Poll finds more blame Bush than Obama for economy

(CBS News) When President Obama delivers a major campaign speech on the economy today in Ohio, some in his party are concerned it will be too backward looking, with allusions to the presidency of George W. Bush. But according to a new Gallup poll, that message may resonate with voters.

More than three years after Mr. Obama took office, 68 percent of Americans still say former President Bush deserves a great deal or a moderate amount of blame for the struggling economy, according to Gallup. Just 52 percent say the same about Mr. Obama.

And even though economic indicators have kept alive concerns about the pace of the recovery, the poll suggests that independents are more likely to blame Mr. Bush than Mr. Obama -- and even more so now than they were last September. In September, Gallup found that 60 percent of independents blamed Mr. Obama for the economy. Now, just 51 percent said Mr. Obama deserves blame, while 67 percent said Mr. Bush does.

In his speech at a community college in Cleveland today, according to campaign officials, Mr. Obama plans to draw stark distinctions between his own economic philosophy and that of Mitt Romney's, while underscoring the dire economic circumstances he inherited in 2008.

Romney, meanwhile, will deliver his own economic speech in Cincinnati today. On Wednesday, the presumed Republican candidate and his campaign pre-butted the president's speech, predicting that the president will offer no new ideas for getting the economy moving. "My own view is that he will speak eloquently, but that words are cheap, and that the record of an individual is the basis upon which you determine whether they should continue to hold on to their job," Romney said from Washington.

The Republican National Committee on Thursday came out with a web video trying to a place the blame for the economy squarely on the president's shoulders, using his own words. It begins with a clip from a 2009 interview in which Mr. Obama said his presidency would be a "one-term proposition" if he didn't improve the economy in at least three years. The video ends with the statement, "Sorry President Obama, presidents don't get mulligans."

[Texas-American]

I am just a guy that went to school in Orange, Texas and finished high school in 1953. Wasn't the smartest (or the dumbest) but I did learn some hard facts of life. My family lived within it's means. We didn't have everything that was on the market. We had what we could afford. My parents did not believe in debt in order to keep up with the neighbors. We were well fed (my dad had a garden to help feed us) and my mother stayed home to take care of all three kids. I was raised by two parents, went to Sunday school and church (whether I wanted to or not) every Sunday. Actually I always though I was one of the lucky ones. A loving family and a live within your means (but work to earn your way) is the only success story to tell about this nation. We can blame anyone we want, but, we are all to blame for allowing our government to become what it is today. Democrats and Republicans have let a few people ruin this nation. Greed, power and a corrupt political system is pushing this nation to the depths of a third world country. I tell my kids every day that I am glad I am old, and I feel sorry for the mess they have inherited. WAKE UP AMERICA! Do something good for a change. Tell the truth, don't hide from what this nation has become, be positive, be honest, be for what is right for America. Be a voice against what is wrong with America. Work for better education for our kids. Teach our kids ethics and how to work for what you want and just to be honest in your everyday life. Pull up your pants and have pride in how you look and act. Live life looking in the mirror and make sure you like what you see.

[2happy2ride]

It's called misdirection, on which the entire profession of illusionists & magicians rests. It's used when the truth & reality is not a good alternative.
And obama would nave no campaign if not for blaming others. Factually, obama is the least accomplished president in history.

[rmonroe401]

Stories like this drive me nuts. The media acts so surprised that people still blame Bush for the economy! Why not, what policies has Obama enacted that have HURT the economy? NONE. Most have either helped, or had no effect. The man has done everything in his power to try to rectify what Bush and the wasteful, tax cutting, war mongering, money stealing Republicans like Bush and Cheney had caused before he came into office. The media can go on till doomsday trying to blame Obama for everything, but people are not stupid. Sure some are so partisan they turn a blind eye to reality, but the rest of us are firmly planted in the reality of what Republicans do to this country. Destroy it. At least for the middle class downward.

[TJphoto]

Before I post I have to go to Fox News to get my facts. After all "It's all Obama's fault". Mr Speaker, where were you during the Bush years when the ante was raised by almost 6 Trillion dollars? Waiting for your answer.

[ThomasStump]

The number one detrimental effect to our recovery per employers is Obamacare. That is enough in itself. However, President Obama incorporated his stimulus into baseline budgeting averaging 900 billion more a year in federal spending then President Bush. This is money removed out of the economy by taxing or quantitative easing (The printing of money). Do you know why gas, food, gold, and etc... etc.. and etc... and etc... and etc... is so high? Is inflation good for private business, Seniors on a fixed income, children who carry our debt? Do you know a child born today will owe the federal government 90,000 dollars at age eighteen? Is tyranny thru debt good for business? Do you understand why Greece sinks? Do you understand that Obama has turned his regulatory minions unto our private business? The EPA, DOJ, DOI, DOL, DOT, DOA, DOC, DOE, and on and on it goes, autocrats, with the power of the state... Did you not hear his EPA flat earther give speech how opponents must be "crucified" The NLRB disallows a move by Boing to a right to work state, the EPA will shut down over 100 fossil fuel plants by 2015, Obama himself refuses the Keystone Pipeline (a hundred thousand plus jobs) Is this good for business? I am no Shill for the RINO Bush but concerning destruction of the country in any measurable way, to Obama, he is a piker.

[Lacaroi]

Thank you Thomasstump for clarifying what the media is trying to hide. After these past 3.5 years this ought to be obvious from the results of our economic standpoint, even the upper class has lost value. I guess that's just what the people of America want. Jealousy is an insane commitment, hm?

[vfocused]

Thanks 4 the info Lucas I did not know those facts which I will do my research on them but it sounds correct. Do know that Dodd and Frank got us in this and it all makes sense. Obama may not be a good president but he is a smart sneaky man in that he is smart enuf to pull this off and then blame repubs and bush for it cus America is so gullible into choosing the " nicest guy" and someone who "speaks well" but with no executive experience. Obama is just that smart that he can get people to believe anything and maybe vote 4 him again even though never in american history has a presdent gotten re-elected with a record as bad as his. People lets get this right this time and not vote on party lets vote for EXPERIENCE. LETS VOTE FOR SOLUTIONS. Romney may be of the republican party but Romney and Bush are two different people and no way is Romney not better than the comunity organizer we have in the White House. He does not know what he is doing, he is in over his head! He talked smack about Hillary and Bill then turned on a dime and needs every clinton born to get re-elected what does that tell you! I was a Hillary supporter cus of her husband and there is no way we would be in this mess now if Bill was in the White House. He is only back peddling on statements now cus he is working on obamas campaign but in 08 and 09 and 010 clinton was talking against obamas policies cus he knew as he knows now that they are not working and they wont work but clinton I guarantee is not going to do obamas job 4 him! Romney 2012 Please!!!!

[fiddlestickawshucks]

BUSH threw the US in front of the bus.

Obama ran over us with the bus.

And; if Obama is re-elected; he will just continue to back the bus up and run over us again and again until he runs out of gas.

The national debt increased much faster under Obama.

Obama and Congress have done more damage in the past 3 1/2 years than GB2 did in 8.

When Bush was elected for a second term; I couldn't believe it.

My first and only comment was "By the time he gets out of Office, the US will be a third world country".

He almost succeded.

Then Obama took Office and; between him and the do-nothing obstructionist Congress; they managed to run the US right off the cliff.

I'm not so sure we will not continue to fall further into destruction no matter who is elected.

Back in March Obama signed an agreement with Afghanistan stating that we will continue to send $2 BILLION a month until 2024.

Where does he think the poor souls that inherit his mess are going to get the money.??

There aren't many places left to tell the American people we are going to have to be satisfied with less "whatever" than the government has already asked us to sacrifice to pay for their mistakes.

The two party system worked for a long time, but that time has run out.

It used to be a system of checks and balances.

Now however; it's nothing but a battle of wills; a contest; driving the country and her people further into its own destruction.

If Romney is elected and Bonehead Boehner remains as Speaker of the House, we will eventually be known as the 1% States of America.

If Obama is re-elected; we will become known as the United Socialist States of America.

We will aso most likely have to drop the "United" part of that description.

Once again; American voters will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils.

The big hurdle though is trying to figure out which one is which, because each party is more concerned with feeding their already over-inflated egos without one thought for the American people.

[steeepe]

That socialism BS is total nonsense. Look it up in an encyclopedia before you stat ranting about something that only reveals ignorance.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

When will some people read the article?
"More than three years after Mr. Obama took office, 68 percent of Americans still say former President Bush deserves a great deal or a moderate amount of blame for the struggling economy, according to Gallup."
That 68% includes both republicans and democrats.

[sjc_1]

Five tax cuts, two wars and a drug benefit that were paid for by borrowing $6 trillion, what is not to like? Don't blame the person that did that for the big crash and smoking hole in the ground, that would be unfair :)

[hillzhavays]

To keep blaming Bush, as Obama does, is to say "I am incabable of correcting the problem" or "I don't know how to correct the problem".

IF that's the case, then it looks like we need a replacement.

[hillzhavays]

That, USA, is valid blame for Obama. that Bush left a mess is undeniable. Some leadership on Obama's part would be a welcome change. I don't think he's got it in him.

[prm777]

What's the old saying about if you repeat a lie often enough, people will start to believe it? Not only has Obama had no clue how to turn this economy around in the 3.5 years he's been in office, but he's more than tripled our deficit, put forth a health-care bill (which purposely would have it's full, disasterous economic effect after the election) and can only propose more stimulus money, higher taxes and more government spending. And let's not forget that the Dems controlled both houses of Congress during the last two years of Bush's administration, and it was the likes of Barney Frank who were opposed to imposing regulations on the banks for handing out risky housing loans, encouraged by Obama's ACORN organization, leading to the housing bubble burst. It was Obama who decided that the best use of the TARP and stimulus funds was to rescue his croneys in the banking industry -- which did nothing for the middle and lower class, since the banks did nothing to loosen up lending to even those with solid credit. Need I go on? Educate yourself people, and don't fall for the lies!

[hhandyman]

if you want people to fall for the truth try using it first then perhaps you can see where the golden path of ROmney will take this nation and those of average means not the 1% of 1% that want more than the welfare queens that just want food and a warm place away from the wealthy that want favors for help.