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Obama's job 'tougher than he thought': Some voters don't blame president
The Concord Monitor ^ | October 3, 2011 | Molly A.K. Connors & Staff

Posted on 10/02/2011 10:57:13 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

They voted for him in 2008 for a variety of reasons. They thought he had good ideas. He was a persuasive speaker. They wanted "change." They didn't like George W. Bush.

Now, the nation is still fighting two wars, owes $14.7 trillion and has a 9 percent unemployment rate - not the change many of them said they had been hoping for from President Obama. But about a dozen people who voted for him interviewed yesterday at the Deerfield Fair said they don't exclusively hold Obama responsible for the country's plight, and only a few said they would definitely vote for someone else.

"I think he's starting to recognize it is a little tougher than he thought," Greg Abbott, a 25-year-old high school athletic trainer said as he watched horses canter and gallop around a ring.

Abbott said he voted for Obama because he liked the message of change and wanted to see an African American become president. He hasn't been paying much attention to the current election but will start to soon.

"It doesn't affect us," he said of the generally bad economy and the upcoming elections. "It's more affecting him," he said, pointing to his son playing at his feet in the bleachers.

About 20 rows down, Kim Harkins, an interior designer from Bow, was sitting with her daughter. In 2008, Harkins wasn't entirely sold on Obama's message of hope, but that's pretty typical for her - she can't remember the last time she was enthusiastic about a particular candidate.

"In the last several years, I've found myself voting more against a candidate than for a candidate," the registered independent said. Since one person doesn't have all the power, it's not practical to blame one person for all the nation's problems, she said. So she holds just about all the elected officials in Washington responsible for the lousy state of affairs.

"I hate all the rhetoric and the bickering and the mudslinging," she said as she kept an eye on the competition ring.

But Rachel and Donald Millette, a retired couple in Barrington, blame Congress - Republicans in Congress, to be exact.

"The Republicans don't just want to let him win on anything," Donald Millette said.

"They have to come to a common ground," said Rachel Millette, who said she blames the media for some of the president's problems.

"They browbeat him to death," she said of news organizations. "They're taking things out of context," she said.

Both said they will likely vote for Obama again, and supported him early on through his knock-down, drag-out series of primary and caucus battles with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton.

But Angela Toplak, a 49-year-old disabled Certified Nursing Assistant who lives in Raymond, did prefer Clinton early on. She voted for Obama in the general election and is disappointed.

"They want to get rid of Social Security, but I think that's stupid," she said as a slight drizzle began to fall. "That's people's own money."

Her boyfriend, Mark Salucco, was similarly disappointed. He doesn't like much of the foreign aid the United States gives to other countries and doesn't like how much the country borrows from China. He didn't like the Troubled Asset Relief Program, commonly referred to as TARP, or the bailout of the nation's largest banks.

"Instead of giving the money to the banks, they should have given it to the people," Salucco, 47, said. He said he is not likely to vote for Obama in the next election.

But Leila Thompson, 41, of Deerfield, is. She's a manager at a local bank and even though she's disappointed Obama hasn't been able to accomplish all the reforms she'd like, she said she thinks he is a "fall guy."

"He hasn't been able to get the support to build a cohesive government," she said. She's a registered independent but said she won't vote for a Republican - she sides strongly with Democrats on safety net and social service issues.

On the other side of a John Deere display, Larry Cashdollar, 36, said he and his wife voted for Obama because they "wanted something completely different." He's disappointed.

"To me, I feel he has bitten off more than he can chew," the Manchester resident said of the president. Cashdollar, whose wife was walking around with their toddler, said he has grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of economic growth.

"I'm watching my family members suffer and it's just depressing to me," the computer engineer said.

Despite his disappointments, Cashdollar said he'd likely vote for Obama again, but is willing to listen to what the Republican candidates have to say.

"Right now, it's mostly the economy that's bothering me, like most people," he said.

It's certainly bothering Annette Hollenbach, 50. She voted for Obama because she thought he had a lot of good ideas. She said she works in manufacturing and wants him to stop more jobs from going overseas. He was handed a mess, she said, and she still generally supports him - you can't point the finger at just one person, she said.

Hollenbach said she bought her own home last year - a two-bedroom ranch in Wilton. She said she was afraid if she didn't take advantage of the low interest rates, she'd never have the opportunity to again.

Since then, she said her work in manufacturing has been cut from five days to four and she's picked up extra work at McDonald's.

"I'm worried," she said.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: 2012; economy; obama; unemployment
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I'm starting to think that Robert A. Heinlein had the right idea in Starship Troopers. Only veterans were allowed to vote.
1 posted on 10/02/2011 10:57:19 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

not our finest hour as a country. where did the instinct for self survival, love of country and desire for freedom go ?


2 posted on 10/02/2011 11:07:54 PM PDT by se_ohio_young_conservative (N)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Something about the definition of insanity comes to mind with these people.


3 posted on 10/02/2011 11:09:54 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (Time to move forward not to the center.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

These folks are permanently stuck on stupid. Fool me once shame on you. . fool me twice. . .


4 posted on 10/02/2011 11:10:08 PM PDT by McBuff
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think it has to do with his brain washing techniques. These people are obviously subjects of them. It is complicated but it is the one thing that he really does have down pat besides the destruction of our Country.


5 posted on 10/02/2011 11:20:01 PM PDT by Bellflower (When the word "holy" is used it must be used with respect and reverence for The LORD.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if anyone thinks that 2012 will be cake walk for Republicans, they are sadly mistaken.

It’s either Republicans Hope people are smart, but Democrats Know people are stupid, OR Republicans Hope people are Informed, but Democrats Know people are Ignorant.

The Jury is still out, at least until November 2012.

See my Tagline if you have any questions.


6 posted on 10/02/2011 11:20:01 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Liberals, Useful Idiots Voting for Useless Idiots...)
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To: Kickass Conservative

And he smiles all the time and it makes these dumbos feel good.


7 posted on 10/02/2011 11:21:10 PM PDT by Bellflower (When the word "holy" is used it must be used with respect and reverence for The LORD.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This collection of interviews seems to take place at an event in New Hampshire. I hope that there are other places with people who hold other opinions!


8 posted on 10/02/2011 11:24:08 PM PDT by ransomnote
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

His promised his worshippers that he would close Guantanamo and bring all the soldiers home and that the seas would cease to rise and something or other that sounded like the poor would get wealthy and the wealthy would get poor. Having delivered 0% of his promises, I would assume SOME of his worshippers would be disappointed - so far those featured in this article have decided it’s face saving to just redefine the goal posts.


9 posted on 10/02/2011 11:27:18 PM PDT by ransomnote
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To: Bellflower

Amazing. Not one person who laid any blame at the feet of Obama. What are the odds that the reporter only found democrats? I’d think there would exist just a single person in the crowd who knows what the hell Obama’s done.


10 posted on 10/02/2011 11:27:41 PM PDT by boop ("Let's just say they'll be satisfied with LESS"... Ming the Merciless)
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To: boop

Well, perhaps those who found fault with Obama made comments that the interviewer found ‘uninteresting’ or ‘not newsworthy’


11 posted on 10/02/2011 11:29:25 PM PDT by ransomnote
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To: Bellflower
There is no discounting the Gullible Vote.

Now Obama is working on securing the Envy Vote.

12 posted on 10/02/2011 11:30:47 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Liberals, Useful Idiots Voting for Useless Idiots...)
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To: boop

“Amazing. Not one person who laid any blame at the feet of Obama. What are the odds that the reporter only found democrats? I’d think there would exist just a single person in the crowd who knows what the hell Obama’s done.”

well you wouldn’t expect to find any in an article titled “Some voters don’t blame president”


13 posted on 10/02/2011 11:39:23 PM PDT by ari-freedom (I'm a heartless conservative because I love this country.)
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To: All
To use the numbers in the article...

A “few” shifting out of a dozen is quite a significant change for someone who won by a 7% margin, especially since they probably cherry-picked the folks to quote...:^)

In a bit more precise mathematical terms, if one person “flipped” out of the dozen, it would have changed the 2008 results.

14 posted on 10/02/2011 11:40:15 PM PDT by az_gila
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Best book ever


15 posted on 10/02/2011 11:51:54 PM PDT by mikefive
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To: az_gila

it’s just one of those fluffy human interest stories that journalists like to write


16 posted on 10/03/2011 12:03:03 AM PDT by ari-freedom (I'm a heartless conservative because I love this country.)
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To: mikefive

worst movie ever :)


17 posted on 10/03/2011 12:03:43 AM PDT by ari-freedom (I'm a heartless conservative because I love this country.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just goes to prove his powers and the ability to make the lame walk.


18 posted on 10/03/2011 12:19:07 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: ari-freedom

I thought Will ferell movies were the worst?


19 posted on 10/03/2011 12:55:11 AM PDT by max americana (FUBO NATION 2012 FK BARAK)
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To: headstamp 2

“Something about the definition of insanity comes to mind with these people.”

They are truly idiotic AND insane. I have no sympathy for either of these clowns and these are perfect examples of Hussein’s base: clueless and brain-dead.


20 posted on 10/03/2011 12:57:28 AM PDT by max americana (FUBO NATION 2012 FK BARAK)
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