Will Talk Wear Thin Without Action?
Once again, President Barack Obama’s ability to deliver an effective speech appears to have won over voters. However, I wonder how many more times Obama can count on a good speech to restore confidence in his Administration.
The latest Zogby Interactive poll found Obama’s job approval rating up to 49.4%. Just as many (49.5%) disapprove. That puts Obama’s approval percentage up seven points from two weeks ago, when 42% approved and 48% disapproved. The rebound came from among voters who were keys to Obama’s election, such as Democrats, First Globals™ and women, as well as from Independents. He even gained 10 points in approval from Born-Again Christians.
It’s obvious that Obama’s speech to Congress and the nation on healthcare reform accounted for his gains in approval. The goal of the speech was to advance chances for passage of a bill, and Obama is now in full campaign mode to accomplish that. This is the necessary approach right now, but does the President risk overexposure and the risk that if he doesn’t deliver on what voters want, they will tune him out in the future?
This won’t just be a problem with Independent voters. Progressive voters had high hopes for Obama, but they have little to show for their efforts to get him elected. If he and Democrats in Congress fail to deliver a strong healthcare bill, the party will suffer greatly in 2010 from a loss of enthusiasm among core suporters.
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A famous person is given credit by some to have said “The broad masses of a population are more amenable to the appeal of rhetoric than to any other force.” That famous person was Adoph Hitler.
So far, the President has shown that he is all talk and no action. The rhetoric and his over exposure will soon wear thin with his base and other likely voters.
Even after his media blitz, there is no real description of what ‘his’ health care reform plan. There is no question he can stir the pot and mobilize the masses to demand more from others than they themselves are willing to contribute.
It seems that he continues to give credence to his critics who have claimed that he is an empty suit. Looks and sounds great, but there is an echo where there should be substance.
Amen to the above comments. He lost me in the campaign. A “a recovering democrat.”