Posted April 1st, 2015 at 1:05 pm (UTC-4)
Has Obama made us safer? Did Bush?
Karlyn Bowman – American Enterprise Institute
In a February Los Angeles Times op-ed, President Obama wrote that “[t]he United States has made significant gains against terrorism. We’ve decimated the core al Qaeda leadership, strengthened homeland security and worked to prevent another large-scale attack like 9/11.” But do Americans feel safer under President Obama? And how do their feelings compare to their views of George W. Bush on this score?
A recent Gallup poll found that concerns about terrorism are rising. It’s hardly surprising given the news from abroad. Other polls make clear that President Obama has lost considerable ground on what was once was a key strength for him: handling foreign policy.
In 2008, voters didn’t view the first-term Senator’s lack of foreign policy experience as a problem. Hillary Clinton tried to raise doubts about it with a memorable campaign commercial. “It’s 3 a.m., and your children are safe and asleep. But there’s a phone in the White House, and it’s ringing,” the ad began and then asked if Barack Obama would be able to answer the call.
Although Clinton’s commercial didn’t get her the Democratic nomination, it did put its finger on an important finding in public opinion polling. Americans want a president who is assertive in foreign affairs. They fear presidents who are too weak (think Jimmy Carter) or too strong.
Karlyn Bowman/American Enterprise Institiute
Has Obama made us safer? Did Bush?
Karlyn Bowman – American Enterprise Institute
In a February Los Angeles Times op-ed, President Obama wrote that “[t]he United States has made significant gains against terrorism. We’ve decimated the core al Qaeda leadership, strengthened homeland security and worked to prevent another large-scale attack like 9/11.” But do Americans feel safer under President Obama? And how do their feelings compare to their views of George W. Bush on this score?
A recent Gallup poll found that concerns about terrorism are rising. It’s hardly surprising given the news from abroad. Other polls make clear that President Obama has lost considerable ground on what was once was a key strength for him: handling foreign policy.
In 2008, voters didn’t view the first-term Senator’s lack of foreign policy experience as a problem. Hillary Clinton tried to raise doubts about it with a memorable campaign commercial. “It’s 3 a.m., and your children are safe and asleep. But there’s a phone in the White House, and it’s ringing,” the ad began and then asked if Barack Obama would be able to answer the call.
Although Clinton’s commercial didn’t get her the Democratic nomination, it did put its finger on an important finding in public opinion polling. Americans want a president who is assertive in foreign affairs. They fear presidents who are too weak (think Jimmy Carter) or too strong.