Poll: Voters fear John McCain will follow George Bush's policies

Well, we'll admit it, we're suckers for polls, and a recent one that our cousins at The Swamp tipped us to is interesting -- showing that Barack Obama is tapping a potentially rich vein in trying to tie John McCain to George Bush.

The Gallup/USA Today poll found that 68% of voters said they were concerned when asked whether they thought McCain would pursue "policies that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued." Of those polled, 49% said they were "very concerned."

As the poll analysis points out: "It is clearly a delicate balancing act for McCain, as Bush remains relatively popular with the Republican base. While only 28% of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing as president, a majority of Republicans (60%) still do. Bush's approval rating among current McCain supporters is slightly lower, at 55%."

Dive deeper into the poll and something else interesting emerges -- people aren't all that keen on change, either. Some 49% said they were concerned when asked whether "Obama would go too far in changing the policies that George W. Bush pursued." Of those polled, 30% said they were "very concerned."

So the advantage for the moment goes to change -- in moderation. Which might help explain Obama's embrace Tuesday of the concept behind the Bush administration's faith-based initiative program.

-- Scott Martelle   

Comments

[Wm Tate]

"policies that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued."

Okay, so you like polls. But are push polls now considered legitimate news stories?

-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimelikethis.us/

[DaveFromFL]

Well, the media has been telling the voters that now for months. Unfortunately, most voters will allow the media to form their opinions.

[swede]

What is a hero? To me a hero is Audry Murphy, a decorated combat soldier of WW2. Another hero is Charles Lindberg, corporal United State Marine Corp. Who raised the flag on Iwo Jima.
I can't put John McCain, into that group. He is an unfortunate soul that got shot down over North Vietnam. A hero does something exceptional. John was doing his job that he was trained for. He was unlucky and took a hit, nothing more nothing less.

[Rick K]

And what is most troublesome about this poll is that it is one-sided. Politicians lie alot and everyone is aware of that. So who says Obama won't follow some or all of Bush's guidelines?

[DoTheMath]

McCain is not really a Bush clone. They're more like twins. You can tell them apart, but only if you look very closely.

[mo]

Please, John McCain like Bush. Not in your life. He calls himself a republican but he really is a liberal. He should belong to the democratic party. Nothing to fear in this election, two liberals running.

[Brian Randall]

McCain obviously doesn't want the public to watch the polls. Forget about what people are thinking until 48 hours before the election. Hopefully, America remembers Lady Liberty and the rights of the little guys on Election Day. American liberty is at stake. Save your country from runaway stagflation, inflation and squirrelly thought police. President Bob Barr in 2008. Responsible leadership for our troubled and tortured unconstitutional Bushian times.

www.BobBarr2008.com

[john]

1st issue is McCain is not eligible to be president... Article II section 1 Clause 5. Second funny how Cain is for free trade except where INBEV and Bud are at issue... Funny how this Corporate Fascist protects his wife's beer distributorship. (another government theft through ATF laws). Not only Bush II but he seems to be revisiting Iran Contra Bush I issue of chasing drug money. The main stream media and RNC is criminal in not reporting Isman media lobbied bills and S&L thefts to American taxpayers. No wonder 48% of the people don't vote. As a conservative free trader you have no choice. The lesser of two evils is still evil.. The fireworks should start in Minneapolis. It is amazing how much crap the criminal political parties are shoveling with the media.

[otonomus maximus]

McBush 08!! 100 more years!!

[meme]

My opinion on this matter is that bush hasn't really been a good leader through his 8 year term, he has brought the United States down with him. The United States which is suppose to be the strongest nation is right now in a big economic issue, Barack Obama and Jhon Mcain they have different point of views and to tell you the truth I go with obama as our next president as he will not follow the same policies that George W. Bush will leave, now that's a leader, Macain who will follow the same policies will only bring the United States to an even badder economic issue.

Im only 17 so i cant vote, my opinion stands firm and one should know the difference between a Republican and a Democrate, and who they help as of the rich or the poor and right now the U.S is helping other countries, when we should be helping other than our selfs right now. When they did an interview to Macain he addressed to the nation that he will continue the war, Obama says no more suffering to this nation, but lets be realist if obama takes out the war its going to take some time to get our soldiers to get back, but of course its better than doing nothing and getting more of our soldiers killed for a war that has been going for 5 years and we have not won anything. So when you vote people please think about the family's in our nation that will suffer if we continue this war.

[DCX2]

It gets worse. Check out this FireDogLake article. McCain is so crazy that even after we found out there were no WMD and there was no connection to al-Qaeda and thousands of Americans died and tens of thousands of Americans were injured and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were killed and millions of Iraqi refugees were internally and externally displaced...he still thinks this was all a good idea.

Way to give the finger to 2/3 of America, McCain.

http://firedoglake.com/2008/07/01/even-now-mccain-says-he-still-wouldve-invaded-iraq-presumably-for-the-hell-of-it/

In an interview with reporters on the back of his campaign bus, the “Straight Talk Express” Monday afternoon, McCain said that even in retrospect he would still have voted to authorize the war, as he did in 2002.

“I think there's no question,” said the Republican's likely presidential nominee.

[American Sharecropper]

A well founded fear if not a media generated one. Both candidates represent the status quo, neither will stray far from the accepted big government doctrine and the media will continue to document the rise of the Slave/Police state without question or concern. This is nothing new, only one sided. Both McCain and Obama will continue to travel down the same path as the last several presidents, differing only superficially. America will continue down the path of ancient Rome, spending ourselves towards our demise as we continue to maintain troops worldwide. Liberties will continue to erode as both candidates will maintain the federal governments expanding dictatorial role in our daily lives. Neither will change our confiscatory tax structure in any way significant. Both will continue to re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic while maintaining the illusion that there is a difference between the two.

What have we become as a nation to nominate the likes of these two despicable men?

[JSG]

Bush = Conservative = Failure = McCain.

It's pretty clear- electing any conservative will be bad for the country, no matter what the office or who the person is. Republicans from small towns all the way to the Oval Office are revealed to be criminals following a radical anti-US agenda. No amount of bloviating radio propaganda is going to change that.

Thankfully, McCain takes every possible opportunity to pledge his allegiance to Bush and the failed conservative agenda. It's not hard to tie McCain to Bush, since he's doing it himself.

Stay the course, Republicans. It's not working, but you guys can get it to work!

[larry clifton]

The only fear is that of liberals at the LA Times. They fear the shaply declining numbers of sheep who believe their editorials will not show up at the real polls.

[Tom]

I think its hilarious that ex Hillary supporters get all puffy chested ans say they are voting McCain...NO YOU'RE NOT! when it comes down to the wire, you will have put on your big girl britches and vote your party...

[Bill Sharpe]

Remember Mr. Bomb, bomb, bomb bomb, bomb Iran... :-(

Do you remember this one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655

Bill

[Sam F]

Correction:

You state "The Gallup/USA Today poll found that 68% of voters said ... Of those, 49% said they were "very concerned."

That is not correct. "Of those" means that 49% of the people who said they were concerned were "very concerned," which would be 33% of the total sample. Actually, 49% of the TOTAL sample said that they were "very concerned."

This mistake is repeated in a later paragraph about the Obama question.

You can correct this error simple by removing the phrase "of those," to wit: "The Gallup/USA Today poll found that 68% of voters said ... 49% said they were "very concerned."

[Good catch -- we dropped the word "polled" in that construct, and have added it to say "Of those polled..." Thanks -- coffee hasn't kicked in yet here on the West Coast.]

[jaqphule]

Unfortunately, it's a fait accompli that Obama will win, unless we yet again get a swing vote either by the SCOTUS or by Diebold.

My biggest worry about an Obama win is that Obama will also follow George Bush's policies to a much greater degree than most folk are yet willing to believe. Guns AND butter! Again! What could be better?

[luvwknd]

Guaranteed, McSame will follow very similar footsteps to Dumbo, thus vote Obama unless you’re an idiot Repuklican who believes Dumbo is doing good for this country, and if so…then you are a minority because most Americans (and the rest of the world for that matter) believe GWB is an idiot & his policies are moronic!

Vote DEMOCRATIC to get this nation back on track!

[Stephan Andrew Brodhead]

You state some poll data, and then you make the conclusion that "change in moderation " has the edge. This is retarded. Most of your polls are done in areas that are predominately democratic. In addition using "courting faith based organizations" is false. Everything you post is scewed toward Obama.

[Mark]

Bush's policy of so-called "faith-based" initiatives was simply a back door attempt to break down the fire wall between church and state that was put in place (wisely) by the Founders. Obama's commitment to maintain (and perhaps expand) this policy is nothing more than a shameless and transparent effort to tap into Bush's evangelical base. The man has no scruples whose sole belief system is rooted in self-promotion and the will to win at any cost.

[David Sand]

How about doing a series of polls on the issues and then show the results as a polychotomous key?

[Paul]

I wish he would be like President Bush and if Congress would have allowed us to start tapping OUR OWN GOD GIVEN recources (before some other counrty figures how to take them from us), LIKE PRESIDENT BUSH HAS CONSISTENTLY ASKED FOR since he was elected, our economy would be great right now! Also, isn't it funny how Obama likes the Bush Faith based program! Amazing! I pray that Senator McCain becomes more like Pres Bush everyday! Then, maybe, I'll vote for him!

[John Crawford]

I think we can relax a bit on the number of respondents who are afraid Obama might change too much of Bush's policies. I don't know a single Independent or Democrat who isn't overwhelmingly convinced that we need a sea change in our government.

I am not a bit timid about upsetting the 30% of Republican voters who are hunkered down in a Norquist-style anti-government stance. Pollsters might better serve us to see if these are the same respondents who fill their heads with Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reilly every day and night.

[tom]

lets see..bush and McCain..both want to..bomb Iran for Israel..keep a worthless dollar policy..have 58 bases in Iraq..keep our soldiers in Iraq forever..keep spending 12 billion a month in Iraq..add another 5 trillion to our national debt..keep us dependent on oil..drill off shore..when oil companies have millions of acres that they haven't drilled on yet..overturn roe v wade..both were against the new gi bill..until it passed and then both claimed they were pushing for it..both against cars that run on water..American Stan Meyers developed it in 1998..but Honda is going to mass produce it..both for nuke energy..against wind turbines and solar..

[Moss]

There is no basis in comparing McCain to Bush. This "op-ed" is just that - the opinion of the writer/editor regardless of what the polls say. The polls fit into the category of "Figures lie and liers figure." You can twist a poll to interpret it however way you want to so that it can give you the "answer" you desire. Trust me. Just ask any one using "surveys" for a Masters thesis - you'll do anything to make the project interesting just to get the degree out of the way.

[Moss]

Hmmm.... I notiice a lot of play here on behalf of Mr. Obama on the side bar of this op-ed. Balanced reporting? I hardly think so. BTW: Mr. Obama's embrace of faith based groups is a Bush concept. So who is copying who here? Sounds like me that this is a moot issue. Either candidate has the potential to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.

[nathan]

These numbers are meaningless no matter who's side you're on...as for the person who seems to think that the LAtimes is "liberal"---you have read this quite wrong. The whole point is to stir you rednecks into a fearful frenzy to a point where you get off your lazy-buttocks and vote; and quite obviously for the Democrats to grow only too smug in their comfortable lead. It's called "strategy" and it is a very conservative article. The only people this article will move to action are the conservatives---NOT liberals.

[MaddiK]

Of course McCain’s going to follow BushCo’s policies. That’s what got them rich in the first place—corporate greed for personal gains—and that’s why he pursued Cindy while still married to his first wife.

Obama is going to sacrifice his principles just to get elected—he’s moving to the middle as we speak. We need a true third party to stop this sell out.

Nader is not connected to either establishments, so he’s not afraid of taking a stand on people’s behalf. It’s the only way to take back the government. WWW.VOTENADER.ORG. It’s time for a REAL change.

[Bob]

Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, John Bradley and Harlon Block, Michael Strank and Rene Gagnon raised the lag on Iow Jima, not Charles Lindberg.

[Dan]

McCain has been criticized by Republicans for not towing the line on all their political points. I can see a difference, but I wasn't polled. Then again, on the other side, Obama keeps flipping his stance so much I'm not sure I want an acrobat for a president.

[keith]

What is a hero? To me a hero is Audry Murphy, a decorated combat soldier of WW2. Another hero is Charles Lindberg, corporal United State Marine Corp. Who raised the flag on Iwo Jima.
I can't put John McCain, into that group. He is an unfortunate soul that got shot down over North Vietnam. A hero does something exceptional. John was doing his job that he was trained for. He was unlucky and took a hit, nothing more nothing less.

Posted by: swede | July 02, 2008 at 07:58 AM

"Took a hit" and languished as a POW for several years. No big deal, huh?

In my book anyone who "takes a hit" in the military is a hero.

BTW, it's Audie Murphy.

[ApostasyUSA]

People who vote for Republicans are very angry right now. They feel somewhat responsible for our brothers and sisters dying in Iraq, and they should, but that does not mean that because you voted for a warmonger in the last few elections that you have to continue to do so.

Republicans:
Stop feeling so bad and stop voting for GOP'er just because you keep hearing the word "team" associated with them. This is not Football, your votes can help decide whether our brothers and sisters fight and die for causes that all Americans believe in and support.

Do not let your guilt get in the way of your intelligence!
By the way, where are the centrist Republicans? Why does the GOP have to have a big rubber stamp as a constituency?

I would rather have a "inexperienced" Democrat wasting a 500 billion on helping the poor or disabled or uneducated, than have a neo-con Republican blow 500 billion on killing tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi and thousands of US service men and women.

In the last 8 years or so Republicans have shown me that they will do anything and everything in their power to keep you from retaining an opinion based on the facts that their incompetence is comprised of.

[jake]

obabyh, kerry, kennedy and the left wing are shouting this message and it will back fire. the average american didn't just fall off the turnip truck. just to take a look at the democrats energy policy the last 30 years. WE THE PEOPLE will take back our country and take it back from the left wing democrats that have been trying to tear this country down. WE THE PEOPLE want change from the democrats.

[Lizzy]

Why are any of even considering voting for more of the same? We're on the verge of bankruptcy, borrowing millions every day to finance continued occupation of Iraq. The dollar loses strength every day. Repubs spend millions overseas, Dems spend millions on inefficient, bloated social programs here at home. You honestly think that either McCain or Obama is going to be a leader for real change?

Wake up America! The difference between the 2 major parties is negligible when it comes down to it.

It's time for REAL change- vote 3rd party.

Vote Bob Barr!

www.bobbarr2008.com

[abby0802]

Just what we need another 'cowboy' in the Oval Office. McCain is very much like Bush. Remember not too long ago McCain's joke about changing the words to the song "Barbara Ann" to "bomb Iran." He wants to keep our troops in Iraq for 50 years. His true concern for our troops shows in that he was against the improved GI bill. That shows just how much he cares about our troops. Well, he never had to worry about the cost of an education -- his father was an admiral; McCain's wife #2 has plenty of money. (Maybe that's why he left wife #1 and took up with wife #2 -- even before he was divorced from wife #1.)
Now he thinks he should be president.
I think this country has had all the Republican presidents we can take.

[john]

McCain is not eligible to be president under the constitution. Clearly McCain is not natural born.. To add insult to injury Mckaskill, Obama and Clinton sponsored a Senate non-binding resolution to state McCain eligible. I guess Amendment which defines how the constitution is ratified is another law broken... Great why don't we just get a military dictator. McColaborator won't release his service records but the Vietnam tapes will show up..Clinton normalized the Vietnam relations...Hillary has them.. The question is what she gets for them?

[Dan]

Have we learned nothing over the past 7 years? Republicnas consistantly voted for anything Bush proposed no matter how wrong it was. The RNC is dictating policy and the republicans in congress get in line and do what they are told. It will be the same with McCain. Their policies (Republicans) do not work... it is time for change.

[mikel]

McCain wasn't even born in the contiguous United states of America!!!! What the hell is the point of that in our constitution when you can be born in Panama and still run for President.

[Democrats 08]

WELL OF COURSE MCCAIN WILL CONTINUE BUSH'S FAILED POLICIES!!! He is a Republican, they all have the same exact programming like clones of each other. The sales pitch is all that is different and even that is starting to sound the same more and more in McCain's Republican Neanderthal world.

[mwf]

Why are Republicans married to the party is beyond me.

The mantra of minimal government and lower taxes hasn't been realized in decades.

Why they hang on to these ideals in light of the reality is mind-blowing.

I've come to the conclusion, they are just stupid.

Signed....

an ex-Republican (dubya cured me of that affliction)

[Daniel]

People can be expected to fear McCain will be like a Bush 3rd term. McCain needs to point out more forcefully that he is the one who actually ran against Bush in 2000, and that he has consistently opposed Bush's fiscal profligacy and his initial strategy in Iraq.

Then he needs to further point out the Obama's policies would actually be like a second term for Herbert Hoover (plans for much higher taxes, clawback of free trade) or Jimmy Carter.

[Ken]

1) Why is it that we are never told where the poll is conducted?

2) I've been to some of the oldest, most conservative, republican towns in California and I found very little support for the Bush administration. Most want to see Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld prosecuted and jailed for war crimes.

3) In my personal opinion McCain would have to be a little less senile to be a Bush clone. He is a pupet for the RNC... oh, but so is Bush... hmmm...

[Oregon4Obama]

Voters "fear" john McCain will follow george Bushes [failed] Policies.......

John McCain HAS followed his policies.....in 2006-2007 his voting record was 90-95% exact to that of Bush

He has been endorsed by Bush......

Bush has campaigned and is fundrasing for McCain now

He wants to make the Bush taxcuts permanent for the wealthiest americans, has no educational plan (he thinks no child left behind is awesome), his plan to lift sanctions on offshore drilling were backed the same day as Bush....I could go on and on

McSame, McBush, Bush Jr.......are all fitting names

Check out this link to see how close they are......notice that the items that they mostly dissagree on, are items McCain has flip-flopped on in the past 2 months or so

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/06/17/us/politics/20080617_POLICY_GRAPHIC.html

Oh and ill leave with a question........

Does anyone think that these HIGH GAS PRICES is a 2-step plan to freak us out into thinking drilling in America will help in anyway......

Think about it, the oil companies raise gas prices even though worldwide consuption is down....

2, the president and a presidential nominee want to increase drilling in America even though the oil companies have enough leased land to drill in new areas right now...

3. the oil companies are increasing advertisements on all news and TV channels to let the "American People" know that drilling and exxon and BP are good to the environment and are investing in cleaner energy.......

Look the oil companies might say they are investing in alternative energies, but at a slow and deliberate pace.....Why would the oil companies want to find alternative energies to take money out of their own pockets......

its like the energizer company....they have technology to make longer lasting batteries, but they wont put it out because they would lose money.......same thing for pharmeceudicals........there is no reason to make a Cure-all when people think they need your product

[McCain is Bush]

The only comment I could possibly make is that the title of this article should read ......

Poll: Voters fear John McCain will follow George Bush's FAILED policies

[Domingo Tavella]

Of course McCain will follow Bush - even if he doesn't want to, he won't have much of a choice. The infrastructure Bush-Cheney put in place will still be there, the same ideologies, the same points of view, the same interests - all will be there in place waiting for McCain.

Unfortunately, both Bush and McCain have in common precisely the qualities that make them popular with uneducated whites: They both despise knowledge, both were C students, they are both tied up with obsolete ideologies of pride and superiority, and they both keep the dream alive that you can be number one in the world by brute force alone.

Under Bush, the US currency become worthless, the economy is a disaster, the deficit exploded, the moral standing of the US in the world vanished, scientific achievement moved overseas, jobs evaporated, and the Chinese government controls the US federal budget. Very nice job indeed.

Bush started the US in its path of decline, McBush will continue the job.

[dave]

using polls to manipulate and control public opinion and enhance 'compliance' by using suggestive, anonymized, unverifiable, indisputable, 'peer pressure' - instead of flat out telling people to shut up and do as told, or... - is only a little, but more 'elegant' tool in the well equipped arsenal of the modern propagandist in 'democratic' dictatorships of the 'free world,' that would have the deluded people believe decisions forced on them are their own choice. which in a way it is, if they don't object.