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Majority Says Bush Deserves More Credit Than Obama if Iraq War is a Success

1 year ago
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Bruce Drake
Bruce Drake
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CNN published a poll on Iraq Friday that found President Obama's ratings on his handling of the situation there has improved after his Oval Office speech last week, but also saying that the U.S. decision to commit to a surge of troops in 2007 had been a success, even though a majority disapproved overall of the way that then-President Bush handled Iraq.

On the heels of that poll comes one conducted Sept. 1-2 by Fox News/Opinion Dynamics that phrases its questions about public opinion in somewhat different ways, and asks more specifically than CNN did about Bush. (In asking whether the public considered the surge a success, CNN did not mention Bush specifically as the one who approved that strategy).

Fox asked whether Bush or Obama deserved the most credit "if U.S. military action in Iraq is a success," and 54 percent chose Bush, 19 percent named Obama, 7 percent said both, 14 percent said neither and 6 percent were undecided.
George Bush, Barack Obama
The survey also polled respondents about whether they felt Obama, in his speech announcing the end of combat operations, gave Bush enough credit, too much or the right amount.

Obama had said in his address, "I'm mindful that the Iraq war has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it's time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It's well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one can doubt President Bush's support for our troops or his love of country and commitment to our security. "

Many of Obama's Republican critics, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Obama needed to give credit to Bush for the surge given that he had been "one of its biggest critics."

Thirty-eight percent said Obama did not give Bush enough credit, 15 percent said he gave him too much as 12 percent said Obama had spoken of Bush "the right amount." Twenty-five percent hadn't watched and 9 percent undecided.

(The exact wording of the question was: "Do you think he gave former President George W. Bush too much credit or not enough credit for removing Saddam Hussein, helping Iraqis form a new government and creating the conditions that allowed for the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq?")

Democrats split on both questions -- the amount of credit due Bush or Obama for success in Iraq, and Obama's treatment of Bush in his speech.

Democrats divided at 34 percent each between Bush and Obama on credit for success in Iraq. On the speech, 26 percent said he gave Bush too much credit and 23 percent said not enough.

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Filed Under: George W. Bush, Bush Administration, Barack Obama, Iraq, Polls, Obama Administration, Poll Watch
Tagged: 2010 Election Polls
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30 Comments

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hill24730

We should have never invaded Irtaq to START with. Bush gets credit from me for being one of the worst Presidents we have ever had.....and that's the ONLY credit he'll get. Obama will go down as yet another bad president as he is expanding the government, much like his predecessor did!

September 10 2010 at 11:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
punnster

Obama yanked our troops out and insurgents have already upped the ante with three big attacks. Just what they were waiting for.

September 05 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
Rob & Kathy

Obama had nothing to do with the troop withdrawal. It was manadated by agreement negotiated by the Bush administration and the Iraq government during the last days of the administration. It's amusing how some want to give Obama the credit and then ignore the fact Obama sent 40,000 troops to Afghnaistan....

September 05 2010 at 12:12 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
Frankie

The "Majority" is WRONG. We should have NEVER even been in IRAQ! And the CREDIT goes to President Obama for ending this madness!

September 05 2010 at 12:11 PM Report abuse -6 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Frankie's comment
Debra

But factually he ended nothing. Bush signed the Status of Forces Agreement in December of 2008 long before Obama became President. The agreement ordered US combat forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and all US forces to be completely out of Iraq by 2011. Obama only had to follow the agreement that was in place when he came into office.

September 06 2010 at 1:04 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Cody

100% credit goes to Obama for bring our boys home!

September 05 2010 at 10:46 AM Report abuse -15 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Cody's comment
Debra

The Iraqi Parliament ratified the Status of Forces Agreement in November 2008 and Bush signed it a month later. The agreement ordered US combat forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and all US forces to be completely out of Iraq by 2011. Sorry but Obama was not in office when this took place.

September 06 2010 at 1:03 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Erbie's

We don't belong there! It is a no win war, will always be a no win war! But once committed, we are stuck, to do something, only heaven knows what! Viet Nam should have taught us that, the thousands that died in vain, in a no win situation. Not saying that Afghanistan, should not have paid for allowing bin Laden to train unopposed in their country, Libya, paid that price for Lockerbie, but troops didn't hit the ground. Troops going in should be conquering troops and everyone should know that before they send them in, otherwise "B-52s" wing tip to wing tip and turn Kabul to dust, and go home and wait. Let the country straighten out its own problems, or as the old saying goes, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

September 05 2010 at 6:17 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
justcyndie

Of course, President Bush and his ilk are the reason we went looking for Osama in Baghdad, while he hunkered down in Pakistan/Afghanistan...we ran TWO war fronts, so the war mercenaries had adequate profits...WHILE he cut taxes...especially to the wealthiest people...causing this HUGE deficit problem...the economy crashed right before Obama took office...I don't see he caused this mess, but he now owns it. we need to refuse to renew the Bush tax cuts to the top 2-3% in income to cover the costs of these Bush military adventures and put some cash back in the coffers...That decreases deficits...Better than cutting human benefits!

September 04 2010 at 11:43 PM Report abuse -12 rate up rate down Reply
tausands

For myself, I don't care who gets the credit or blame at this moment. In time, the truth will come out fully and I'm sure there will be credit and blame enough for everybody. Can't we all just once forget our partisan differences and be happy that most of our brave men and women in uniform are finally coming home?

September 04 2010 at 11:28 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
Cynjy

Where is the surprise? FOx - Bush gets credit. CNN Obama - seems mute Just get us out of there......

September 04 2010 at 7:40 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
efleishman

TROOPS ARE COMING HOME FROM IRAQ. IS THAT A BAD THING? NO MORE WOUNDED OR KILLED. HOW MANY OF YOU PATRIOTS HAVE DONATED A KIDNEY TO AN AMERICAN HERO? HOW MANY WOULD GIVE UP AN ARM OR A LEG TO SAVE A YOUNG SOLDIER IN THE FRONT LINES? ITS EASY TO HATE OBAMA.....IN THE NAME OF BEING AN HEROIC LIMABAUGH AMERICAN...BUT ITS HARDER TO REALLY MAKE SOME KIND OF REAL SACRIFICE FOR A SOLDIER..FOR EXAMPLE: FINANCE HIS CHILDREN'S COLLEGE EDUCATION. WHAT THE HELL HAVE THE RIGHT WING MEDIA DONE FOR OUR SOLDIERS? ALL OF THE SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT GEORGE BUSH DIDN'T INVITE THEM TO THE PROM. AS O'REILLY WOULD SAY " I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MR. X IS GAY...BUT THERE IS AN AWFUL AMOUNT OF TALK ... AND AGAIN, I DON'T BELIEVE IT....BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GUY....BUT I AM NOT LOOKING....AD NAUSEUM." PLANT FEAR AND DISTRUST AND YOU EARN YOUR BREAD.

September 04 2010 at 7:32 PM Report abuse -14 rate up rate down Reply

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