StupidiNews Focus: Mixed Messages Edition

We take a deeper look at this StupidiNews stroy from Bloomberg today:

"Americans in 70% Majority See More Jobless as Deficit Widens" 

More than 7 out of 10 Americans say the economy is mired in recession, and the country is conflicted over how to balance concerns over joblessness and the federal budget deficit, according to a Bloomberg National Poll.

Just like the experts, Americans are torn about whether the federal government should focus on curbing spending or creating jobs, the poll conducted July 9-12 shows. Seven of 10 Americans say reducing unemployment is the priority. At the same time, the public is skeptical of the Obama administration’s stimulus program and wary of more spending, with more than half saying the deficit is “dangerously out of control.”

This concern over spending extends to aid for the jobless. With unemployment at a near-record high of 9.5 percent in June, the public is closely split on whether another extension of jobless benefits, which is stalled in Congress, is worth the $34 billion cost.

If this polling information is accurate, Obama and the Democrats have lost the messaging battle completely on the economy and Wall Street reform, and are in real trouble.  Despite the stimulus including payroll tax cuts for 93% of Americans, only 7% of Americans actually believe Obama has lowered taxes.  Despite Wall Street having wrecked our economy, 63% of Americans say we don't need additional government regulations, and 47% say the financial regulation bill will benefit Wall Street over consumers.   That same 47% number say there will be very little if any change in Wall Street banks as a result of the bill, and 44% have no confidence in the bill preventing another crisis.  And finally, 70% of Americans say fixing unemployment is more important than the deficit, but 49% of Americans are opposed to the Senate extending jobless benefits.  In other words, the Republican message of "Obama is a tax and spend liberal who will destroy our country" is winning over Americans big time.

And yes, half of us are now willing to throw millions of unemployed Americans under the bus despite there being 14-15 million unemployed Americans and only 2-3 million job openings as a near constant over the last 15 months or so.

The White House messaging shop has completely blown it even on simple no-brainer winner stuff like payroll tax cuts for working Americans and the bank bill, and the Dems are going to pay dearly in November unless they get it together now.