Forty-five House Republicans have been especially confrontational toward President Obama, and some reasons become apparent when one notes the economic struggles of the districts they represent, Jim Tankersley writes for The Washington Post. The districts, as a whole, are significantly more rural than a typical district. Here's a cropped screenshot of the Post's interactive map; to use it, click here.
People in these districts, who are "poorer and more likely to be unemployed than in the nation at large," are displeased with Obama and hoping someone will stand up for them, Tankersley reports. He notes that the 45 districts' median income last year was 7 percent lower than the national median, and their unemployment rate averaged 10 percent, 2 percentage points above the national rate.
Four of these districts are in North Georgia. Roger Smith, the chief executive of River City Bank in Rome, Ga., told the Post, "There is a lot of frustration over the way the government's acting" when it comes to the economy. "There's a lack of confidence in the leadership. That starts with the president. It certainly hampers the ability to recover." People throughout the town are concerned about what is or is not happening in Washington, including the implications of Obama's health-care reforms. (Read more)
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