If you look at President Obama's poll numbers today, you will understand that he has cause to be concerned about his public image. The aggregate numbers at Real Clear Politics show his approval rating at an all-time low of 45.7 percent. The disparity between his approval and disapproval ratings, moreover, is its highest negative ever, at –3.3 percentage points. More voters disapprove than approve of his job performance in 5 of the 7 polls surveyed, and in one of those polls—Reuters/Ipsos—the spread is a tie.
He needs to do something to try to turn around
the perception he is overmatched by the responsibilities of the job. Of that, there is no question. There is a very large question, on the other hand, over whether the solution to his image problems is another public appearance. He is arguably the most overexposed president in the history of the nation.
And if he is going to appear in public, how much wisdom is there in making that appearance on The View? Obama is scheduled to join the show's all-female talkfest on Thursday, thereby becoming the first sitting president to appear on a daytime talk show. He was also the first to appear on a late-night talk show, so how much concern can there be over his compromising the dignity of the office?
Enough to generate a negative reaction from Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA), usually a man who rigorously supports the party line, from the president on down. A guest on this morning's Morning Joe, on MSNBC (video follows), Rendell said expressed his doubts, stating,
I think there are some shows . . . I wouldn't put him on 'Jerry Springer' either, right? . . . It is different, a little bit. But look, I think the president of the United States has to go on serious shows. And 'The View' is—you can make a case that 'The View' is a serious show—but also rocks and rolls a little bit. I'm not sure he has to go on 'The View' to be open to questions.
So how bad a miscalculation is it for the president to appear with Whoopi and company? I'm inclined to agree with Laura Ingraham, who as a guest host for Bill O'Reilly last night, opined "not at all." Ingraham's contention is that viewers who tune in to The View are probably not likely to vote in the fall midterms anyway and that if Obama were somehow to present a charming and rousing version of himself (as he is capable of doing), he might actually persuade some of these people to turn out at the polls.
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Comments
As though his popularity isn't low enough, Whoopi and Joy should be able to bring him down lower. The people on this show are annoying and completely out of touch--even Elizabeth has not remained true to her conservative values, trying to fit in with the gang. I doubt many people would waste their time watching him on this show that is past its prime and a total waste of time. He can certainly find some die-hard, far left liberals that will probably faint when they see him.
He and many in his party refused interviews with Fox News because they said it was a non-news channel. And he does this? Seems contradictary, desperate, and wierd.
Joy Behar will be slobbering more than a Saint Bernard.
I think it is a disgrace to the office of the President to go on the View. What in the world is he thinking of. He holds an office that should reflect integrity and prestige. If you don't have those qualities you shouldn't be in that office.
This president has reached new lows. The guy is consistently inconsistent on everything. I assume he just has a bad memory of what he's said in the past. However considering the fact that Obama is a huckster, BS artist coming on the view is probably appropriate for him. He has to match wits with people who are the sharpest to begin with. Yep, Joy Behar and Whoops Goldberg are mental midgets so the loquacious Obama can wow them with his grasp of the important issues at hand...(sarcasm intended)
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