Does Jerry Holbert make over $250,000 a year?
I don't think Obama thinks this at all. It's not a matter of getting "average Americans" to like him (or the government), it's reducing our debt, budget and generating more money which is what needs to happen. While raising taxes on the rich won't solve all of our budget/debt problems, it's a start.
Unfortunately, even if the higher taxes get approved and actually work to create revenue once a Republican gets into office tax cuts for the rich will be back.