"I think it's a weaker deal than he thinks," MRC's Rich Noyes told Fox Business Network's Brian Sullivan, referring to President Obama's hopes for passage of the stimulus package. Noyes appeared on Fox Business Network's "Cavuto on Business" program shortly after 6:30 p.m. EST to discuss President Obama's campaigning for his stimulus package.
While Obama campaigned on the vague notion of "change," now that he's president, the stimulus bills under consideration have "fairly weak public support" compared to his personal approval ratings, Noyes noted. The NewsBusters senior editor cited a CBS News poll -- which went unreported that network's airwaves -- that found as Noyes put it, "a majority for the stimulus, but it's weak majority.":
NOYES: Sixty-two percent think the best thing about it would be the tax cuts. Only 16 percent are in favor of the government spending as being able to be helpful. This is something where the public is against massive spending because they're cutting back everywhere, they see business cutting back everywhere. That's his problem, his next phase in this political program is going to be another big spending program to deal with the banks.
NOYES: This one that was supposed to be a no-brainer that got 80 votes in the Senate is going to barely squeak through, assuming they can keep their coalition together throughout all the revisions. He's not going to have all the running room he wanted to for this big TARP II bailout.
Sullivan, pointing to pollster Scott Rasmussen, who reports that his recent polling "shows the same thing.":
SULLIVAN: Most people want tax cuts, they want to create jobs. Even Democrats generally [are] distrustful of bigger government.
Audio clip available here.
