well, and doesn't seem to stand up for whats right, tax breaks,insurance finance reform, anything for Wall Street.

[NaturalHigh]

16. I don't mind saying it.

You're absolutely right.

[impik]

17. So, bring Bush back.

[Cali_Democrat]

19. Obama's silence is deafening and the nation's trust in him on SS is tanking

Unheard of for a Democratic President.

[emilyg]

22. +100

[decidedlyso]

24. +100

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[ProSense]

23. Why are people flogging this three-month old poll of likely voters

to distort perception?



The Lake poll was of likely voters, which skewed conservative, days before the election:

Who will better handle Social Security

• Republicans vs. Democrats in Congress: 31% (R) to 28% (D); 34% both the same
• Republicans in Congress vs. Obama: 33% (R) to 26% (Obama); 31% both the same

Source: Lake Research Partners, Social Security Works, "Findings from an Election Eve/Night Survey of 1,200 Likely Voters Nationwide, Oct. 31‐ Nov. 2, 2010. Accessed at http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/lakepolling

How is it relevant to compare what Americans thought of Clinton in March 1995 and Bush in January 2005 to what mostly conservative voters thought about Obama in November 2010?

What did voters say about Clinton in November 1994?

[FrenchieCat]

28. Because they can!

Some call it twisting information to influence public opinion.

Just think of the dismay of those who see this President's approval ratings inch up.
Can't have that! Or else, a Republican in 2012 might never have a chance......

[great white snark]

26. Interesting that those who decry "silence" most vehemently would never accept or believe any answer.

Your disingenuousness is what's deafening.

[Hydra]

32. Still waiting for the Public Option he supported

And the safety in the gulf he promised he would enforce for deep water drilling

And the full withdrawal from Iraq

And the Green Jobs initiative

Need I go on?

And no, his silence/support of SSI revamping when it's not necessary after handing out a free tax-cut lollypop to the people who don't need it is NOT reassuring.

[JoePhilly]

27. Let's impeach him.

[phleshdef]

29. A poll taken before the midterm elections from a firm no one has ever heard of.

If you want to make an argument that the Obama administration isn't being forthcoming enough on its plans for social security, fine, make that argument. But relying on an outdated poll during a politically charged election from a complete nobody polling firm isn't helping you make that argument. It just shows a desperation to plant unfounded seeds of negativity and nothing more.

[Telly Savalas]

31. We need an "Unfounded Seeds of Negativity" forum here.

Then 85% of the threads in GD could be moved there so they wouldn't crowd out legitimate critiques of the President and honest discussion of pertinent issues.

[boppers]

34. General Discussion: Panic

:evilgrin: