Frank Underwood Rather than Barack Obama

Opinion: According to Americans, any TV president would be better than Barack Obama, criminal or not.

Americans prefer fictional presidents to their real one, Barack Obama. Of those surveyed for a Reuters-Ipsos poll, 57 percent indicated that they would be supportive if Frank Underwood, president in “House of Cards” on Netflix were to be the real president. Underwood’s favorability ratings are considerably higher than those of the only real president. President Obama’s ratings are stuck at 46 percent.

The Americans in favor of Obama appreciate his cool and cautious presidential style. However, 54 percent regards “no drama Obama” unfavorably. This response is a lot more negative than the one regarding Frank Underwood as president in the White House.

Frank Underwood, played by actor Kevin Spacey, deals with people in quite an immoral fashion, to say the least, but the audience does not like him any less for it: Only 40 percent have indicated that they would think unfavorably of Frank Underwood if he were the real president.

David Palmer Loved the Most

The poll shows that nearly 89 percent of those surveyed would want David Palmer, the fictional 44th president from the series “24” on Fox as president of the United States. He fights terrorism, along with Jack Bauer (actor Kiefer Sutherland) of the counterterrorist unit and scores highest out of all TV presidents in terms of popularity.

Nearly 83 percent of respondents want Martin Sheen, who played president Jed Bartlet in “The West Wing” on NBC, a show that is popular among Democrats, as well as many who work in Obama’s White House.

Laura Roslin, president of the Twelve Colonies in the TV series “Battlestar Galactica,” played by Mary Mcdonnell, would make for a suitable real president according to 78 percent of respondents.

Obama Himself Is a Fan of Underwood

But even though they are morally unjust, fictional presidents are more popular than Obama. According to 57 percent of those polled, Frank Underwood should become president, while 60 percent of the viewers of ABC’s “Scandal,” which in the Netherlands is broadcasted by Net5, would be happy with Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grand, the Scotch-drinking, womanizing president.

Even Barack Obama himself likes Frank Underwood. “This guy is getting a lot of stuff done,” Obama joked in December 2013 when he was photographed together with Reed Hastings, Netflix’s CEO. “I wish things were that ruthlessly efficient.”