By more than a 2-to-1 margin, Americans support the pursuit of criminal charges in the nation’s worst oil spill , with increasing numbers calling it a major environmental disaster. Eight in 10 criticize the way BP’s handled it – and more people give the federal government’s response a negative rating than did the response to Hurricane Katrina. By more than a 2-to-1 margin, Americans support the pursuit of criminal charges in the nation’s worst oil spill , with increasing numbers calling it a major environmental disaster. Eight in 10 criticize the way BP’s handled it – and more people give the federal government’s response a negative rating than did the response to Hurricane Katrina.
This is not purely a Republican reaction. (“Even among Democrats, 56 percent rate the federal response negatively. That rises to 74 percent of independents and 81 percent of Republicans.”) But it is confirmation that when you are president, you can’t skirt responsibility by blaming others. The public can detest the performances of BP and Obama.
It also suggests that Obama is no longer able to get his own party to rally around the flag. Democrats, like other Americans, are holding Obama responsible for his actions. That’s very bad news for a president who has proven to be a classic underachiever.
