The economic situation in America not only dominates the media and Republican presidential candidates’ debates, but also dictates President Barack Obama’s job approval ratings.
August marked Obama’s lowest monthly job approval rating during his presidency, with only 41 percent of American adults approving of his job performance, according to a recent Gallup poll. This number dropped from the July approval rating of 44 percent.
In the poll, white citizens’ approval of Obama’s actions rated at 33 percent, while 48 percent of Hispanics approved. Black citizens approved at a rate of 84 percent, marking the first year Obama’s approval rate has been less than 90 percent from the black community specifically, according to the poll.
Robert Hogan, political science associate professor at Louisiana State U., said the overall low ratings are likely due to the current economic condition.
Hogan said Hispanics and whites shift between Democrat and Republican, making them more sensitive to the economic situation facing the nation.
“The poisoned atmosphere in Washington, D.C., doesn’t help him either,” Hogan said.
He said one example is the nation’s dwindling support for Congress.
LSU political science associate professor Kathleen Bratton said a possible explanation for the low approval ratings from the black community is because the unemployment rate is higher for blacks than for whites.
“They are disproportionately affected by our bad economy,” Bratton said.
Hogan said one way Obama can recover from his low rating is to “demonstrate solutions to the high unemployment rate and the sluggishness of the economy.”
Kieran Derouen, LSU mass communication freshman, said Obama is still the president and Americans should respect him.
“When he went into office we were already in a bad situation,” Derouen said.
Lacey Crochet, LSU finance junior, said she is unbiased.
“I didn’t vote for Obama, but I don’t complain about politics unless I think I can do a better job,” Crochet said.
But not all students feel this way.
Brian Maurice, LSU history junior, said he’s not fond of Obama.
“It’s not a party thing,” Maurice said. “I feel like he neglects the Constitution. I feel like he’s taken away some things that make America what it is.”