Obama recognizes voters' 'anger'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Voter anger that helped Barack Obama win the White House resembles that in Massachusetts, where Scott Brown was elected U.S. senator, Obama's spokesman said.

"That anger is now pointed at us because we're in charge -- rightly so," spokesman Robert Gibbs said at a White House briefing Wednesday -- a day after Brown, a Republican state senator, defeated Democratic state Attorney General Martha Coakley in the U.S. Senate race.

"I think the anger that the president addressed more than a year ago to get elected, the anger that we've seen throughout this year is very similar to the anger that we saw last night," Gibbs said.

He said much of the anger could be attributed to high unemployment and a widespread feeling among Americans that their economic situation has worsened during the president's first year in office.

"The anger and the frustration that the American people have at the fact that a lot of work has been done and they don't necessarily feel like their economic lives have progressed in the past year is understandable," he said.

Coakley's loss "surprised and frustrated" the president, who had stumped for her in Boston, Gibbs said.

Asked if he believed the anger and frustration extended to voters' views of healthcare reform, Gibbs said, "There's certainly aspects of the healthcare reform bill that are less popular, absolutely."

He said the president would focus on rebuilding the economy, creating jobs, pushing financial regulations and passing healthcare reform.