UNEXPECTED BY WHOM?:

On Afghanistan, GOP gives Obama an unexpected lift (Jeff Jacoby, September 9, 2009, Boston Globe)

Two recent national polls show plummeting support for the war. In a Washington Post-ABC News survey, 51 percent of the public says the conflict in Afghanistan is “not worth fighting,’’ and only 24 percent is willing to send more troops. A CNN/Opinion Research poll finds even wider opposition to the war - 57 percent, the highest since US involvement in Afghanistan began.

Drill down into those numbers, however, and you find a gaping partisan/ideological divide. “Majorities of liberals and Democrats alike now . . . solidly oppose the war and are calling for a reduction in troop levels,’’ the Post observes. By contrast, Republicans and conservatives “remain the war’s strongest backers.’’ A majority of conservatives not only supports the war but even approves Obama’s handling of it. The CNN poll puts Republican support for the war at 70 percent, as against the 74 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of independents who are opposed.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats are beginning to distance themselves from Obama on the war. Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, claiming that “our military presence in Afghanistan may be undermining our national security,’’ wants the troops withdrawn. Massachusetts congressman Jim McGovern complains that “we’re getting sucked into an endless war here.’’ Two Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee - the chairman, Carl Levin of Michigan, and Jack Reed of Rhode Island - are signaling that any request for more troops “probably will run into resistance,’’ the AP reported over the weekend.

Republicans, on the other hand, have publicly let the president know that while they may oppose him on other issues, he can count on their support if he pursues victory in Afghanistan. “Stand strong, Mr. President,’’ urged the Republican National Committee in a statement posted on its website and distributed by e-mail. Explain “why the voices of defeat are wrong.’’

It's not surprising that Mr. Obama is depending on the GOP here, but that he isn't leaning on them in other areas. That's why he's failing, like Bill Clinton did during his first two years.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 9, 2009 8:21 AM