Possible Voter Backlash Feared on Drug Benefit Measure

Only a few weeks ago, enactment of a Medicare benefit for prescription drugs looked like a big winning issue for next year's campaigns, and lawmakers worried mainly about punishment from voters if they failed to act. Now, with voters responding skeptically to details of bills approved by the House and Senate, lawmakers have another concern: punishment if they do act.

Disenchantment, especially over what critics regard as the skimpiness of benefits, could turn the issue from a plus to a minus in the 2004 presidential and congressional campaigns, according to some lawmakers and political strategists.

And, more immediately, if the skepticism deepens, it could add to the complexity of already difficult negotiations to resolve differences between the two measures that are scheduled to begin in earnest when Congress returns after Labor Day.

In a worst-case scenario, President Bush and lawmakers of both parties could wind up being blamed by voters, whatever they do. They could be blamed either for failure to pass a bill or for passing a bill that falls too far short of voters' expectations, a description that appears to fit the bills passed by the House and Senate last month.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15169-2003Aug2.html

This clinker of a bill (any version floated) was a dog from the get go. Anyone who heard of its most basic and broad provisions was immediately irritated. I know this because the focus group I'm following long term on a project was "yeah!" until they read an account of it that we gave them---from a supporting conservative source. So, its provisions and the rationale were not "skewed left" in any sense, it was instead presented in its best possible light. Our 50 middle class, Protestant, white, white-collar southerners got agitated beyond belief. (for us it was a minor side issue simply to test using this source---we were surprised at the reaction. The folks really thought it was much better than this plan-=--oh, and Texas' economy is in the pits so benefits are being cut right and left. THAT definitely colors what Bush* & company's desired demographic thinks of this plan: it ain't theoretical, its potentially personal to them)

Nice to see that someone finally noticed this in the land of the poll and the professional focus groups. If these morons would stop asking questions to elicit the desired answer they would have known this months ago. And, if they need a barometer to guage the mood of the middle class in terms of "economic security" feelings, they might look at things like this. Even those still working are feeling vulnerable and looking at this sort of benefit as something they might need. That makes a huge difference.