Health care debate: Public Opinion vs. Facts?

Organization for America National Health Care Reform (AP Photo/A. Brandon)

President Obama and Congressional Democrats seem determined to push health care reform through by any means necessary. Now perhaps without the assistance of even their fellow counterparts from just across the political aisle.

Over the past few weeks the Obama Adminstration and Democrats have found that convincing the public that a comprehensive plan to adjust the nature and process of the health care system in America to be a massive struggle. Proponents have been shouted down at town-hall meetings, certain polls have shown Republicans scoring higher marks than Democrats in their handling of the issue and the President’s numbers on health care and overall job approval ratings have slipped considerably.

Nearly unchanged from three weeks ago the latest NBC News poll shows that just 41% of adults approve of the way President Obama is handling the issue of health care reform against 47% who do not approve. Even worse for Obama is the ever growing war of perception that he and his Democratic cohorts seem to be on the losing end of. By a 42-36% margin a plurality of adults interviewed in the same NBC poll think the President’s new “plans for health care” are a bad idea.

Looking to get back out in front of the issue the President discussed his proposals with Philadelphia’s own Michael Smerconish of 1210 AM, “The Big Talker” earlier yesterday. Obama is standing by his position of public option being a key aspect of any mass overhaul legislation regarding health care. “I see nothing wrong with having public option as one choice” the President said, adding that no one should be “obligated to go into a public plan.”

There are any number of questions and heated debates being directed at and discussed between politicians and regular citizens alike. Perhaps finding out whether those on the side that object to reform are really grasping the issue is just as important? In short, do the nay-sayers, millions of members strong, have it wrong? Calvin Woodward of the Associated Press recently brought to light some of the myths surrounding the health care reform issue.

"The judgment is harsh in a new poll that finds Americans worried about the government taking over health insurance, cutting off treatment to the elderly and giving coverage to illegal immigrants. Harsh, but not based on facts." – Calvin Woodward (AP)

Woodward points out that according to a recent ABC poll some 45% of Americans believe overhaul will allow the government to decide when to stop caring for the elderly. In truth nothing being discussed in regards to reform proposals would give the government that kind of authority and much of the public misconception has been fueled by right-wing hysteria over “death panels”, and “government encouraged euthanasia” Woodward claims.

By a margin of 55-34% Americans also believe overhaul will give coverage to illegal immigrants even though none of the negotiated proposals provide for such. A majority of Americans also see the government completely taking over the health care system forcing those to join a government plan. The facts on the other hand suggest that President Obama’s government plan is just one option where citizens will not be forced but have the choice to join, and that it competes with private insurers. Lastly on the hot-button topic of abortion nearly half of poll responders expect their tax dollars to go towards funding the controversial medical procedure. Another misconception prevails here according to Woodward who claims “the procedure would be paid for with dollars from beneficiary premiums, not from federal funds.”

Questioning the level of understanding as it’s tied to public opinion a recent Gallup study finds that universal health care coverage generally gets high marks where it has been implemented abroad. Countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) are found to express more confidence overall in their national health care system when they have universal coverage than countries that do not. Including many industrialized countries in Europe and Asia when asked the question of whether their citizens are satisfied with availability of quality health care 79% with universal coverage answered “yes”, against 66% who answered the same from countries without a national plan. In terms of the overall confidence in their system foreign citizens of OECD countries offering universal coverage were more confident by a margin of 73-60% over those who do not have it.

Many pundits including Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com are well aware that success on a volitale topic such as health care reform depends on who effectively shaping their message and winning the PR battle. Democrats may be ready as Silver suggests to “toughen up on the issue” and go it alone without collaboration from Republicans in congress. Watering down Democratic proposals hasn’t worked in the sense of compromising or attracting moderate support on the issue, just as it has frustrated the core liberal wing of their party.

Heading out of recess with momentum is essential and the next several weeks could be the make or break period for reform advocates - this purely in the sense of the political numbers game. In the meantime success in turning the tide of public opinion will likely have to arrive by way of facts over rhetoric.