A SHIFT IN SUPPORT

Current affairs newspaper writer Bruce Drake has most recently shared with his readers two articles of interest pertaining to President B. H. Obama. One is headlined, "Blacks Show Sharp Rise In Satisfaction of Country's Direction", and the other is styled, "Public Turns Negative On Obama Key Issues". These two attention grabbers are clearly in conflict and immediately cause there to be thoughts of racial overtones which can never be viewed, even for Obama, as a positive result.





In the "Blacks Show Sharp Rise..." piece, Drake reports that a recent Gallop Pole reflects that 47% of American Black citizens who were surveyed are satisfied in the direction of the USA. This percentage is noticeably higher that the 10% positive response that the same group expressed on that issue in mid-2008. This same recent poll also showed that 51% of Black Democrats were satisfied with the nation's direction while only 38% of White Democrats felt the same way. The response from any rational person has to be why are Whites more concerned than Blacks with record setting unemployment and with two foreign wars and with the huge Federal government debt and with the drift of our nation toward socialism. The answer is simple and not at all malicious. Black Americans are still in a "honeymoon" status with Obama; are fully aware of the problems confronting the nation; and are a bit more hopeful, because of racial unity, than other segments of the national population that Obama can succeed. Reality will impact them soon enough.



The other Drake report ["Public Turns Negative ..."] addresses the results of a political survey made by CNN. This survey clearly shows that US citizen approval of Obama's actions has fallen below the level of a majority on almost every matter addressed. Obama lost support on his economic efforts with the poll showing 54% opposed to the White House efforts and 46% supporting. The same general results were found in Obama's healthcare approach [57% negative to 42% positive]; on his approach on Afghanistan [56% negative to 42% positive]; and on the growing deficit of the Federal Budget [60% negative to 39% positive]. Surprising was the 54% vote that generally approved of Obama but even this positive figure was down from a September positive figure of 58%.

Although it is too early to state with any real conviction the national meanings, if any, of the recent "anti-Obama" vote results in New Jersey and Virginia, there is no doubt that the "do no wrong" days of the White House are over. Our President gained office by being the "right" person at the "right" time but fortunately for America those two "rights" have already faded into nonexistence.