American Public Supports Obama's Jobs Bill

The Republicans have been trying to convince Americans that the main problem this country faces is a large and growing deficit and national debt. But the only solution they are offering, to continue the failed trickle-down economic policies of George Bush, would just drive the country further into recession. They don't mind that because it would keep anyone from doing the one thing that would solve the nation's economic problems (and lower the deficit and national debt) -- the creation of a significant amount of new jobs in America.

Significant job creation would not just put Americans back to work (a worthy goal by itself), but it would also increase the amount of taxpayers (and tax revenues), and increase the demand for American products, which would spur more job growth and tax revenues, and essentially create an upward spiral of economic growth. This, of course, is why the Republicans don't want to spur job creation. They have pegged their hopes of winning the next election on the economy still being bad in 2012.

President Obama seems to have finally realized all of this (after giving in to the Republicans on economic policy for the last two years). He has introduced a jobs bill that actually has a chance of working, and he has proposed a way to pay for it that would not do further damage to the bottom 90% of Americans. And even better, he is making noises like he will actually stand his ground this time and not give in to the Republicans -- leaving progressives across the country with crossed fingers and high hopes.

Fortunately there is something that may help President Obama stick to his guns this time -- a significant majority of the American people support the president's jobs plan. A new Gallup Poll (done between September 15th and 18th with a random national sample of 1,004 adults and a margin of error of 4 points) shows that the public likes the plan and would like to see it enacted. About 27% think the plan would help a lot in creating jobs and 38% believe it would at least help a little. That's 65% of the public who think Obama's plan would have a positive effect on job creation.

A good majority (60%) also think the plan would help the economy in general -- with 23% saying it would help a lot and another 37% saying it would at least help a little. Here is what people think about individual parts of the president's program:

FAVOR PROVIDING TAX CUTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING INCENTIVES TO HIRE NEW WORKERS.
General public...............85%
Democrats...............87%
Republicans...............84%

FAVOR PROVIDING FUNDS TO HIRE MORE TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND FIREFIGHTERS.
General public...............75%
Democrats...............89%
Republicans...............56%

FAVOR GIVING TAX BREAKS TO COMPANIES HIRING PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED FOR OVER 6 MONTHS.
General public...............73%
Democrats...............82%
Republicans...............64%

FAVOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS (INCLUDING FOR 30,000 SCHOOLS).
General public...............72%
Democrats...............88%
Republicans...............50%

FAVOR INCREASING TAXES ON SOME CORPORATIONS BY ELIMINATING CERTAIN DEDUCTIONS.
General public...............70%
Democrats...............86%
Republicans...............53%

FAVOR INCREASING TAXES ON INDIVIDUALS MAKING OVER $200,000 AND FAMILIES MAKING OVER $250,000.
General public...............66%
Democrats...............85%
Republicans...............41%

FAVOR EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
General public...............56%
Democrats...............75%
Republicans...............34%

REDUCING SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES FOR WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS.
General public...............47%
Democrats...............52%
Republicans...............41%

As you can see, the only part of the president's plan that has less than 50% support from the general public is the decrease in FICA (Social Security) taxes. I can understand that since I'm not real crazy about that one myself. With all of the attacks on the adequacy of Social Security funding right now, does it really make sense to lower that funding? Is the small bump to the economy it might give worth giving the Republicans more ammunition in their fight to cut benefits, or to abolish or privatize Social Security?

However, all of the rest of the president's program has the support of the American public. This is his opportunity to use his "bully pulpit" to put the Republicans on the hot seat for opposing job creation. If he can find the political courage to take this fight over job creation to the very end and stand his ground, there are two possible outcomes. The first (although not the most likely) is that the Republicans will cave in to public demand and pass the jobs bill. The other is that the public will be so angry at the Republicans for killing job creation that they will punish them at the polls in 2012.

Either outcome would be good for the president and the country. But it all depends on President Obama now -- on whether he has finally grown a political backbone, or not. I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that he finally has.