Bonnie Erbe

Gulf Oil Spill is Tarring Obama's Approval Ratings

May 26, 2010 RSS Feed Print

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I agree with my esteemed colleague Mary Kate Cary that the Deepwater Horizon spill is becoming President Obama’s version of Hurricane Katrina, which started to turn American public opinion against former President George W. Bush.

I add reference to one more public opinion poll released this afternoon by USA Today which shows:

Nearly three-fourths of those surveyed Monday and Tuesday say BP is doing a "poor" or "very poor" job in handling the calamity. Six of 10 say that of the federal government. And a 53 percent majority give Obama a poor rating … The 55 percent-39 percent divide on that question was a reversal of American views in March, before the April 20 explosion sent crude oil spewing into the gulf. Then, by 50 percent-43 percent Americans said development U.S. energy supplies should be given priority, "even if the environment suffers to some extent."

But I should also like to distinguish between Mr. Bush’s mishandling of or failure to notice the importance of the Katrina aftermath and President Obama’s typical 180-degree turn around on the Gulf oil spill. President Obama, while candidate Obama, opposed offshore oil drilling. He took off his “progressive” suit after winning the White House and put on his “pragmatic” middle-ground suit. When public demand for lower oil prices rose, he conveniently changed his position and allowed as how perhaps offshore oil drilling wasn’t so bad. He was against it until he was for it.

Now he’s paying the price because the public recognizes his policy shift, and witnessing the destruction offshore oil drilling can have on the environment. Mr. Obama’s propensity for 180s should not have come as a surprise to the America public, but it is now. 2012 is already getting more interesting.

Tags:
Hurricane Katrina,
Gulf of Mexico,
Barack Obama,
George W. Bush,
oil

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obama has no clue. he is like a dear in the headlights. to stop oil drilling in the gulf shows he doesn't have a clue. while not the only jobs in louisiana, it is a very large part. you have the fishing and seafood industry out of business now you are going to put the rest out as well. when a airplane crashes, we don't stop flying....rick

rick of LA 9:30AM June 30, 2010

WHEN DOES OBAMA WORK AS A PRESIDENT!!!-

WHAT ALL OBAMA WAS DOING DURING THE FIRST 41 DAY'S!!-After watching the OBAMA"S speech OTHER night and reading coverage NOW, KERRY-THE MAN THAT IS PICTURED WITH THE FLAG UPSIDE and THE TURN COAT LIEBERMAN'S news conference-- THEY WILL NOW,WILL now. kick off the drive for their Cap-and-Trade bill, you can see the Left's environmental machine really gearing up to EXPLOIT this oil spill for political purposes.!! Understand THIS "THE OIL SPILL WAS COMPLEX ACCIDENTAL!!- BP and TONY HAYWARD have apolized - many times! - BP did not plan it! they have and will pay-- we understand ---They want to make it right -AFTER OBAMA did a 20 billion $$- SKAKEDOWN-EXTORTION!-FORCING) OBAMA IS A SLYME BALLll!! -No amount of $$ will bring back the people that died WE all feel bad .---But enough is enough!! , BP IS trying !!---OBAMA is an WILL use this BP $$--for HIS agenda remember this!! --I'm telling you we are in for a monumental battle this year. OBAMA, is the worst PRESIDENT AMERICA HAS EVER HAD! ALONG WITH CARTER!! Also this money from BP will be stiffed in to Obama HANDS and his friend's -SOME MONEY will go to the people in the gulf -- BUT quiet as it is kept , 65 % will go to Obama's agenda's -Most it will NEVER ALL go to the gulf'! 25 % or more, FIRST MONEY will go to "The Union"s---REGULAR people will have to wait!!!REMEMBER THIS!! THIS IDIOT'S PIG FACE HENRY WAXMAN &-TURN COAT STUPIED-STUPAK --JOHN DINGALL- KATHY CASTER-WERE REALLY GRAND STANDING -SHOWING THERE ASS INFRONT OF THE TV /AMERICA WHO IN THE HELL DO THEY ALLK THINK THE ARETRYING TO FRONT TONY HARWARD?? THOSE CONGRESSMEN ARE FULL OUT S--T --TONY HAYWARD DID A GREAT JOB--HOW CAN ONE ANSWER IF THE INVESTAGATION IS NOT COMPLETED --CAN'T THESE A --HOLES UNDERSTAND ---TONY IS A VERY SMART MAN AND MADE HIS MONEY THE RIGHT WAY!! NOT LIKE THOSE CONGRESSMEN THAT HAVE SWINDLED AND STOLED FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!--I SAY RECYCLE CONGRESS --VOTE THEM OUT THIS NOV-2- HOW DO THESE GOVERNMENT PEOPLE OWN AND HAVE AND LIVE HIGH ON THE HOG WITH THEIR "REAL PAY YEARLY? BECUASE THEY HAVE BEEN STEALING AND SLITHERING!! Please vote in Nov and make sure to Vote Obama out in 2012 --He is again the worst PRESIDENT AMERICA HAS EVER HAD!!----HE DOES NOT EVEN CARE FOR THE VETERAN'S -REMEMBER --THIS YEAR'S MEMORIAL DAY?OBAMA -NEVER WENT TO ARLINGTON --BUT HE DID FLY AIR FORCE ONE TO CHICAGO FOR FAMILY BAR B QUE-!!-THEN HE TRIES TO COVER IT BY GOING cemetary in Chicago! Rained like hell!! I think OUR GOD (not his god) was telling him something---ALL President's go to ARLINGTON for Memorial Day - for our fallen soldier's --where was OBAMA??---GOING THE GYM--ALSO- Many people- also know that the American public is turning against OBAMA NUTTY environmental agenda...So, they are taking the same approach they took with health care -- now Cap-and-Trade? I think Obama should be IMPEACHED ASAP

LOUISE R of CA 11:57PM June 19, 2010

WHEN DOES OBAMA WORK AS A PRESIDENT!!!-

WHAT ALL OBAMA WAS DOING DURING THE FIRST 41 DAY'S!!-After watching the OBAMA"S speech OTHER night and reading coverage NOW, KERRY-THE MAN THAT IS PICTURED WITH THE FLAG UPSIDE and THE TURN COAT LIEBERMAN'S news conference-- THEY WILL NOW,WILL now. kick off the drive for their Cap-and-Trade bill, you can see the Left's environmental machine really gearing up to EXPLOIT this oil spill for political purposes.!! Understand THIS "THE OIL SPILL WAS COMPLEX ACCIDENTAL!!- BP and TONY HAYWARD have apolized - many times! - BP did not plan it! they have and will pay-- we understand ---They want to make it right -AFTER OBAMA did a 20 billion $$- SKAKEDOWN-EXTORTION!-FORCING) OBAMA IS A SLYME BALLll!! -No amount of $$ will bring back the people that died WE all feel bad .---But enough is enough!! , BP IS trying !!---OBAMA is an WILL use this BP $$--for HIS agenda remember this!! --I'm telling you we are in for a monumental battle this year. OBAMA, is the worst PRESIDENT AMERICA HAS EVER HAD! ALONG WITH CARTER!! Also this money from BP will be stiffed in to Obama HANDS and his friend's -SOME MONEY will go to the people in the gulf -- BUT quiet as it is kept , 65 % will go to Obama's agenda's -Most it will NEVER ALL go to the gulf'! 25 % or more, FIRST MONEY will go to "The Union"s---REGULAR people will have to wait!!!REMEMBER THIS!! THIS IDIOT'S PIG FACE HENRY WAXMAN &-TURN COAT STUPIED-STUPAK --JOHN DINGALL- KATHY CASTER-WERE REALLY GRAND STANDING -SHOWING THERE ASS INFRONT OF THE TV /AMERICA WHO IN THE HELL DO THEY ALLK THINK THE ARETRYING TO FRONT TONY HARWARD?? THOSE CONGRESSMEN ARE FULL OUT S--T --TONY HAYWARD DID A GREAT JOB--HOW CAN ONE ANSWER IF THE INVESTAGATION IS NOT COMPLETED --CAN'T THESE A --HOLES UNDERSTAND ---TONY IS A VERY SMART MAN AND MADE HIS MONEY THE RIGHT WAY!! NOT LIKE THOSE CONGRESSMEN THAT HAVE SWINDLED AND STOLED FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!--I SAY RECYCLE CONGRESS --VOTE THEM OUT THIS NOV-2- HOW DO THESE GOVERNMENT PEOPLE OWN AND HAVE AND LIVE HIGH ON THE HOG WITH THEIR "REAL PAY YEARLY? BECUASE THEY HAVE BEEN STEALING AND SLITHERING!! Please vote in Nov and make sure to Vote Obama out in 2012 --He is again the worst PRESIDENT AMERICA HAS EVER HAD!!----HE DOES NOT EVEN CARE FOR THE VETERAN'S -REMEMBER --THIS YEAR'S MEMORIAL DAY?OBAMA -NEVER WENT TO ARLINGTON --BUT HE DID FLY AIR FORCE ONE TO CHICAGO FOR FAMILY BAR B QUE-!! )--THEN HE TRIES TO COVER IT BY GOING cemetary in Chicago! Rained like hell!! I think OUR GOD (not his god) was telling him something---ALL President's go to ARLINGTON for Memorial Day - for our fallen soldier's --where was OBAMA??---GOING THE GYM--ALSO- Many people- also know that the American public is turning against OBAMA NUTTY environmental agenda...So, they are taking the same approach they took with health care -- now Cap-and-Trade? I think Obama should be IMPEACHED -ASAP!-THIS JERK THINK'S HE IS A KING OR GOD

LOUISE R of CA 11:47PM June 19, 2010

Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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