[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11468]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             MEDIA EXAGGERATE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL NUMBERS

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                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 4, 2009

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, in their stories assessing 
President Obama's first 100 days in office, the national media have 
been quick to tout the President's supposedly high approval rating.
  But the facts are otherwise.
  A Rasmussen poll released yesterday showed the President's approval 
rating at 55 percent and his disapproval rating at 43 percent.
  Fewer than half of voters say the President is doing a good job 
handling the economy.
  And only a third of voters think the President is governing on a bi-
partisan basis.
  These are hardly impressive figures.
  The fact is that many Americans are not happy with the direction of 
the country under President Obama.
  The national media should take a break from patting the President on 
the back and report the facts objectively.

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