Americans Give President Obama Negative Job Rating

President Barack Obama

28 Feb 2011 15:53 Africa/Lagos


Almost Six in Ten Americans Give President Obama Negative Job Rating

Almost nine in ten give Congress negative ratings

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2011

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking ahead, President Obama most likely sees many battles forthcoming. There's the current budget showdown which has the potential to lead to a government shutdown. There is the labor issue and all eyes are watching to see how the White House responds to what is happening in Wisconsin. And then there is his own electoral battle, albeit 20 months from now, but still on the horizon.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100517/NY06256LOGO)

Going into these battles, almost three in five Americans (58%) have a negative opinion of the job the President is doing while 42% have a positive opinion of it. This is slightly down from last month when 44% of U.S. adults gave the job the President was doing positive marks and 56% gave it negative ratings.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 3,171 adults surveyed online between February 14 and 21, 2011 by Harris Interactive.

Partisanship definitely exists in looking at President Obama's job approval ratings. Nine in ten Republicans (90%) give the President poor ratings while almost three-quarters (73%) of Democrats give him positive marks and Independents are more negative than positive with 60% giving the President negative marks and 40% positive. What is interesting is the depth of support among Republicans and Democrats. Almost six in ten Republicans (57%) give President Obama a rating of poor, the worst on the scale. Among Democrats, just one in five (22%) give the President a rating of excellent, while half (50%) say he is doing a pretty good job.

There is also a large regional divide. Just three in ten Southerners (31%) give President Obama positive ratings as do 42% of Midwesterners. Westerners are very split as 49% give the President positive ratings while 51% give him negative marks. The President's strongest ratings come from the East where over half (54%) give him positive ratings on the job he is doing.

It is almost two months into the new Congress and yet they are not faring much better than the previous Congress did in terms of their ratings. Over four in five Americans (86%) rate the overall job Congress is doing negatively while just 14% give Congress positive ratings. Last month, 84% of U.S. adults gave them negative marks while 16% positive ratings.

It's not just Congress and the President who are mired in negative ratings, the direction of the country is as well. Almost two-thirds of Americans (64%) say things in the country are going off on the wrong track, almost the same as last month (63%). Over one-third of U.S. adults (36%) say things are going in the right direction; 37% said this last month.

So What?

Americans may be hearing that things are getting better and they can see the stock market has had a nice run, but this hasn't translated into better job ratings for President Obama or for Congress. And, if turmoil in the Middle East continues and impacts gas prices for the summer driving season, expect these numbers to move down, not up. That's something the White House definitely does not want to see one year before the presidential election.

Click here for more details

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
1 Mar 2011
05:00	DHL Operations Specialist Returns to Helm Asia Pacific and Beyond
04:52	Press Info / AFRICA FRANCE BUSINESS MEETINGS: 3rd EDITION OF THE BUSINESS CONVENTION ON 23, 24 AND 25 MAY IN BORDEAUX.Addis-Abeba – March 3rd, 2011

HOT TOPICS OF TODAY

One-third of Americans Expect Economy to Improve in Coming Year

Protests in Libya

Final Harry Potter Premiere Set to be Most Spectacular Yet

Quarterly Earnings Reports

Viacom Announces Early Results of its Cash Tender Offer for a Portion of its Outstanding 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2016 and an Increase in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Senior Notes Sought Thereunder

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Shopping and Switching Rates Increase Among Retail Bank Customers as Competition in the Industry Intensifies

Egypt will never be the same, says Barack Obama

February 11, 2011

Obama: Egypt has spoken
U.S. President Barack Obama offers his support for Egypt following the end of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

© 2011 Reuters


11 Feb 2011 15:40 Africa/Lagos

Statement of President Barack Obama on Egypt

WASHINGTON, February 11, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Egyptian people have been told that there was a transition of authority, but it is not yet clear that this transition is immediate, meaningful or sufficient. Too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy, and it is the responsibility of the government to speak clearly to the Egyptian people and the world. The Egyptian government must put forward a credible, concrete and unequivocal path toward genuine democracy, and they have not yet seized that opportunity.

As we have said from the beginning of this unrest, the future of Egypt will be determined by the Egyptian people. But the United States has also been clear that we stand for a set of core principles. We believe that the universal rights of the Egyptian people must be respected, and their aspirations must be met. We believe that this transition must immediately demonstrate irreversible political change, and a negotiated path to democracy. To that end, we believe that the emergency law should be lifted. We believe that meaningful negotiations with the broad opposition and Egyptian civil society should address the key questions confronting Egypt's future: protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens; revising the Constitution and other laws to demonstrate irreversible change; and jointly developing a clear roadmap to elections that are free and fair.

We therefore urge the Egyptian government to move swiftly to explain the changes that have been made, and to spell out in clear and unambiguous language the step by step process that will lead to democracy and the representative government that the Egyptian people seek. Going forward, it will be essential that the universal rights of the Egyptian people be respected. There must be restraint by all parties. Violence must be forsaken. It is imperative that the government not respond to the aspirations of their people with repression or brutality. The voices of the Egyptian people must be heard.

The Egyptian people have made it clear that there is no going back to the way things were: Egypt has changed, and its future is in the hands of the people. Those who have exercised their right to peaceful assembly represent the greatness of the Egyptian people, and are broadly representative of Egyptian society. We have seen young and old, rich and poor, Muslim and Christian join together, and earn the respect of the world through their non-violent calls for change. In that effort, young people have been at the forefront, and a new generation has emerged. They have made it clear that Egypt must reflect their hopes, fulfill their highest aspirations, and tap their boundless potential. In these difficult times, I know that the Egyptian people will persevere, and they must know that they will continue to have a friend in the United States of America.



Source: The White House

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
11 Feb 2011
20:21	Joint Statement by European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, and EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on Recent Developments in Egypt
18:27	CAIR Welcomes Mubarak's Departure as Step Toward Freedom
18:13	ADL Statement on Resignation of Hosni Mubarak
17:38	Amnesty International Global Day of Action on Egypt Sat., Feb. 12
15:40	Statement of President Barack Obama on Egypt
12:48	Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Egypt following the speech of President Mubarak
12:46	Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General on the situation in Egypt
12:00	Experts to Discuss Egypt Uprising -- What It Means for Israel at ADL National Meeting in Palm Beach, FL
04:53	Statement from the Egyptian Press and Information Office on Today's Announcement by President Hosni Mubarak
10 Feb 2011
23:52	Statement by Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, following the speech of President Mubarak
21:59	Mack: Egyptian Democracy Means Nothing Without Freedom
19:50	Amnesty International Says at Critical Moment of Change in Egypt, 'Human Rights Reform Must Begin Now'
08:00	BGAN from Stratos Enables Broadcasters to Cover Egyptian Political Crisis
04:58	German Human Rights Commissioner demands investigation of attacks in Egypt
9 Feb 2011
18:30	PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Egypt / Hypnosis Bill / Whistleblowing
18:13	Unrest in Egypt and Suez Canal Could Have Major Economic Impact
17:50	Experts to Discuss Egypt Uprising -- What it Means for Israel at ADL National Meeting in Palm Beach, FL
17:48	Egypt / European Council calls for an orderly transition to begin
17:46	Background briefing / Situation in EGYPT and the region
13:50	AboutOne.com Helps Expats Evacuated from Egypt Prepare for the Unexpected by Sending Them to the Cloud
09:00	Prof. Asher Susser, on Behalf of Tel Aviv University, will Host a Webcast About the Upheaval in Egypt
8 Feb 2011
08:53	USA / Readout of the President's calls to discuss Egypt
06:49	UNESCO Director-General calls for a halt to abuses against media in Egypt
7 Feb 2011
20:05	Cyber-Activism and Cyber-War Spotlighted at Panda Security's Third Annual Security Blogger Summit
23:37	Free Speech TV to Broadcast Live Coverage from Al Jazeera English
18:21	Americans Divided on U.S. Involvement in Egypt
17:09	Prof. Asher Susser, on Behalf of Tel Aviv University, will Host a Webcast About the Upheaval in Egypt
16:00	Immigration Equality Announces Record Number of Asylum Victories
15:58	Biosign Master Distributor ALQAEM Increases Initial UFIT Order by 150%
15:23	Urgent Evacuation From Politically Unstable Area
15:00	Ban on Connectivity Raises Crucial Questions for Egyptian ICT Sector, Pyramid Finds
5 Feb 2011
07:07	German Federal Foreign Office provides emergency humanitarian aid for Egypt
07:05	European Council declaration on Egypt and the region
07:03	Transparency International condemns attacks on journalists, civil society and citizens in Egypt
4 Feb 2011
22:34	Global Express Guaranteed Service to Egypt Suspended
20:01	Archaeology Professor on Egypt Turmoil and Threat to Ancient Relics, Antiquities
18:30	PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Heart Disease / Obesity / Super Bowl
14:40	Egypt / ICRC emergency medical assistance begins to arrive
12:33	Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the situation in Egypt
12:26	Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the situation in Egypt
12:18	Egypt / Frattini, necessary a rapid, effective and peaceful transition
12:17	Norway condemns the use of violence in Egypt and calls for political change
12:16	Singapore MFA Spokesman's comments in response to media queries on the status of MFA's assisted departure exercise for Singaporeans in Egypt
3 Feb 2011
22:32	Egypt: Preview of America in 2015, Says NIA
19:15	Experts to Discuss Egypt Uprising - What It Means for Israel at ADL National Meeting in Palm Beach, FL
17:52	Amnesty International Staff Member Detained in Cairo
16:50	Top Online Media Monitoring Service Continues Breaking Coverage of Egyptian Revolution
16:23	Italian Minister Frattini discusses the situation in Egypt by telephone with US Under Secretary of State Burns
16:18	Statement by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the situation in Egypt
01:32	Chancellor, Professor of Public Policy and Former Israeli Defense Forces Major Available for Commentary on Crisis in Egypt/Middle East
00:55	Kuwait's Minister of Defence Sends Military Aircraft to Transport Kuwaitis Studying in Egypt
2 Feb 2011
21:10	Amnesty International Says Military Must Not Renege on Promise to Protect Protesters
19:40	International SOS Evacuates 800 Clients From Egypt, Provides On-the-Ground Assistance in Wake of Turmoil
1 Feb 2011
23:18	Reaction of Senator Patrick Leahy to the Evolving Situation in Egypt and President Mubarak's Statement on Tuesday
22:08	New Report Warns al-Qaeda Is Extending 'Arc of Instability' Across Africa, Threatens to Exploit North Africa Unrest, Western Sahara Impasse to Target US, Europe
22:04	Mummies of the World Issues Statement Regarding Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo
15:12	Egypt / Change system that bred rights abuses, says Pillay
15:00	Statement by Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the situation in Egypt
05:28	USA / Readout of the President's Meeting on Egypt
05:14	Remarks by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the situation in Egypt ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council, 31 January 2011
05:06	EU External Relations Council / Frattini, help for orderly transition and free elections in Egypt
31 Jan 2011
18:01	German Human Rights Commissioner Löning speaks about conditions in Egypt
17:58	Italy is tracking developing events in Egypt with attention and serious concern
12:39	Singapore MFA Spokesman's comments on the situation in Egypt
30 Jan 2011
18:38	Hudson Institute Scholars Respond to the Unfolding Crisis in the Arab World
29 Jan 2011
08:05	Statement by the Japanese Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Situation in the Arab Republic of Egypt
08:02	UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urges Government restraint and respect for human rights in Egypt
07:47	Statement by Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs on the events in Egypt
00:10	National Press Club Condemns Egyptian Crackdown on Information
28 Jan 2011
21:23	Statements by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tunisia and Egypt
20:29	Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Protests in Egypt and Global Internet Freedom
16:36	Egypt on the Brink of Revolution; EIN News Offers Complete Breaking News Coverage
16:18	In Support of the Egyptian People's Struggle to Achieve Freedom and Social Justice
27 Jan 2011
18:11	Statement by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the events in Egypt
15:00	2,200 Arab Scholars, Politicians, and Activists Issue Appeal for Human Rights and Democracy in the Arab World
04:42	US Press Secretary of the White House / Statement by the Press Secretary on Egypt