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OBAMA SOWS SEEDS OF DEMISE
By DICK MORRIS
Published on TheHill.com on April 28, 2009
When the Obama administration crashes and burns, with approval ratings that
fall through the floor, political scientists can trace its demise to its first
hundred days. While Americans are careful not to consign a presidency they
desperately need to succeed to the dustbin of history, the fact is that this
president has moved -- on issue after issue -- in precisely the opposite
direction of what the people want him to do.
Right now, Obama's ratings must be pleasing to his eye. Voters like him and
his wife immensely and approve of his activism in the face of the economic
crisis. While polls show big doubts about what he is doing, the overwhelming
sense is to let him have his way and pray that it works.
But beneath this superficial support, Obama's specific policies run afoul of
the very deeply felt convictions of American voters. For example, the most
recent Rasmussen Poll asked voters if they wanted an economic system of
complete free enterprise or preferred more government involvement in managing
the economy. By 77-19, they voted against a government role, up seven points
from last month.
And in the Fox News poll -- the very same survey that gave Obama a 62 percent
approval rating and reported that 68 percent of voters are "satisfied" with
his first hundred days -- voters, by 50-38, supported a smaller government
that offered fewer services over a larger government that provided more.
By 42-8, the Fox News poll (conducted on April 22-23) found that voters felt
Obama had expanded government rather than contracted it (42 percent said it
was the same size) and, by 46-30, reported believing that big government was
more of a danger to the nation than big business. (By 50-23, they said Obama
felt big business was more dangerous.)
By 62-20, they said government spending, under Obama, was "out of control."
So if voters differ so fundamentally with the president on the very essence of
his program, why do they accord him high ratings? They are like the recently
married bride who took her vows 100 days ago. It would be a disaster for her
life if she decides that she really doesn't like her husband. But she keeps
noticing things about him that she can't stand. It will be a while before she
walks out the door or even comes to terms with her own doubts, but it is
probably inevitable that she will.
For Americans to conclude that they disapprove of their president in the midst
of an earth-shaking crisis is very difficult. But as Obama's daily line moves
from "I inherited this mess" to "There are faint signs of light," the clock
starts ticking. If there is no recovery for the next six months -- and I don't
think there will be -- Obama will inevitably become part of the problem, not
part of the solution.
And then will come his heavy lifting. He has yet to raise taxes, regiment
healthcare or provide amnesty for illegal immigrants. He hasn't closed down
the car companies he now runs and he has not yet forced a 50 percent hike in
utility bills with his cap-and-trade legislation. These are all the goodies he
has in store for us all.
Obama's very activism these days arrogates to himself the blame for the
success or failure of his policies. Their outcome will determine his outcome,
and there is no way it will be positive.
Why?
• You can't borrow as much as he will need to without raising interest rates
that hurt the economy;
• The massive amount of spending will trigger runaway inflation once the
economy starts to recover;
• His overhaul of the tax code (still in the planning phases) and his
intervention in corporate management will create such business uncertainty
that nobody will invest in anything until they see the lay of the land;
• His bank program is designed to help banks, but not to catalyze consumer
lending. And his proposal for securitization of consumer loans won't work and
is just what got us into this situation.
So Mr. Obama should enjoy his poll numbers while he may.
Go to DickMorris.com to read all of Dick's columns!