Why Isn't Biden More Popular?

[applegrove]

Why Isn’t Biden More Popular?

June 28, 2023 at 10:18 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 267 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2023/06/28/why-isnt-biden-more-popular/

"SNIP......

Michael Tomasky: “This is a key point that has to do with a core difference between liberals and conservatives. Liberals have a list of 50 things they want government to do, and they want those things done fast and to completion. Conservatives have a list of about two things they want government to do: Cut taxes, and punish people they disapprove of morally. For a presidential administration, satisfying that first group is a lot harder than satisfying the second.”

“So people will complain. That’s fine and proper for, say, The New Republic; where I see Biden falling short, I’ll say so, and my colleagues whose views are different from mine will make their criticisms as well. That’s the role of the press.”

“But the role of Democrats is different. They need to understand: Joe Biden is going to be the nominee (barring of course some major health issue in the next few months). He’s the most accomplished president since Lyndon Johnson, and without the immoral war.”

........SNIP"

[SCantiGOP]

1. All polls are based on how the question is asked

Do you approve of Biden? NO
Do you like Biden? NO
Will you vote for Biden? HELL YES, I sure wouldn’t vote for Trump or DeSantis.

[jimfields33]

7. I try honk Biden should have a press conference everyday.

People like to see and hear from the president and that would begin a huge increase in his numbers.

[TheProle]

27. Not likely:

Biden Has Held the Fewest News Conferences Since Reagan. Any Questions?

As President Biden prepares to announce his bid for a second term as soon as Tuesday, his decision to keep the news media at arm’s length is part of a deliberate strategy.

And despite his press secretary pledging that Mr. Biden would “bring transparency and truth back to the government,” in his first two years, the president granted the fewest interviews since Mr. Reagan’s presidency: only 54. (Donald J. Trump gave 202 during the first two years of his presidency; Barack Obama gave 275.)

More than any president in recent memory, Mr. Biden, 80, has taken steps to reduce opportunities for journalists to question him in forums where he can offer unscripted answers and they can follow up. The result, critics say, is a president who has fewer moments of public accountability for his comments, decisions and actions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/us/politics/biden-public-appearances-media.html

[DemocraticPatriot]

70. He is a lot older than Reagan was. Frankly, I have all the information I need.

I don't wish for him to hold more press conferences or interviews,
where the press will have the opportunity for "gotcha" questions to try to create controversy...


Obviously, they do miss Trump's talent for creating almost daily controversy,
with the stupidity or hatefulness of his remarks----

but this country voted for President Biden because he was NOT Trump,
and will do so again.

He may be considered 'boring' by them for that very reason,
and I don't blame them--- Trump made it all too easy for them...

"Back in the old days", reporters had to go out and SEARCH for stories...
if they could get back into that habit, instead of hoping for a president to
HAND them a story, this country would be a lot better off...

[Aviation Pro]

50. Too overexposed

Motherfucker talked to the pliant, lapdog media just about everyday and that reinforced the shitbag's unfitness.

[usonian]

2. The media are knocking him every day.

He’s just too boring.

Goes to work for the country, gets the job done, tells the truth with straight facts.

No screaming, no text in ALL CAPS, accusations, rabble-rousing and clickbait hate and hyperbole.

[Tree Lady]

35. Exactly in this reality show America

If you don't have drama, flair, something crazy or risk your life...moveon...

I think the dark Brandon stuff and the glasses helps to make him cool but it's not enough for the adrenaline driven society.

[markodochartaigh]

41. True. Very many people in the US, especially on the right

and in the middle would rather toast marshmallows over the embers of the burning circus tent than they would listen to a detailed analysis of our problems and what we must do to fix then. Any country with a pretense of democracy cannot forever survive ignorance and apathy.

[Tree Lady]

68. Except here on DU no one wants to talk politics with me

Most everyone I know is a democrat but they just want to live life tired of hearing of all the "bad negative stuff out there".

I get it I hate it too but problems will never be solved by everyone putting their head in the sand and pretending if we ignore it it will go away.

[markodochartaigh]

73. Sometimes I feel like Cassandra

it seems, especially now with the internet, that everyone should be able to see where things are headed. History is rhyming closely enough to pre-WWII Germany that I wonder why everyone who is not a maga authoritarian isn't worried. Certainly since January 6th more people are starting to wake up, and with the classified documents scandal and the unprecedented corruption being exposed, and with great reporting of Rachel Maddow, Greg Palast, Thom Hartmann, Brad Friedman, etc. I have more hope than I did a year ago. But the strength of a democracy should be its people. The danger that US democracy is in should be the most frequent topic around every dinner table in the country. We are like a patient, who after being told that they have cancer, shrugs their shoulders and asks when the next sportsball game is on.

[AZ8theist]

48. Don't forget the childish name-calling.......

[maxsolomon]

3. Progressives disapprove because Biden isn't a miracle worker.

All Student Loans didn't get forgiven? DISAPPROVAL!

My niece voted against Nancy Pelosi in 2022 - but from the Left. She's not Progressive enough!

[allegorical oracle]

43. Have Dem friends who have done the same thing. Infuriates me. nt

[czarjak]

4. Don't hate him because he's right. A burden to bare is what it is.

[unblock]

5. The media avoid direct comparisons like the plague, to allow a double-standard

Democrats are routinely deemed to fall short of god-like, or at least fdr-like standards.

Republicans are given a pass to such an extent that the media is just fine with them running a failed, twice-impeached, rapist traitor because whatever bar the media has when it comes to republicans is so low as to be effectively non-existent.

This is what lets them talk about the supposed "age issue" when both candidates are in their 70s and what, 3 years apart in age? And this is what let them crucify Hillary over emails when Donnie was and is an obvious nightmare when it comes to handling classified information.

Voters need to know which candidate is better, or closer to their own views. If the media covered topics that way, Biden would be vastly more popular.

[homegirl]

16. Just one example...

....Tommy Tuberville Celebrates Broadband Funding He Voted Against (HuffPost)

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Tuesday celebrated his state getting more than $1 billion for broadband efforts, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ― a bill he voted against.

“Broadband is vital for the success of our rural communities and for our entire economy,” Tuberville tweeted, along with a link to an article about his state getting $1.4 billion for expanding broadband access to underserved areas. “Great to see Alabama receive crucial funds to boost ongoing broadband efforts.”

-snip-

When the bill came before the Senate in August 2021, Tuberville voted no.

Beyond that, NTIA’s website notes that Biden’s investment in broadband builds on funding provided by the American Rescue Plan, which Tuberville also voted against.


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tommy-tuberville-celebrates-bill-he-voted-against_n_649b4754e4b0b06fb167c2e5

[Mad_Machine76]

56. +10000

[rurallib]

6. 90% of the media in this country is owned by the right

and since Reagan they have inundated the airwaves with hate for whatever Democrat looks to have power while singing the praises of the scourges that they have in leadership.

Advertising works and constant bombardment of hate toward any group or individual will pay dividends for those pushing the hate. I simply don't think it goes much deeper than that.

Most of America has no idea what is truly going on in the halls of power - hey simply reflect back what their media tells them.

[DENVERPOPS]

26. During Reagan

didn't they also destroy the "Fairness Doctrine"

for forty plus years they have been chipping away,.... "While The Nation Slept"........ and they are still going full blast towards their goal.

[whathehell]

45. Yes, they did..

and the nation has suffered greatly in its absence.

[DENVERPOPS]

69. The real bombshell was

Citizens United..........

[whathehell]

71. Oh yes..

That's a terrible ruling and should be reversed.

[Midnight Writer]

8. Because Trump saying something crazy gets more "hits" than Biden reducing the deficit.

[markodochartaigh]

44. And this could be our secret weapon, if we, the people, would use it.

The Media and Corporations are levers of power, and in the US they are getting more and more powerful. But many of these media outlets and corporations have a weakness, they are servants to profit. Not all, but many media outlets could be influenced to give more coverage to stories favorable to Democrats if we, en masse, would click on those stories, and click and click. And spend a little time scrolling. The same with corporations. We saw how Target and that beer company were influenced by the right during Pride Month. We could have that same influence on the Democratic side.

[Mad_Machine76]

55. and "clicks"

[Attilatheblond]

72. yep, and the GOP is happy to let Trump suck all the oxygen out of media so Biden's work gets ignored

Corporate giants of the 'no national loyalties' variety are more than happy to buy/own media to assure Trump stays on page one while the amazing accomplishments of the team Biden put together go about the work of helping actual Americans.

[kentuck]

9. He's a Democrat and he's reaping the years of demonization and name-calling

.. from the right-wing noise machine.

It is sad that after all we have seen from Trump and the Republicans, Democrats cannot do much better in the polls.

They should win in a landslide.

[iemanja]

10. inflation

[maxsolomon]

54. A lot of it boils down to that.

Never mind it's the lowest inflation in the G7 and it's trending lower.

[questionseverything]

60. The moms trying to stretch food stamps to cover the month

When groceries have tripled don’t care about the rest of the g7

Between losing the pandemic benefits and how the cost of food has exploded….people including children are going hungry

[maxsolomon]

61. Food costs have tripled? 300%? I have not experienced that.

Biden didn't cause inflation; the Pandemic did.

People will blame the President for a sunny day. Disapproval is emotional or political; it is rarely based on the President's policies.

[questionseverything]

64. Yes I think the grocery prices have tripled but even if they have only doubled

It’s devastating for low income/poor people

I am just explaining why his approval rating is low

You telling me the highest elected official can’t change/fix the problem isn’t going to help my neighbors hungry kids

[maxsolomon]

66. I'm sorry, but prices haven't even doubled. This isn't Sri Lanka.

The post I was originally replying to said the reason Biden's disapproval is high is inflation, and I agreed.

You agree too.

[iemanja]

74. Do you actually go to the store?

The prices have visibly risen. Whether it's double is splitting hairs. Some things have certainly doubled, others have gone up less. A lot of people can't afford eggs and other necessities. I was looking at a dehumidifier for my basement. The price went up 50% overnight. Pretending inflation doesn't hurt Americans, especially the poor, doesn't help Democrats. If DUers excuses for economy become the Democratic message heading into the election, we lose.

[maxsolomon]

76. Yes I go to the store. I also purchase gasoline. Haven't purchased a dehumidifier.

And I agreed with you that Inflation is driving Biden's disapproval numbers.

The poster I was responding to asserted that groceries have risen by 300%. That is hyperbole. 200% is hyperbole.

I didn't pretend inflation is not hurting the poor, I don't want children in America to starve to death, and I'm not on DU to be the Democratic Election Message crafter.

I said that the US is performing markedly better at controlling inflation than other G7 democracies in a GLOBAL inflationary cycle, and that is largely unrecognized. I'm not the only one making that point.

[iemanja]

77. The US may be doing better

and of course I don't blame Biden for inflation, but much of the public does believe he is. They neither know nor care about the economies of other nations.

[RAB910]

11. 100% due to the anti-American right-wing propaganda machine with help from the right-wing leaning

MSM

[The Wielding Truth]

23. Yep. Propaganda is supposed to be illegal but ....?

[LiberalFighter]

12. Because of media like Andrea Mitchell being pissy about him?

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

13. Age - 80 is a bit much for most people, in a country of 350 million we cant find a 60ish candidate?

[onecaliberal]

14. A fucking traitor who tried a coup is what they want.

[iemanja]

75. The point isn't comparing him to Trump

It's their general view of Biden, and we haven't seen a single poll where his favorability isn't underwater. Now I know people here will insist polls are rigged, but the consistency is disconcerting.

[inthewind21]

15. Well

maybe you would prefer 77!

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

57. Nobody over 70 should be elected, retire already, or take away their lifetime medical benefits!

Yeah, welcome to medicare

[inthewind21]

18. A bit much?

Is your 80 year old grandma a bit much? A bit much for what?

[PortTack]

19. Agree..very frustrating when ppl talk like that instead of pointing out how he's gotten done

Would they rather have someone younger, but less accomplished? Geez

[W_HAMILTON]

36. Except the two sets of people most concerned with his age...

...supported someone in their late 70s against Biden in the 2020 Democratic Primary while the others be supporting someone in their late 70s in the 2024 Republican Primary.

Age is just a convenient excuse for these people.

[FakeNoose]

17. Polls are tainted - results are skewed - questions are written a certain way

... in order to get a certain desired result. I can't believe we're still talking about this.

[raging moderate]

22. Right-wing rank and file have trouble understanding Biden.

Biden is well-educated and well-experienced in negotations with foreign leaders, who mostly are also well-educated. Trump's cult mostly have less education, except for the few rich ones who just enjoy cashing in on the freebies he gave them (tax cuts, and so on). Maybe if Biden shouted a few more simple slogans, that would help.

[Silent3]

62. It's way too easy to blame the polls

Maybe there's some bias and inaccuracy there, but simple questions like "Do you approve or disapprove of the job X is doing?" and "Would you vote for X or Y?" aren't very subject to built-in bias. Plenty of polls are conducted by pollsters with nothing to gain (and, in fact, something to lose -- good pricing for their polling services) by skewing results. Even further, there's no good evidence that deliberately making someone look bad in the polls is an effective strategy against that person.

There's way more unfair public disapproval of Biden than can be hand-waved away by discounting any poll that reports results you don't like. That's why "we're still talking about this", because dismissing the polls doesn't answer real concerns.

[Evolve Dammit]

20. Right man at the right time.

[The Wielding Truth]

24. It is so.

[Metaphorical]

21. Democrats are more introverted, Republicans are more extroverted

While this is primarily just a bias, 2/3 of Democrats are mildly to heavily introverted, while 3/4 of Republicans are mildly to heavily extroverted (and have fewer ambiverts in their mix). Extroverts typically are more concerned about social standing and appearances, tend to score much lower on empathy than introverts, focus on authoritarian leaders, tend to be crisis-driven, and at their extremes you see both psychopathic and narcissistic personality types. Introverts, on the other hand, focus more on systemic issues, social justice, competent leadership, and calm policies.

Broadcast news, for the most part, caters to extroverts. It's visual and aural rather than literary, broken into soundbites rather than detailed and analytical. Introverts are cautious and somewhat risk-averse, and extroverts are impulsive and risk-taking. Advertisers love extroverts because they go big on purchases and are brand loyal.

What this adds up to is that Democrats operate under a significant disadvantage in the US especially. For the most part, polling underrepresents introverts by between 4 and 6 points, but it can sway those same introverts in an election, especially when the polling questions are biased toward extroverts. So, Biden could be doing gangbusters, and he's still going to have poll numbers that seem anemic.

[marble falls]

25. The trouble with polls is people actually take them as carved in stone.

[elocs]

28. When you complain about "the media" just remember that Republicans do the same thing.

In over 50 years of voting I've noticed that too many on the Left need to be excited and motivated to turn out and vote rather than doing it because it's a duty.
American politics is binary: in virtually every case, either the Democrat or the Republican candidate will be the winner of a race. If you don't vote for the Democratic candidate, you help the Republican. So vote Blue no matter who.

[hadEnuf]

29. The reason Biden is not so popular is Fox News, Sean Hannity

Fox News, Laura Ingrahm, Fox News, the rest of the Right Wing media filth, oh, and Fox News.

[cksmithy]

30. I support Joe Biden

and will vote for him again. He has accomplished so much. As an educator I can say, it takes time to get small things changed and done. Most parent oppose and complain about the smallest slight change to the curriculum. (Like going back to phonetics so their child can really learn to read and not guess what a word is.) President Biden is moving our country forward, hopefully, to a place, where my grandchildren's future is safe and it is their own choice.

[Stargleamer]

31. Fox News Propaganda

it's everywhere in rural areas

[JCMach1]

32. He's good, passionate, smart, but not the 'great communicator' the office requires

Just makes his job harder...

[C Moon]

33. You are so right.

During President Obama's 2nd run, my extreme left friends were saying he's nothing more than a Republican—and they were even worse when Senator Clinton was the nominee.

After that, they got a look at what a real Republican is. They hated the fact that tfg won. But I guarantee, they'll be right back at hacking away at President Biden in the primaries and during the election.

[Lonestarblue]

34. Even the mainstream media rarely reports on what President Biden has accomplished.

Yet during Trump’s years, they reported every idiotic lying tweet. I wish President Biden would do a few more press conferences to tout his own accomplishments, but perhaps he doesn’t because he knows the media will focus only on any misstatements or even a stutter and say that he has dementia or is too confused. But both the Post and NYT feature Trump and Ron DeSantis almost every day.

[treestar]

53. what I was thinking

more news conferences - just more opportunities to create a new scandal or problem or exaggeration of something he says.

[AntivaxHunters]

37. I could give you an honest list

But I fear I'd get in trouble.

Listen to young voters. They're our future & they're now the largest voting bloc. I'll leave it at that.

[Joinfortmill]

38. Love Joe. I think he's more popular than many think.

[Chadarius]

39. The Polls are all BS

Their goal is not usually to accurately poll and deliver useful data. Most polls are done for news ratings not for reality. I don't believe for a second that his "approval" number has anything to do with how people will vote vs whatever complete dumbass MAGA idiot ends up winning the election.

Yes, there are more people that vote for the MAGA idiots than I'm comfortable with. No, there aren't more of them that normal people. They all learned their lesson with Trump as president and the loss of Roe v Wade. That was a huge slap in the face to a lot of people caught in the middle (no idea how someone could be undecided these days!).

[jaxexpat]

40. "Why Isn't Biden More Popular?" That's an easy one.

Whenever one hears or sees news of Biden's accomplishments, usually a pretty damn great victory over conservative inertia, the good news also includes or postscripts, without purpose or reason, the message from the other side. As if there were a need fulfilled by reminding all who will listen that there is another point of view. Never mind the fact that orphaned and damned point of view is brought low by righting these wrongs committed against us. Wrongs perpetually pushed along by those who swim in the swill of their ill will. That part is NEVER mentioned!

There must be no time at the media circus for that.

[tiredtoo]

42. Just this morning CBS news

Showed a clip where President Biden confused Iraq with Ukraine. I saw it. This may be why he doesn't do a lot of press and why many are not enthused about him. He has impressed me with what he has accomplished. So, he gets my support and vote no matter what.

[allegorical oracle]

49. He is a good man. The drumpfsters I know don't like good people. They prefer hell-raisers. Plus,

Biden had a difficult task. First, he wasn't even inaugurated in the usual fashion, given djt's tantrums and J6. He was immediately thrust into leading a nation trying to recover from a global pandemic. He's been a constant target for right-wingers led by tfg's media trolls.

Personally, I believe corporations tend not to cooperate with Dem presidents. Monopolies can manipulate prices and product inventory, exacerbate inflation, gas availability, and those issues affect a POTUS. Like right now, we're dealing with another holiday of people griping about flight delays and long lines. The airlines knew July 4 was coming up, yet there's still an air traffic controller shortage.

[moose65]

46. Oh good grief

Same old story.

For a Democrat to be "popular," they have to perform miracles and blow diamonds out of their noses.

For a Republican to be popular, they have to walk without falling down.

[betsuni]

58. +1

[The Wizard]

47. Republican propaganda machine.

[NoMoreRepugs]

51. Strong media bias and slanted poll questions is my immediate impression.

[Dios Mio]

52. Good opinion.

[Beautiful Disaster]

59. Because he's old and not strong.

I love Biden. I think he's the best bet in 2024. But his age absolutely is a reason his polling has taken a hit. He doesn't command the level of popularity someone younger would - a guy like Obama, who is charismatic and likable (same with Bill Clinton). He also doesn't have a huge base that will follow him to the gates of hell like Trump did (and even Obama in some instances).

I think people look at Biden and see him as weak and that taints their view of him. Some of it is just how the media reports on him - but I doubt many voters would use the the word 'fighter' to define Biden. They probably would with someone like Trump, even if they didn't agree with what he was fighting - and certainly did in the 90s with Clinton, who was seen as a fighter against the GOP attacks.

[liberalmediaaddict]

63. The only complaint I ever hear is that he's too old

That he moves slowly and makes mistakes when speaking off the cuff.

Honestly a lot of it is ageism.
If Biden was 10 years younger their would be no question about him deserving a second term.

People can't seem to get past him being 81 years old and having a stutter. Meanwhile Trump is 77 and can barely put a coherent sentence together.

[maxsolomon]

67. See Post 60.

Some complaints you may not have seen before.

[betsuni]

65. Wasn't President Obama's approval rating about the same? I think it's impossible for a Democratic

president to have a high approval rating the way thing are now, doesn't matter who they are.

[Calculating]

78. His age and a lack of appeal to young people

He could shore up the issue with young people pretty easily by legalizing cannabis or something. Outside of that, people just see him as being indecisive or boring and worry about him making it through another 4 years.

[ecstatic]

80. Ageism. Every critique I've heard from people I know

is related to his age and the automatic assumption that he is out of it.