President’s actions are more popular than his rhetoric
IN a recent meeting with The Oklahoman editorial board, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe conceded that President Trump “is a hard guy to love,” but added, “He is getting things done, and doing it in a unique way.”
Inhofe’s assessment appears in line with that of many Americans, who may not care for Trump’s bombastic style but like specific policy decisions.
Inhofe points to a list of 51 executive actions Trump has taken. Outside those on the committed left, one would be hard-pressed to find people who disagree with many of the orders.
Trump’s executive actions include rescinding the Environmental Protection Agency’s “waters of the United States” rule, which critics credibly argued was so broad it would have allowed the federal government to treat drainage ditches in arid land as a regulated body of navigable water. Even Democratic members of the House and the Senate publicly opposed the rule.
Trump has signed executive orders allowing completion of the Keystone XL pipeline and the Dakota Access pipelines. In 2014, the Pew Research Center found 61 percent of citizens favored completing Keystone XL, including majorities in six of seven subgroups (only “solid liberals” were opposed). In Congress, a significant share of Senate Democrats voted in favor of completing the pipeline.
Trump has reinstated a ban on federal funding of organizations that provide abortions. Again, that’s a stance supported by a broad share of the public. In fact, a Marist poll commissioned in 2016 by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization, found 63 percent of women oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.
Trump has ordered a halt to the “Clean Power Plan,” which even supporters concede will have minimal impact on global greenhouse gas emissions or alleged global warming, but critics argue will dramatically increase the cost of electricity to consumers. In Oklahoma, it’s estimated the plan would increase electricity rates by as much as 40 percent.
The list goes on, but the point is obvious. Many policies Trump is advancing aren’t obsessions of a conservative fringe, but policies with strong support throughout the Republican Party, among independents, and even among some Democrats.
This is one reason Trump’s support from Republicans in polling remains robust. And some pollsters warn Democrats not to read too much into Trump’s subpar approval rating.
Mark Penn, who was a pollster for former President Bill Clinton, wrote recently in The Hill, “Remember, Americans liked President Obama for his way with words and his calm leadership style. They just opposed many of his policies, so Obama’s numbers gave a false sense of approval. Trump is the mirror opposite. People are put on edge by his words while favoring a lot of the positions he is taking on issues.”
Penn notes Trump receives majority support in public polls for hurricane response, the economy and fighting terrorism. The latter two, in particular, carry a lot of weight in elections.
USA Today reports most people in its focus group of 25 Trump voters believe the economy is improving, but more than half cited some aspect of Trump’s personal behavior as the “worst thing” about his presidency.
Still, tolerating an off-putting personality in exchange for economic improvement is a trade-off many Americans will take, even if they hold their nose in the process.