Some Americans think opposition to Obama's policies is based on racism India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Some Americans, including former President Jimmy Carter, believe that those who are opposing US President Barrack Obama's policies have a racial element against him instead of simple disagreement. According to a recent Fox News poll, 65 percent Americans think that opposition to Obama's policies is based on honest disagreements, while 20 percent say it is mostly motivated by racism. However, Black voters are twice as likely to say the opposition is motivated by race, with 63 percent citing racism as the reason for opposition and 27 percent say it is based on honest disagreements. Most white voters (71 percent) say the opposition comes from honest disagreements. Most Republicans (87 percent) and independents (69 percent) believe that opposition to Obama's policies is based on honest disagreements, while 48 percent Democrats say honest disagreements and 34 percent say it is motivated by racism, the poll found. Opinion Dynamics Corp. conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters with a 3-point margin of error. The poll also found that 54 percent of Americans think Obama is a "new kind" of politician, while a large 39 percent minority says he is a "typical" politician. As for Obama's handling of health care, 44 percent approved and 48 percent disapproved. Obama received better ratings on his handling of the economy (55 percent approve) and on the war in Afghanistan (51 percent). By a wide 60 percent to 27 percent margin, Americans think the country has become more divided rather than more united since Obama took office in January, the poll found.