Stimulus Is Favored By Most Americans: Poll

A new poll from Politico suggests that the public does not see Barack Obama's stimulus package in the same category as one of the myriad number of bailouts that the Congress has passed, and that Republicans (or Democrats) counting on a populist backlash against the measure have their work cut out for them.

Politico's poll (.pdf), conducted by the firm Garin-Hart-Yang, reports that 79 percent of Americans favor the stimulus, versus just 17 percent opposed. I would take some issue with GHY's question wording, as it characterizes the stimulus in rather flattering terms ("a proposal to create jobs and strengthen the economy") but does not mention the stimulus's pricetag; this is not too far from message testing as opposed to opinion polling. Nevertheless, it suggests that -- if framed appropriately by the administration -- the stimulus could be quite popular indeed, a finding also implied by other surveys.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[chnge2012]

Jan. 7, 2009, Robert Reich economic advisor to Barak Hussien Obama testifies before the House Way and Means com.. "Building the nations roads and bridges should not go to the typical white male construction worker, but to women and minorities." The Obama help wanted ads are loud and clear. Help Wanted, building the New America ( WHITES NEED NOT APPLY)

[Icantbelieveher]

To those people who keep saying that most Americans don't know what the stimulus is --

Most Americans weren't aware of the fleecing of America that has been going on for the last 8 years!!! We get it now that since the wealth has been distributed upward for the last 8 years, the economy is broken, the government has to put fairness back into the economy!!!!

http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/1603

http://www.cbpp.org/3-27-08tax2.pdf

Americans are aware now that the stimulus Obama wants is to give them relief from the thievery that has been going on since Bushy took office, along with the majority in the house and senate!

[Sparhawk]

This is train wreck

At NO time in History has Government spent it's way out of a economic problem. MORE Government is not the answer.

We are already on the hook for all the Corporate and Bank bailouts...now we will be saddled with this...

[unity08]

Actually we have spent our way to economic recovery via the US government. It was called the "New Deal," remember?

It was working farly well until 1937 when opposing forces insisted on balanced bugets. As FDR backed down a bit and reduced spending unemployment begin to rise again. It took another big government expenditure, WWll, to finish the job a few years later.

[jp5472]

Funny how that time in history is just completely forgotten. Here we go again.

Perhaps we should start with the programs that started under Hoover (a Republican) and were adapted by Roosevelt in the New Deal:

Emergency Relief and Construction Act 1932
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Relief_and_Construction_Act

Federal Home Loan Bank Act 1932
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Home_Loan_Bank_Act

The government has spent money to get us out of economic problems in the past. It's just in this current crisis up until now they've only spent it helping their Wall Street brethren.

[chnge2012]

Pray for WWIII

[wijg]

How many Americans know that PE Obama wants to keep the tax cuts given to the wealthiest Americans, by bush, in place?

[BarackstarObama]

He will let those expire in 2010.

[wijg]

Right, they should be repealed...

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday that she wants to see the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy repealed "as early as possible."
The call for repeal may place Pelosi at odds with President-elect Obama; during the campaign he called for repeal but his aides have since indicated that due to the deteriorating economy, he was leaning towards allowing them to expire.
Asked again after her press conference about the tax cuts, the Speaker said she is "urging repeal."
Pelosi noted that the Congressional Budget Office has determined that the tax cuts are the biggest contributor to the ballooning deficit. "Put me down as clearly as you possibly can as one who wants to have those tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans repealed," she said."

Lot's of good info in this diary:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/9/93420/58187/441/681976

[MAragon]

All right, I see now that we are going to have inundate Congress the way we inundated the White House over this inhospitality with Blair House. Contact your representatives and senators asap and tell them to get with the program. It figures that they get a backbone NOW. What a bunch of loons.

[GuyFawkes]

I hope Di You hurt my feelings Fi, Harry I don't work for Obama Reid, and Barney Obama isn't doing enough Frank are paying attention.

Yeah. You don't work for Obama. You work for us. And WE elected Obama to get you guys in line and actually do something. Too bad you guys didn't show this much fire the past 8 years. You guys picked the wrong time to stop rolling over and playing dead.

[MarvBitesBack]

LOL. Most Americans, including Obama himself, don't know what Obama's stimulus package is. This is simply more evidence of the blind faith of igno rant Americans, aided and abetted by a poll meant to create news.

[LITNUP]

Most Americans have no clue as to what the stimulus package is .....

[harriscrl3]

Really cause apparently they understand the difference between bailing out wallstreet and bailing out mainstreet since they oppose the former but support the latter. They are not totally clueless as you may think. They know when they are being given the shaft but CEOs and executives are givine GOLDEN EGGS. If you understand that then you understand.

Carol

[jp5472]

As opposed to the prior bailouts with ungodly price tags, utter unaccountability, and obvious non results after fuzzy stated objectives, this stimulus plan has clearly stated objectives and is an ACTUAL plan! It also addresses what needs to be addressed today, not hoping it "trickles down" someday to the millions who need jobs, etc. "Trickle down" has been an utter failure after 28 years.

We voted this man in because of his intelligence and his ability to bring in the top talent, organize, then address the issues. This stimulus package is just that -assembled by his top team of economic experts after seeing what really has been going on behind the veiled secrecy and spin in the Bush Administration. Finally we are confident that we have "hired" someone who has a clue and will, along with his team, do what is necessary to right this ship before it is too late.

[Sparhawk]

A "plan" to spend $1,000,000,000,000 over and above the bailouts and giveaways.

You can't spend your say out of debt, neither can the Government.

[Icantbelieveher]

Understand how much more of a deficit we would run up trying to keep up with the unemployment benefits, not to mention payroll taxes lost with our economy spiraling out of control. It would be much higher than it would than if jobs were created and $$$ are put into the middle class family's hands!!!

[jp5472]

Have you ever heard "You have to spend money to make money!" in the business world? We are not talking about mom and pop budgets here and going out and emptying your personal savings account and expecting gobs of money to magically appear in your account, we are talking about "priming the pump" to start the engine that drives the economy.

Case in point - if you have been paying any attention, since nobody is spending any money, businesses and industry everywhere (including those that were not in the throes of failing) are hurting. Credit is unavailable to anyone with less than a 700 credit score. Revolving credit for business payroll has been affected. Products around the world are sitting on pallets. When stimulus packages prime the economy and create IMMEDIATE and SUSTAINED growth (unlike last 2 tax rebate checks and the bailout), people are employed, and making money to put back in the economy which GENERATES TAX REVENUE. This benefits the people immediately, states immediately and the Federal Government in the long run that then sees the return on it's investment and pays down the debt.

[jemiltd]

If most Americans are backing President-elect Obama on the stimulus -- and we should -- then we need to get involved by contacting our respective Congressional representatives and let them know that we are for it. We don't have time to putz around with political kid's play, and people jockeying for personal benefit. Get it done.

[1manstandin]

Why Wouldn't we..Do you not see whats happening out here...plus most experts believe the same thing..all i know we got to try something different..and hope it does work..i'm going to be mad if it doesn't but at least we are trying to do something unlike the bush administration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geC4lLGZF_M

[getoffmedz]

It's a good thing many disregard these polls as misleading and little more than a shiny object - as this poll certainly was rigged to be.

[vjoseph]

I think you need to stay on your meds