Americans start to worry about deficit

(NBC) - The good news for Barack Obama and his Democrats is that the president is still popular. 75 percent of America likes him, even if a majority now worry about his policies

Thursday's economic news is good: Total unemployment claims down for the first time since January.

But for the first time since January 20, when Barack Obama was sworn in, most Americans are questioning the president's plans to end the recession and worrying about the red ink bleeding from his programs to stimulate the economy, and cool the planet, and bail out Wall Street and fight foreclosures and now to fund universal health care.

60 percent in the CBS news poll said President Obama does not have a plan to deal with the deficit. That's te main Republican theme.

"The federal government just goes on its merry way spending as if we have just beaucoup of cash," said Rep. John Duncan (R-Tennessee).

"Our debt is an incredibly serious problem for us as a nation and for our children," said Sen. Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire).

Democratic Speaker Pelosi said on Thursday she agrees.

"That something is very wrong with this picture and that we must reduce the deficit," said Pelosi.

The bailout of General Motors and Chyrsler is especially worrisome. In the NBC news Wall Street Journal poll, 69 percent said they're concerned about a greater government role in our economy.

"Some of those things are popular," said Robert Gibbs, White House spokesman. "Some of those things aren't popular i think the president would tell you he's going to do what he thinks is in the best interest of the American economy."

But in the NBC poll, nearly 60 percent of respondents said government should worry more about keeping the deficit down, even if that means a slower economic recovery.