FNC Notes Obama Approval Relatively Low Compared to Predecessors

On Saturday’s Fox News Watch, conservative panelist Jim Pinkerton pointed out that, contrary to the impression given by the mainstream media, President Barack Obama’s approval rating, as measured by Gallup, is relatively low compared to his recent predecessors for the 100-day mark, and is even below where President George W. Bush was after his first 100 days. Pinkerton observed: "Judith Klnghoffer, writing for the History News Network, made the point that Obama actually ranks seventh of the last nine presidents in Gallup poll opinion ratings. So seventh out of nine isn't so good."

Judith Klinghoffer’s article, "Obama’s Polls Trail Those of W.; Gallup Covers it Up," notes that Bush’s approval rating taken by Gallup stood at 62 percent after his first 100 days, while Obama’s currently stands at 56 percent.

A few minutes later, moderator John Scott returned to the subject:

JON SCOTT: And in the first term, George Bush had a 60 percent approval rating after his first 100 days-

PINKERTON: And Bush 41 as well, who I worked for way back when. And Laura Bush has a higher rating than Michelle Obama.

SCOTT: Is that going to get mentioned in the press?

PINKERTON: You just wouldn't know it from reading the mainstream media.

Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Saturday, April 25, Fox News Watch on FNC:

JON SCOTT: Day one, Barack Obama sworn in as our 44th President back in January. Now, just days away from the 100-day mark. All right, Jim, how are the media going to observe this 100th day?

JIM PINKERTON: Well, I mean, as President Obama has the benefit, he's the first black President to anything, so it's kind of exciting. Even people who don't like him are still sort of intrigued by him and his family and so on, But every now and then, you have to apply some sort of metrics to get some grip on where we are, and Judith Klnghoffer, writing for the History News Network, made the point that Obama actually ranks seventh of the last nine presidents in Gallup poll opinion ratings. So seventh out of nine isn’t so good.

...

SCOTT: And in the first term, George Bush had a 60 percent approval rating after his first 100 days-

PINKERTON: And Bush 41 as well, who I worked for way back when. And Laura Bush has a higher rating than Michelle Obama.

SCOTT: Is that going to get mentioned in the press?

PINKERTON: You just wouldn't know it from reading the mainstream media.

MARISA GUTHRIE, BROADCAST AND CABLE MAGAZINE: No, there was a story, there was a New York Times op-ed written by one of the directors at the Pew Center who said that Obama's ratings are mirroring George Bush's ratings in his second term.

PINKERTON: But, okay, but mirroring implies same whereas actually lower is lower.