WaPo POLL: Reform Opposition Is High but Easing - More Support if Public Option Dropped

Reform Opposition Is High but Easing
More Support if Public Option Dropped

By Jon Cohen and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, September 14, 2009

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As Congress begins its second week back from August recess, the playing field is virtually level: Americans remain almost deadlocked in their opinion of the Democrats' health-care initiative, with 46 percent in favor of the proposed changes and 48 percent opposed. There is also a clean split on Obama's handling of the issue, with 48 percent approving and the same number disapproving. But since mid-August, the percentage "strongly" behind the president on health care has risen to 32 percent, evening out the intensity gap that has plagued him on the subject.

The public also divides about evenly -- 51 percent in favor, 47 percent against -- on the question of whether people should be required to have health insurance, a central element of the plans under consideration.

But it is the public option that has become the major point of contention, with support for the government creation of an insurance plan that would compete with private insurers stabilizing in the survey after dipping last month. Now, 55 percent say they like the idea, but the notion continues to attract intense objection: If that single provision were removed, opposition to the overall package drops by six percentage points, according to the poll.

Without the public option, 50 percent back the rest of the proposed changes; a still sizable 42 percent are opposed. Independents divide 45-45 on a package without the government-sponsored insurance option, while they are largely negative on the entire set of proposals (40 percent support and 52 percent oppose). Republican opposition also fades 20 points under this scenario.

The decision to back away from the provision might hurt Obama among his base, but not dramatically so, as 88 percent of liberal Democrats support the reform plan as is, 81 percent without the public option.

The politics of the idea would also probably change dramatically depending on its scope: If it were limited to only those unable to get private insurance, support would rise to 76 percent.

The poll also carries a clear warning for both major political parties: Forty-three percent of respondents consider themselves independents, the most ever in a Post-ABC poll, and about a third of them say they do not trust either side to deal with the nation's biggest problems in the years ahead.

More than seven in 10 Americans, including majorities across party lines, say they think Obama and congressional Democrats should adjust the health-care legislation to appeal to some Republican lawmakers. Half credit the Democrats with making a good-faith effort to do so already, while most, 62 percent, say the GOP is not returning the favor.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/13/AR2009091302962_pf.html

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:eyes:

:rofl:

Welcome to DU. :hi:

this constant cut and paste is tiring.

Just sayin'

First, I will have to contemplate long and hard on what might challenge the/your mind. That's a toughie. :)

you want some? :P

Don't think polls at all helpful, but can understand minimizing any change, whatever it is, sits better with skiddish public. Med D was intended to kill Medicare, but we're going to try to save it. If the public only knew.

Obama also knew what he was doing making gestures and real offers, getting rebuffed, as he knew they would.

What exactly was the questions asked?

Frankly, these polls are getting quite tiresome

The article also indicates a debate during the summer?

What debate?

There hasn't been a debate

Excuse me, but the fuc*n washington post is just another rag journal

Even the way they interpret THEIR results is questionable

The poll numbers also said the public approved of bush when he invaded Iraq at the beginning. Of course that was because the post and other outlets confused the issue or outright lied about it

Seniors as a group - not surprising they're opposed to reform. They're the ones most likely still watching tv media garbage and all the inflamed stuff. They've got their healthcare, so they're terrified of losing it or seeing it changed to something worse. They're more conservative in general. They're most susceptible to the scare tactics. I've watched three seniors in my own family increasingly affected by sitting around and watching TV pundits terrifying them.

Democrats just have to find their spines - if that's possible - and vote in reform. Once people realize the boogeyman isn't going to steal their healthcare, polls will change.

f*ck them.

GET IT DONE without them and WITH the Public Option - a GOOD one.

Isn't this exactly what Obama has been pulling for, and even then it is one choice in the Exchange? :crazy:

...so y'all know what to do.

This said, a majority of people in the poll support the public option.

May be they should wonder what their poll means.

Another example of the media pushing for Obama to drop the public option