When you look at the crises facing this White House and the bitter, raw controversy over the Iraq War the question becomes: what can the White House say to make its case better on issues?
A new Harris poll gives the answer: it may not be able to say much at this point — since a huge chunk of the American public doesn’t believe it anymore:
A majority of U.S. adults believe the Bush administration generally misleads the public on current issues, while fewer than a third of Americans believe the information provided by the administration is generally accurate, the latest Harris Interactive poll finds.
We’ve consistently said here: this administration has a whopping credibility problem that has been morphing into one as bad as the ones Presidents Lyndon Johnson or Richard Nixon faced. Now, it looks like it has morphed:
While the telephone survey of 1,011 U.S. adults indicates about 64% of Americans believe the Bush administration “generally misleads the American public on current issues to achieve its own ends,” opinion on the topic is clearly divided along party lines. A large majority (68% to 28%) of Republicans say the Bush administration generally provides accurate information. However, even larger majorities of Democrats (91% to 7%) and Independents (73% to 25%) think the information is generally misleading.
Once AGAIN: Bush is proving to be a President of The Base. The Base sticks with him, no matter what, but Independents and Democrats are fleeing in droves. Some folks then come back and say, well other Presidents didn’t have the Democrats and Independents — but it’s boiling down to the fact that seldom in American history have we ever seen an administration that has so failed to maintain the support of all but its staunchest partisans.
If this poll holds, it means the administration’s words will be taken with increasing skepticism among all but the converted and unconvertible. MORE:
When asked about former Vice Presidential Chief of Staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who has been indicted on charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements, more than half of U.S. adults say the situation indicates “a larger problem in the Bush administration,” while 35% say it was an “isolated incident.” About 82% of Democrats say it indicates a larger problem, while 70% of Republicans feel the Libby case is an isolated incident.
Not good numbers. It indicates this case can provide further political erosion in support. AND:
The latest poll also finds U.S. adults are divided on the direction they feel Mr. Bush is trying to move the Supreme Court. About 42% of those surveyed think Mr. Bush is trying to make the high court too conservative, while 44% think he is trying to make it neither too conservative nor too liberal. Only 9% believe Mr. Bush is trying to make the Supreme Court too liberal, according to the poll.
That suggests Bush will have an easier time fulfilling his campaign promises made in his two campaigns to put more conservative judges on the court. It also is a warning flag to Democrats that if they intend to filibuster they better have a solid justification for it or they will be viewed as obstructionists. Just objecting to a conservative judge due to ideology won’t do, if you look at this poll.