A trio of scandals seem to have had little effect on the public’s feelings about President Barack Obama, who enjoys a 53% approval rating, according to the latest CNN/ORC poll.
For the past week, the White House has dealt with investigations into the September attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, IRS targeting of tax-exempt conservative groups, and controversy over the Justice Department seizing Associated Press records.
The same poll found that a majority of Americans believe both Benghazi and the IRS are important issues and that Republicans have not overreacted.
Fallout from the controversies prompted the Obama administration to appoint a new IRS chief, push for shield laws protecting journalists, and investigate the Benghazi security breach. A Gallup Poll conducted late last week found that Americans’ interest in the scandals was below average, with Republicans showing more interest than Democrats in both the IRS and Benghazi investigations.
The place for in-depth analysis, commentary and informed perspectives.