My former White House colleague Peter Feaver, in examining the latest CNN polling data, makes this incisive point:

What interests me about this poll, however, is not the overall number, but rather that for the most part President Obama scores the lowest on the issues he has made centermost and about which he has talked the most:

• Health Care: 40 percent approve and 58 percent disapprove
• The economy: 43 percent approve and 54 percent disapprove
• Unemployment: 45 percent approve and 53 percent disapprove
• The federal budget deficit: 36 percent approve and 62 percent disapprove

And he scores the highest on the issues that he talks about the least:

• The situation in Afghanistan: 55 percent approve and 42 percent disapprove
• Terrorism: 53 percent approve and 45 percent disapprove
• The situation in Iraq: 51 percent approve and 46 percent disapprove

There are several conclusions one might draw from this data; none of them are particularly good for the administration. And one in particular, if it is in fact accurate, should alarm the White House: “perhaps,” Feaver writes, “the more the president talks about an issue the more he drives his own numbers on that issue down.”

This is not quite the effect our next Lincoln or FDR was supposed to have. Perhaps if Obama ceases talking about health care, it might get somewhat greater support.