ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist&reg;.com: Duke's Damage Control</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style1 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td width="116" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="24" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="465" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="18" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="283" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr height="26"> <td width="624" height="26" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#149; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#149; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#149; <a href="teflon.html">THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#149; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">REACTIONS</a> &#149; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="1"> <td width="116" height="2574" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="489" height="1" colspan="3"></td> <td width="18" height="2574" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> <tr height="2573"> <td width="489" height="2573" colspan="3" align="left" xpos="116" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="5"><b> <br /> GOP at Wit&#39;s End</b></font><p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b>by John M. Curtis<br> (310) 204-8700</b><br> </font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright April 23, 2009<br> All Rights Reserved.</i></font></p> <p><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="style1">A</span>fter taking a beating at the polls Nov. 4, the GOP faces more frustration watching President Barack Obama s approval ratings head skyward, despite a well-orchestrated media campaign to bring him down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>More vitriol on right wing radio has backfired, where conservative pundits no longer seem to expand audience share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Despite preaching to the choir, a shrinking audience of conservatives no longer have the same clout as during George W. Bush s presidency, where the right had a friend in the White House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>As Obama approaches his first 100 days, an AP-GfK poll indicates that 48% of respondents believe the U.S. is heading in the right direction, an eight-point rise since February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When you consider the bad economy, any increase means voters are pleased with their decision on Nov. 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Republicans face a growing dilemma heading into next year s elections.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Attacking Barack as a  socialist hasn t faired well with everyday voters, supporting his bailout plan that has pumped trillions into the U.S. economy. Obama s recent foreign trips also haven t made it easy for conservatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Attacking Barack for bowing to Saudi leaders or shaking hands with Latin American dictators hasn t gained much traction, especially because he ran on a platform of improving rapport with America s critics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> While he faces worries about the economy, he s perceived as aggressively taking steps to improve things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> He presents a very positive outlook, said Cheryl Weltherington, a 35-year-old small business owner in Gardner, Kansas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> He s a very well-spoken and very vocal about what direction should be taken, echoing the views of growing numbers of respondents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>GOP pundits have tried their best to paint the opposite picture.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Obama s main strength centers on his attraction to mainstream or middle-of-the-road voters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Much has been said about the degree of polarization during the Bush presidency, where a core group of religious conservative showed undying support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>That same group either avoided the polls last November or voted for change together with their more liberal friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Recent decisions to legalize the  morning-after-pill for 17-year-olds or ostensible support for gay marriage could galvanize interest around more conservative candidates in the next election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Economic concerns in the last election drew more votes than social issues, despite Barack s liberal views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Bush opposition to Roe v. Wade, gay marriage and stem cell research<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>kept religious conservative interested in the political process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Former GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) offered very little to conservative voters.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Hiring the 51-year-old former Maryland Lieutenant Gov. of Maryland Michael Steele to chair the Republican National Committee attempted to broaden the GOP appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He promptly got into a feud with conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh, battling for control of Republican Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Steele caused quite a stir in the GOP anointing himself and calling Rush Feb. 28 only an entertainer on CNN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Steele s had trouble finding a coherent way to attack Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>His  entertainer colleagues on Fox News or nationally syndicated radio shows seem to be helping Barack s approval ratings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Those same right wing radio hosts and TV pundits said little when Bush bailed out Bear Stearns and AIG Insurance, nationalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and handed out billions to a long list of struggling banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When Barack finished his oath on Jan. 20, they were already calling him a  socialist. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>State governments around the country haven t complained about collecting billions in bailout from Obama s Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Financially strapped individuals and businesses have rewarded Barack with strong approval ratings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Some steps have been taken, and I can t say that they re the right ones, but steps have been taken, said 65-year-old retired welder Dwight Hageman from Newberg, Ore, admitting he didn t vote for Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Despite today s hardships, most voters see the president as caring about ordinary people and trying to improve things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>GOP talk show hosts can t rant about socialism and continue to cash Social Security checks and accept health services from Medicare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It s one thing to score political points but still another to bash Obama for everything but the kitchen sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Voters weren t duped on Nov. 4 and won t be fooled again by radio and TV sages.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>GOP tactics have boomeranged, driving more moderate voters into Obama s hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Unlike the GOP, he speaks for the vast majority of ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet at a time of economic upheaval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Most voters see Obama trying to deliver on key campaign promises, especially building better relationships overseas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Whether his critics like it or not, the AP-GfK poll indicates that, for the first time since 2004, most Americans believe the country is heading in the right direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> We will rebuild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>We will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before, Obama told a joint session of Congress Feb. 25, 2009, sounding an optimistic note amidst the economic doom-and-gloom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Hitting Obama with the GOP  socialist mantra hasn t damaged his rising approval ratings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If the economy starts to turn around, the GOP may be out of luck.</p> <p>&nbsp;<u><b>About the Author</b></u></p> <p><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He&#39;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet </a>and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.<u><br> </p> <p></p> </td> <td width="1" height="2573"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2573"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="116" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="116" height="1"></td> <td width="24" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="24" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="283" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="283" height="1"></td> <td width="18" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="18" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong>Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com">Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">&copy;1999-2002 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>