Changes

Obama, however, has been unconvincing. Very few Americans see much advantage in his proposals, and everyone sees the high costs.  He has partly dodged organized criticism by cutting deals with hospitals and drug companies, but he has not cut the deal with the public. Polls show his support on the health issue has slipped to 49% in mid-July, with 44% opposed. (By contrast, he had  57% approval on health issues in April).<ref> ''Washington Post'' July 20, 2009</ref> Conservative Democrats in Congress--who call themselves  "[[Blue Dog Democrats]]"---have been reluctant to sign on to any proposal costing a trillion dollars over the next decade.  The controversy has lowered Obama's overall approval rating to 59% in July, down six points in one month.

Obama, however, has been unconvincing. Very few Americans see much advantage in his proposals, and everyone sees the high costs.  He has partly dodged organized criticism by cutting deals with hospitals and drug companies, but he has not cut the deal with the public. Polls show his support on the health issue has slipped to 49% in mid-July, with 44% opposed. (By contrast, he had  57% approval on health issues in April).<ref> ''Washington Post'' July 20, 2009</ref> Conservative Democrats in Congress--who call themselves  "[[Blue Dog Democrats]]"---have been reluctant to sign on to any proposal costing a trillion dollars over the next decade.  The controversy has lowered Obama's overall approval rating to 59% in July, down six points in one month.

===Education===

===Education===

The major education issues have yet to be addressed, but to the angst of liberal supporters, the administration's first proposals for school reform rely heavily on Bush-era ingredients and adds others that make unions gag. The y include standardized testing, school accountability, performance pay, and charter schools -- all of which are integral to the President's $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" grant competition to spur innovation. Liberals dislike all these new ideas. "It looks like the only strategies they have are charter schools and measurement," protested Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. "That's Bush III."<ref> See [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/24/AR2009092403197.html Nick Anderson, "Unions Criticize Obama's School Proposals as 'Bush III'",  ''Washington Post'' Sept. 25, 2009]</ref>

The major education issues have yet to be addressed, but to the angst of liberal supporters, the administration's first proposals for school reform rely heavily on Bush-era ingredients and adds others that make unions gag. The y include standardized testing, school accountability, performance pay, and charter schools -- all of which are integral to the President's $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" grant competition to spur innovation. Liberals dislike all these new ideas. "It looks like the only strategies they have are charter schools and measurement," protested Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. "That's Bush III."<ref> See [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/24/AR2009092403197.html Nick Anderson, "Unions Criticize Obama's School Proposals as 'Bush III'",  ''Washington Post'' Sept. 25, 2009]</ref>