Americans Are Skeptical of Obama's Interventions

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that most Americans continue to oppose President Obama's stimulus spending and auto industry bailout. Asked whether Congress should worry more about "keeping the deficit down" or "boosting the economy," 58 percent said the former, 35 percent the latter. Since the economy is still in recession and the question assumes that stimulus spending will work as intended, that's a pretty remarkable finding. The stimulus package that Obama insisted was necessary to save us from a never-ending recession might still get some of the credit once the economy improves, although the timing seems to be off. 

Notably, a lot more of the respondents (46 percent) blamed George W. Bush for the budget deficit than blamed Obama (6 percent), which is fair enough for the current fiscal year (although spending supported by Obama made the deficit he inherited bigger) but will not be tenable going forward. Given Obama's fiscal plans, he may soon be perceived (accurately) as continuing, if not amplifying, his highly unpopular predecessor's mistakes. Another sign that's ominous for Obama (but encouraging for advocates of limited government) is that 69 percent of respondents said they were concerned "a great deal" or "quite a bit" about expanded government intervention in the economy, as exemplified by the nationalization of G.M. and a greater role in health care.