The big discussion in 
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 minority intends to launch a series of surgical strikes on key parts of the bill, and to raise questions about whether it all adds up to what the Democrats are claiming…What they [Republicans] are counting on now, and what they are hoping to inflame, is public doubt. – Karen Tumulty / Time
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.
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
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
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.
PHOTO CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS / ALEX BRANDON
Comments
Democrats obtained their last vote by buying it with 300 million dollars of our tax money. They are shoving this Socialism down our throats!
LOOK AT THAT PICTURE. A BUNCH OF CROOKS LAUGHING AT US THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHILE WE GET SCREWED
IF ANY REPORTER SITS DOWN WITH OBAMA I WANT YOU TO ASK HIM THIS QUESTION:
MR PRESIDENT- IF EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN AMERICA ASKS YOU NOT TO SIGN THIS BILL WILL YOU STILL SIGN IT? HE MIGHT SAY YES BUT IF HE SAYS NO ASK HIM WHAT PERCENT OF AMERICA HAS TO BE AGAINST IT IN ORDER FOR HIM NOT TO SIGN IT?
a government for the government by the government
It's clear the Dems don't care what the majority thinks. The Dems want control and they will do anything to get what they want. Put simply, they are evil.
Pretty incomplete analysis in this article. Who are those who dislike the plan? From the comments it would seem the Republicans are winning the ideological battle. But actually there are plenty of progressives like me that also hate this bill for being a Baucus corporate giveaway.
And mandates! Both sides are going to find that unfair although the media glosses over it.
Political Princess: Agreed that it reprehensible for the government to buy votes for what is at best a lackluster health care bill. That said the Democratic Party lives and dies by its own diversity. The GOP thinks single-mindedly. There are virtually no liberal-Republicans left and precious few moderates. When you have a bigger tent like the Democratic Party does it's harder to keep everyone in line.
Wickliffeman: Not every single person in America is doing that. It seems to me that less than 60% are doing that. And by the way since when do the majority of people ever know what's best for them? A majority also voted Obama for President last fall remember? lol
DantheMan: Ditto above. I think throwing around words like "evil" are awfully strong by I do agree there is a bit of a power grab here. Majorities mean little and it's not as if there is huge resistance to this plan, not like 80% are against it. A majority wanted us to invade Iraq back when too...public perception is hazy.
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