The White House has repeatedly stressed that President Obama will “play offense” as he presses the agenda outlined in his State of the Union speech. The only problem is, the public doesn’t much care for a number of key elements of the Obama agenda.
The new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll gave respondents a list of issues, with the following question: “Recognizing that all these issues may be important but that not every single one can be a top priority for the President and Congress, for each one please tell me whether you think it should be an absolute priority for the Obama administration and THIS year’s Congress, it is something that can be delayed until next year, or something that you think the Obama administration and Congress should not pursue.”
Respondents predictably put the big issues at the top: creating jobs, defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, cutting the federal deficit, securing the Mexican border, dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat, and a few more. On each issue, a solid majority wants the president and Congress to work together now, and not later.
But the public is much less enthusiastic about several issues the president hopes to make a centerpiece of his last two years in office. Five stand out.
First, the pollsters asked about “reducing income inequality between the rich and poor.” Just 47 percent said that should be a top priority this year. More said it should be put off for later or not pursued at all.
Second, the pollsters asked about “increasing the minimum wage.” Forty-four percent said it was an urgent priority, while a majority said it should be put off or not pursued at all.
Third, the pollsters asked about “passing immigration legislation that would create a pathway to U.S. citizenship for foreigners who are currently staying illegally in the United States.” Just 39 percent said that should be a top concern, with many more saying it should be put off or not done at all.
Fourth was “addressing the issue of climate change.” Thirty-four percent said it should be pursued now, while nearly twice that number said it should be put off or not pursued at all.
Fifth was “closing the prison holding terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.” Just 24 percent said that should be a top priority, while 72 percent said it should be put off or not done at all.”
Put those issues together — inequality, minimum wage, immigration, global warming and Guantanamo — and you’ve got a pretty substantial part of the Obama agenda. Problem is, it’s not the public’s agenda.
