Poll: Americans say Obama should focus on economy
(CNN) – Just over a week after President Barack Obama won a second term in the White House, a new poll indicates Americans think he should get to work rebuilding a strong economy.
Ninety-five percent of respondents in a USA Today/Gallup national survey said fixing the economy is very or extremely important, and over three-quarters said Obama should focus on ensuring the long-term stability of Social Security and Medicare as well as prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
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Seventy-three percent of respondents placed significant importance on reducing the country's dependence on oil, gas and coal as well as making education more affordable, while 70% and above said Obama should focus on making cuts in federal spending and simplifying the tax code.
While Republicans and Democrats agree the economy should be Obama's number one priority, one of the more divisive topics is raising taxes on the wealthy, an issue at the forefront of the debate on how to balance the nation's budget to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.
Democrats and Republicans differ in their approach to balancing the budget to stop a number of automatic federal spending cuts and tax increases set to take place at the beginning of next year if Congress and Obama fail to reach a budget deal. Democrats generally advocate for increasing the tax rate on wealthy Americans while Republicans push for limiting deductions and closing loopholes in tax code in order to raise revenue.
Another topic with divided importance is climate change, an issue rarely discussed in the 2012 presidential campaign and the Obama administration in his first term.
While a majority of Democrats place heavy importance on raising taxes on the rich and addressing climate change, only 20% of Republicans and less than half of independents agree.
Only 29% said making cuts to military and defense spending was important and 37% said providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants living in the U.S. was important.
The USA Today/Gallup poll was conducted from November 9-12 among a random sample of 1,009 adults. The poll's sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points.
So, obama broke the law and gave billions to illegals? That is what your implying, that inelligeble illegals are knowingly being paid fraudeulently? how is Obama responsible?
Shouldn't Obama have done that roughly 3-1/2 years ago?
Obama has no ability to deal with the economy, as he has so clearly demonstrated by his excessive spending.
Obama a President so disconnected from...the American People...American Issues...Congress...American Business...etc
Sofar he has met with All and nobody...least with Congress to mend the fences...The Fiscal-Cliff is coming with Obama's outlook...and yes he is off on a sightseeing tour not to countries who want trade but countries hwo want AID...!.
@James Bond
So, obama broke the law and gave billions to illegals? That is what your implying, that inelligeble illegals are knowingly being paid fraudeulently? how is Obama responsible?
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His administration. The buck stops with him, even if he convienently lost that sign off his desk.
>Evan
>In todays selfish world I think we will see alot of people just taking care of their own family and ignoring all else.
The government is taking so much of my money that I can't do what I'd like for my own family. They do come first or should come first but the government steals my money before I ever get it. I just can't support my family and the 10 other families that the government wants me to support.
Speaking of the economy, Dept. of Labor out today with the unemployment numbers for the week following the election: 78,000 more unemployed to a seasonally adjusted number of 439,000 vs. 361,000 the week before. Imagine that?! Ohio and Pennsylvania hit the hardest. Time to roll up you sleeves Mr. President! And not for a game of BBall. Just say'in.
but he is focusing on the economy and trying to get that $80 billion from all the rich people and that will fund the government for a week maybe. and then all will be good. other than that, he has no other plan. maybe he just expects to keep taking and taking from these people until it is all gone? he hasn't mentioned one single budget item he would cut. not a single one in that bloated 3.5 trillion dollar budget. i guess he thinks all the rich people have an extra trillion laying around they don't need.