On Tuesday, NBC left it to CBS to report its own poll showing a significant drop in President Obama’s overall approval rating and specifically regarding his handling of terrorism. CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King covered the numbers from the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll: “43% approve of Americans approve of the job that he's doing, and that’s the lowest number in more than a year. But 60% disapprove of the way that he’s handling the current situation with ISIS.”
The headline on screen declared: “Obama Approval Plummets; Latest Poll Shows Lowest Numbers Since Last Fall.” King turned to a report from correspondent Margaret Brennan “at the White House with how the President’s tough talk follows criticism that his strategy is soft.”
Brennan began: “Well, with anxiety about terrorism on the rise, the White House is on the offensive. President Obama has a string of national security-related events designed to reassure Americans and rebut those critics who say that ISIS is winning.”
She noted that the commander-in-chief’s terrorism speech at the Pentagon on Monday “was the fourth attempt to reassure the public since the San Bernardino attack.” Brennan observed: “But polls show it’s not working....National security and fears of another attack have become leading issues for voters and popular attack lines on the campaign trail.”
A soundbite followed of CBS national security analyst Juan Zarate warning that Obama’s tougher rhetoric on ISIS “may be too little, too late” and just “a way of dealing with what is seen as a crisis of confidence in the President’s leadership.”
Brennan wrapped up the segment by highlighting how “The White House is also trying to reach out to the Muslim American community to push back against some of that GOP rhetoric.”
NBC’s Today made no mention of the President’s falling numbers in its own poll and ABC’s Good Morning America avoided discussing any criticism of Obama’s ISIS strategy.
On Monday’s NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt briefly referenced the new poll, but skipped the findings about Obama’s job performance.
Here is a full transcript of the December 15 segment on CBS This Morning:
7:09 AM ET
GAYLE KING: President Obama's approval rating is dropping, that’s according to a new poll. 43% approve of Americans approve of the job that he's doing, and that’s the lowest number in more than a year. But 60% disapprove of the way that he’s handling the current situation with ISIS. The President said yesterday the U.S. is strengthening its strategy against the terror group.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Obama Approval Plummets; Latest Poll Shows Lowest Numbers Since Last Fall]
Margaret Brennan is at the White House with how the President’s tough talk follows criticism that his strategy is soft. Margaret, good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning. Well, with anxiety about terrorism on the rise, the White House is on the offensive. President Obama has a string of national security-related events designed to reassure Americans and rebut those critics who say that ISIS is winning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Wiping Out ISIS; Obama Hopes to Reassure Americans With Tough Talk]
Flanked by his top military advisors, President Obama vowed to hit ISIS harder than ever.
BARACK OBAMA: ISIL leaders cannot hide and our next message to them is simple – you are next.
BRENNAN: The President insisted his military campaign is working and rattled off a list of bombs dropped, territory retaken, and ISIS leaders killed, one every two days according to U.S. estimates.
OBAMA: They know if they mass their forces, we will wipe them out.
BRENNAN: Monday's speech was the fourth attempt to reassure the public since the San Bernardino attack.
OBAMA: As we squeeze its heart, we’ll make it harder for ISIL to pump its terror and propaganda to the rest of the world.
BRENNAN: But polls show it’s not working.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO [R-FL]: We are at war with radical Islamic terrorists.
BRENNAN: National security and fears of another attack have become leading issues for voters and popular attack lines on the campaign trail.
DONALD TRUMP: It’s gonna get worse and worse. You’re gonna have more World Trade Centers.BRENNAN: CBS News national security analyst Juan Zarate says the administration is hamstrung.
JUAN ZARATE: The President has this now as a priority. It may be too little, too late. But certainly from the White House perspective, it's a way of dealing with what is seen as a crisis of confidence in the President’s leadership.
BRENNAN: The White House is also trying to reach out to the Muslim American community to push back against some of that GOP rhetoric. Later today, the President will attend a swearing-in for new citizens. And Charlie, later this week, he’ll also be visiting the National Counterterrorism Center.
CHARLIE ROSE: Thanks, Margaret.
