FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As the debate over health care rages on... the American people are increasingly souring on President Obama and the Democrats. A new poll shows the president's approval rating at 51-percent - the lowest of his presidency and down from 61-percent two-months ago.
The Pew poll shows the Democratic Party now has a favorable rating of 49-percent... also down from 59-percent in April and 62-percent in January.
When it comes to the Republican Party - public opinion has remained steady all year at about 40-percent.
Meanwhile it looks like the American people aren't buying into calls for bipartisanship. The poll shows 63-percent of those surveyed say the president and Republicans are not working together on important issues... that's up from 50-percent who felt that way in June.
Although more people blame the Republicans than President Obama for this lack of co-operation, the poll shows a growing number are now faulting the president. 17-percent of Americans say Mr. Obama is to blame... that's up from seven-percent who felt that way in February.
Meanwhile a separate Gallup poll shows the Democratic-led Congress' approval at 31-percent... the lowest reading since February.
With health care eclipsing all else in Washington this summer - it seems as though the president and the Democrats are losing favor with the American people. It will be interesting to see what happens to these numbers if the Democrats decide to "go it alone" like we've been hearing.
Here’s my question to you: Why are the Democrats' and President Obama's approval ratings falling?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Scott from New York writes:
The answer is quite simple: Obama promised the moon and the stars. There is an old saying regarding managing expectations: under-promise and over-deliver. Obama has seriously over-promised things that no one can deliver. His ratings will continue to fall.
Shaun from Cary, North Carolina writes:
Why? Because many independents voted for President Obama, and they are independents for a reason. They can see through the unilateralism in the Congress.
Joe from Eden Prairie, Minnesota writes:
Not falling. Just realigning with the reality that high-minded presidents come and go, but the Washington Beltway is forever.
Rick writes:
Very simple, at last the American public is seeing the truth: the Democrats are a tax and spend machine bent on socialism. All one has to do is read the text book definitions of socialism and you'll see it for yourselves… Bottom line, they used the liberal media and a "blame everything on George Bush" strategy to get elected. They have a socialist agenda that’s definitely not good for America.
Marie from Woodstock, Georgia writes:
The president is losing in the polls because he is working on difficult issues and trying to solve them. He has tried to include Republicans but they are more interested in his failure so they can gain politically.
Ralph from Chicago writes:
Because Jesus Christ’s approval ratings would fall: two wars, 10% without a job, your home is worth 30% less, no overtime, no health care, and city and states taxes going up.
Michael from Lynnbrook, New York writes:
They are not. Everyone is on vacation and the pollsters just can’t get to the Caribbean islands right now to get the real numbers.