http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=175433The Obama administration dithered over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico while it should have been trying to cap the well and mitigate the damages, according to a new poll.
The Zogby International poll, commissioned by The O'Leary Report newsletter, surveyed 2,061 voters June 25-28 and has a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points.
It asked, "In the Gulf oil crisis, the Obama administration has been criticized by some for a lack of urgency. Do you agree or disagree?"
Overall, almost two in three respondents said Obama's team has been too slow to respond to the crisis, including 65 percent of independent voters and 55 percent in the key age group that typically has supported whatever Obama has wanted – ages 18-29.
Sixty-three percent of people who paid taxes last year agreed that the White House deserves the criticism it gets over its slow response, and an overwhelming 89 percent of tea-party participants and supporters said Obama has not properly pursued urgent repairs and resolutions.
Among small-business owners, 68 percent think Obama has lacked urgency, according to the polling results.
"In the immediate aftermath of the BP oil-rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, the Obama administration received numerous offers from the international community to help contain the disaster and head off the budding crisis," said Brad O’Leary, publisher of The O'Leary Report. "Now, over 140 million gallons of oil later, President Obama is finally accepting help from our neighbors. That's not leadership. That's failed arrogance."
The poll showed that overall, 44.3 percent strongly agree with the statement that Obama's level of urgency should be criticized, and 18.4 percent somewhat agree. Those who disagree somewhat totaled 15.1 percent and those who strongly disagreed totaled 19.9 percent.
Obama's handling of the Gulf oil disaster has been criticized by majorities in all parts of the country, and even by 36 percent of the Democrats.
O'Leary also is author of the books "The Audacity of Deceit" and "Shut Up, America."
The 18-29 age group, some 24 million, consistently has been the only age group to support Obama in his agenda. The other two demographic groups supporting Obama are those not required to pay any federal income taxes and voters in the New England region.