The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.
News of the Tautological
“Warning: Scientists Say Gas Cans Carry Risk of Explosion”–headline, NBCNews.com, Dec. 4
They Grow Up So Fast
“Young Americans are turning against Barack Obama and Obamacare, according to a new survey of millennials,” reports National Journal’s Ron Fournier:
The most startling finding of Harvard University’s Institute of Politics: A majority of Americans under age 25–the youngest millennials–would favor throwing Obama out of office…
Obama’s approval rating among young Americans is just 41 percent, down 11 points from a year ago, and now tracking with all adults. While 55 percent said they voted for Obama in 2012, only 46 percent said they would do so again.
When asked if they would want to recall various elected officials, 45 percent of millennials said they would oust their member of Congress; 52 percent replied “all members of Congress” should go; and 47 percent said they would recall Obama. The recall-Obama figure was even higher among the youngest millennials, ages 18 to 24, at 52 percent.
The young cohorts also loathe ObamaCare, with 57% disapproving and only 38% approving. Interestingly, among those who were asked about the “Affordable Care Act”–the euphemism for the health-policy monstrosity–the numbers moved only a point, to 56% disapproval and 39% approval.
Fournier reports that “Harvard’s John Della Volpe, who conducted the poll, said the president has done a poor job explaining the ACA to young Americans.” That’s a blast from the past–if only the World’s Greatest Orator knew how to explain things!
Figures Head, and Heads Figure
From a New York Times story titled “Considering Which Head or Heads May Roll for a Troubled Website Rollout”:
Officials declined to offer details about which government employees at the White House or other agencies might be under the microscope during any review of the development of the health care website. But there is a long list of people who have been publicly identified as key players. The possible targets include Kathleen Sebelius, the health and human services secretary; Marilyn Tavenner, the head of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services; Mike Hash, the head of the health and human services health reform office; Michelle Snyder, the chief operating officer at Medicaid and Medicare; Henry Chao, the chief digital architect for the website; Jeanne Lambrew, the head of health care policy inside the White House; David Simas, a key adviser involved in the rollout; and Todd Park, the president’s top adviser on technology issues.
Notice anyone missing from the list? That’s right, Barack Obama is no longer considered a “key player” in his own administration.
Speaking of Obama, today he gave a speech on “income inequality.” We are part of the 99%, so we don’t care what he said. That’s right, according to a new Gallup poll, the proportion of Americans who think the “gap between rich and poor” is “the most important problem facing this country today” is 1%.
For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.”
