When I heard the one-line news "story" yesterday on the radio that a new poll had been published metering Gov. David Paterson's popularity, I wasn't sure whether the announcer had said the results were good or bad. Between the traffic noise and my divided attention, I missed one the most important part of the sentence - Had he said Paterson was the state's most or least popular governor in New York history?
The news ticker moved on to some more important item and I was left wondering behind the wheel on my way home. I found it quite unbelievable that Paterson could be, of all 55 state governors, the least popular. The guy's been in office for less than a year and is dealing with one of the worst financial crises in the history of the state and country, not to mention facing some rather severe criticism on SNL.
But as it turns out, New Yorkers are as harsh as they say.
From the New York Times: On Tuesday, the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion released a poll that pegged Mr. Paterson’s job approval rating at the lowest point in the 27 years that Marist has been surveying public opinion of New York governors.
Only 26 percent of the 1,045 registered voters surveyed said Mr. Paterson was doing either a good or excellent job, while 71 percent said he was doing a fair or poor job.
In response to the poll, Paterson has basically said he won't let a lack of popularity stop him from doing what he thinks it best for New Yorkers, and that he still plans to run for governor in 2010.
Wether or not you agree with the things Paterson has and has not done thus far - his Senate selection, the budget, etc. - you have to give him credit for not letting the results of this most recent popularity contest get him down.
I'm sure in the next week and maybe even longer the media will jump all over him for being so indifferent to the poll results. I suspect he'll be raked over for what will be twisted into an insensitivity to voters, a lack of concern for individuals, and being completely out of touch with Upstaters.
But I'm impressed.
Because I don't want a leader who, when faced with both slumping ratings and a financial crisis, suddenly changes direction and makes it his new number one priority to regain the public's approval.
We all know the public has an uncanny ability to totally ignore reason and logic and make wild decisions based on inappropriate criteria and misinformation, (eight years of Bush, anyone?).
If Paterson sincerely believes that what he's doing is the best for the state, I'd rather he keep on doing it. Even if he's wrong, at least he's taking action.
And if this time next year I'm cursing him for somehow managing to screw up the state even more, at least I'll have a legitimate reason for not liking him.
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: Paterson, approval, elections, economy, New York State
