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Most say Bush to blame for weak U.S. economy, poll finds
(Reuters) - About two-thirds of Americans believe Republican former U.S. President George W. Bush is responsible for the nation's struggling economy, with a smaller percentage blaming Democratic President Barack Obama, a Gallup poll showed on Thursday.
About 68 percent of the more than 1,000 adults surveyed nationwide said Bush, who left office in January 2009, deserves a "moderate amount" or a "great deal" of the blame for the U.S. economic woes compared to 52 percent who pointed to his successor Obama, the poll found.
The results were released as Obama prepared to give a major economic speech later on Thursday as part of his campaign to win re-election on November 6. He is seeking to convince voters that his economic remedies are working and that his Republican rival Mitt Romney's policies would trigger an economic crisis.
Poll respondents who identified themselves as Republicans were split, with 49 percent saying Bush deserved a moderate amount or great deal of the blame while 51 percent said Bush deserved not much of the blame or none at all. They expressed even more blame for Obama, however, with 83 percent holding him largely responsible for the state of the economy, the poll found.
Among Democrats, 90 percent blamed Bush for the weak economy and only 19 percent said Obama should carry much of the blame, according to the poll, conducted by telephone June 7 to 10.
"Republicans, in short, are significantly more willing to blame their most recent Republican president than are Democrats willing to blame Obama," Gallup said.
Independent voters, who could play a critical role in the November election, were more likely to blame Bush (67 percent) than Obama (51 percent). Fewer independents blamed Obama than Gallup's last results in September, when 60 percent pointed to him, the poll found.
Many Americans are still struggling to recover financially from the nation's deepest recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and Obama is trying to regroup after recent setbacks, including an anemic May jobs report.
"Americans continue to place more blame for the nation's economic problems on George W. Bush than on Barack Obama, even though Bush left office more than three years ago," Gallup said. "... This suggests that Obama's argument that he is on the right track and needs more time to turn the economy around could fall on receptive ears, particularly those of independents."
Bush, who served two four-year terms as president, has been unable to shake the blame since Gallup began tracking the economic finger-pointing in 2009, and has seen about 70 percent of those polled holding him responsible since mid-2010.
Critics say Bush's tax cuts combined with increased spending to fight two wars, among other costs, helped plunge the nation into a deep economic crisis.
The poll had a maximum margin of sampling error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points.
SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/14/us-usa-campaign-economy-bush-idUSBRE85D0XI20120614
About 68 percent of the more than 1,000 adults surveyed nationwide said Bush, who left office in January 2009, deserves a "moderate amount" or a "great deal" of the blame for the U.S. economic woes compared to 52 percent who pointed to his successor Obama, the poll found.
The results were released as Obama prepared to give a major economic speech later on Thursday as part of his campaign to win re-election on November 6. He is seeking to convince voters that his economic remedies are working and that his Republican rival Mitt Romney's policies would trigger an economic crisis.
Poll respondents who identified themselves as Republicans were split, with 49 percent saying Bush deserved a moderate amount or great deal of the blame while 51 percent said Bush deserved not much of the blame or none at all. They expressed even more blame for Obama, however, with 83 percent holding him largely responsible for the state of the economy, the poll found.
Among Democrats, 90 percent blamed Bush for the weak economy and only 19 percent said Obama should carry much of the blame, according to the poll, conducted by telephone June 7 to 10.
"Republicans, in short, are significantly more willing to blame their most recent Republican president than are Democrats willing to blame Obama," Gallup said.
Independent voters, who could play a critical role in the November election, were more likely to blame Bush (67 percent) than Obama (51 percent). Fewer independents blamed Obama than Gallup's last results in September, when 60 percent pointed to him, the poll found.
Many Americans are still struggling to recover financially from the nation's deepest recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and Obama is trying to regroup after recent setbacks, including an anemic May jobs report.
"Americans continue to place more blame for the nation's economic problems on George W. Bush than on Barack Obama, even though Bush left office more than three years ago," Gallup said. "... This suggests that Obama's argument that he is on the right track and needs more time to turn the economy around could fall on receptive ears, particularly those of independents."
Bush, who served two four-year terms as president, has been unable to shake the blame since Gallup began tracking the economic finger-pointing in 2009, and has seen about 70 percent of those polled holding him responsible since mid-2010.
Critics say Bush's tax cuts combined with increased spending to fight two wars, among other costs, helped plunge the nation into a deep economic crisis.
The poll had a maximum margin of sampling error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points.
SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/14/us-usa-campaign-economy-bush-idUSBRE85D0XI20120614
http://www.craigsteiner.us/articles/16
This would seem to show that Bush didn't actually have that $500 per household to be giving away when he took office. But I took it anyway. I had bills to pay.
This would seem to show that Bush didn't actually have that $500 per household to be giving away when he took office. But I took it anyway. I had bills to pay.
More homeless veterans than we do homeless illegal aliens.
With all due respect, the country has been in a bit of a downward spiral for a couple of decades. Placing all of the blame on Bush is a very liberal thing to do. The guy certainly has to take responsibility for what happened on his watch and the moves he made that will affect us in the future. Other presidents before Bush have blame in this too, but it's easier to blame Bush.... after all, he was the last guy in the White House.
Here we are today borrowing foreign money and things just don't seem to be improving. Instead of anyone saying, 'this is not a sound practice" and actually change the way we are doing things, we condone the practice when Obama does it but throw Bush under the bus.
I'm not standing up for Bush... I am standing against $hitty policy and practices that got us here in the first place, and its been happening for decades. That is the problem.
We've got more homeless war veterans in this country than we do illegal aliens.... Says a lot about our priorities if you ask me.
Here we are today borrowing foreign money and things just don't seem to be improving. Instead of anyone saying, 'this is not a sound practice" and actually change the way we are doing things, we condone the practice when Obama does it but throw Bush under the bus.
I'm not standing up for Bush... I am standing against $hitty policy and practices that got us here in the first place, and its been happening for decades. That is the problem.
We've got more homeless war veterans in this country than we do illegal aliens.... Says a lot about our priorities if you ask me.
Poor Bush. He can barely tie his own shoes and he gets all the credit for borrrowing foreign caital to rebuild Iraq's infrastucture while ours falls apart, the fattening of 'private security firms', the enrichment of a tiny fraction of our population who make munitions , drones, etc, the buying up of Ameican real estate and businesses by foreign investors, while leaving what's left of the middle class to foot the bill for the next few generations. Quite the evil genius.
rofl. yeah anyone with any sense knows polls dont matter, they change from day to day depending on the weather!
But Bush shur as hell aint innocent either now is he? Framing like that makes so much more sense
But Bush shur as hell aint innocent either now is he? Framing like that makes so much more sense
Not that I disagree but they asked 1000 people out of what~ 4 million ?
This is why I'm skeptical about polls.
This is why I'm skeptical about polls.
And the people have spoken...
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