The big discussion in Washington begins just as the American public is voicing its strongest opposition to date.
A day after the Senate begins debate on health care legislation a new survey from Rasmussen Reports shows the highest level of opposition yet recorded. In a staggering reversal from last week the poll suggests just 38% of American voters now favor the Democratic health care plan against 56% who are opposed. The previous poll taken on November 13-14 showed support had grown to its highest level since mid-September with 47% of voters in favor against 49% in opposition.
This past weekend Senate Democrats narrowly obtained the sixty vote supermajority needed to commence with talks free from the threat of Republican filibuster tactics. As reported on by Time Magazine’s Karen Tumulty in an article from this morning, the Republicans are stepping up their efforts to derail the Democratic plan.
The latest Rasmussen poll that also showed support for the plan at 45% earlier this month may come as sobering news to the Democratic Party’s aspirations of passing legislation before the end of the year. Those “strongly” in favor of the plan are outnumbered by those strongly against by better than a two to one ratio (21-43%). Also according to Rasmussen just 16% of voters believe health care costs will go down with the passage of this current plan against 60% who think they will go up. Nearly three-quarters of Democrats (73%) favor the plan but 83% of Republicans are against it, as are seven in ten non-affiliated voters. Democrats consider health care reform the top priority for President Obama while Republicans and unafilliateds side with debt reduction as being his most important job.
Fox News is also on the beat and reporting on survey results that are even harsher than those put forth by Rasmussen. The Fox poll shows support for the plan stuck at 35%, its average from the past four months. As Americans become more educated on the reform proposals of Congress the opposition continues to increase, standing now at 51%. The high level of opposition being tracked in recent polls is not at the expense of the numbers of those seeking significant changes to our health care system. Quinnipiac in a recent survey shows that 61% of the American public is eager for reform even as it opposes the current Democratic plan on the table.
Gallup just released a poll focusing its attention on the full list of health problems being cited by the American public. Access to health care again leads the list with nearly a third of poll responders (32%) considering it to be their top concern. While that figure has remained fairly steady from last year the emergence of the H1N1 “swine flu” pandemic has entered the new list at 16%. Obesity and cancer have registered declines but its concern over the cost of health care, down seven-points to 18%, that marks the most notable drop from November of 2008.
President Obama who had until recently maintained the majority of approval from Americans has cratered below 50% in several polls. It is specifically his lack of popularity on the issue of health care that has inflicted the most damage to his credibility with the public. The previously mentioned new poll from Qunnipiac University pegs the President’s approval on health care at a 41-53% positive to negative margin. Just 19% think that Obama can ram home the health care plan while keeping his promise not to add to the federal deficit – 72% disagree.
In spite of concern and negativity surrounding the issue Senate Democrats are well aware that the greatest challenge is not with the Republicans or even the current mindset of the American public. Top priority for majority leader Harry Reid is to keep his own party in line. The big four Senators who tentatively voted with Reid on Saturday but could sink the plan are centrist’s; Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and notable independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. Not only are three of the four Senators from heavily Republican-leaning states Lieberman is viewed at best as a wavering Democrat, troubled by economic concerns and a government run plan allowing for public option.
These four votes could be the key for Democrats in their plan for a victory on health care reform. Winning over the hearts and minds of the American public however represents another task altogether.
(Source: Examiner.com)
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11 Responses
This is not about the will of the people nor giving the uninsured healthcare nor portability nor helping the disadvantaged. It is about helping the Democratic politicians stay in power. And G-d forbid I discuss about destroying the Jewish electoral base of the Democratic party. Why, they are going to make sure that I am destroyed. I am so intimidated by them!
I’m sorry to play satan’s advocate, but rasmussen is right wing so their numbers will be as off in oppose as cnn is for
I recently asked my friend’s little girl what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, ‘If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?’ She replied, ‘I’d give food and houses to all the homeless people.’ Her parents beamed.’Wow…what a worthy goal.’ I told her, ‘But you don’t have to wait until you’re President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow the lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I’ll pay you $50. Then I’ll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house.’ She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, ‘Why doesn’t the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50? I said, ‘Welcome to the Republican Party.’
#3- Great Comment!
#3 – That’s one of the greatest stories I ever read. Things are so simple for children to understand. Why don’t adults get it?
What is especially bad for the Democrats, is that most people want some sort radical reforms in health care, but that increasingly they don’t like the way the Democrats are doing it. IF the Republicans come up with a way to solve the key problems (the involuntary uninsured, high costs, problems related to preexisting conditions) without bankrupting the country or rationing, they will have a winner.
akuperma, they came up with a way to solve high costs and that is to allow insurances to sell across state lines
No akuperma, no one wants radical reforms for healthcare. Your so called leaders, the members of the Democratic Party and the S.E.I.U. want radical reform. Go check your poll numbers besides Rasmussen.
Akuperma, I wish you would stop twisting the truth.
#3, that is a crude and coarse way to speak to a child who has ideals. It must be fun to talk circles around an innocent child. So, I guess, next time you want to give tzedaka, you can rethink it and have the person in need get a job under the American Disabilities Act. By the way, most republicans inherited their wealth and have not worked “their way up”. Actually, it’s dumb to generalize people who are members of either party.
Additionally, folks like Newt Gingrich, a republican, ensured that people incapable of living an independent life, were thrown out of their facilities and onto the streets. Now, you show no rachmonos?
#9 – Teaching children ideals that have no basis in reality stunts their growth and maturity.
Imparting the need to work hard and not to expect a handout is the only method to raise responsible and well adjusted individuals.
When you give tzedaka to a capable person that won’t get off their rear quarters to help themselves it only perpetuates their reliance on others.
There has to be a built-in disincentive in remaining on public assistance or else people will use the safety net as a hammock.
#10, I appreciate your opinion, but trying to redirect a child who states,”I’d give food and houses to all the homeless people.” to the republican party, is really a farce. Steering them to the democratic party is equally a farce. Additionally, what makes you so sure that those in need are such because of a lack of hard work, and only expecting handouts? Creating a policy of having an ein hara to everyone in need is not Jewish. As a footnote, I dont think Rush Limbaugh, George W. Bush, John McCain, etc. are shining examples of not-so-stunted growth and maturity.