Pundits keep saying that the president is more popular than his policies, undercutting his mandate to take bold action.
But on health care, the opposite is true.
Last week, I noted that one Washington Post reporter repeated the knee-jerk conventional wisdom, when in fact, his own paper's poll just showed majority support for the main provisions in pending health care legislation, while Obama's approval rating on health care was below 50%.
Today, two more polls show the public strongly supports Obama's actual health care policies, even though their support of Obama has declined.
From MSNBC's writeup of the NBC/WSJ poll (emphasis added):
Pluralities now say that the president's health care plan is a bad idea, and that it will result in the quality of their care getting worse. What's more, just four in 10 approve of his handling on the issue. The poll also finds that Obama's overall job-approval rating has dropped to 53 percent...
...[But] when read the specifics of his goals for health care -- like requiring insurers to cover those with pre-existing conditions, providing low-income families with subsidies to help them afford insurance, and raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for the subsidies -- 56 percent say they support Obama's plan. Only 38 percent oppose.
Now, the NBC/WSJ poll does show more tepid support for the most critical piece, the public plan option, with a plurality of 46%.
But that is out of step with every other poll ever taken gauging support for the public plan option, including today's NYT/CBS poll.
That poll shows Obama overall approval rating at 58%, and his handling of health care at 46%.
But when asked "would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan," a strong 66% support -- similar to what public plan option has garnered in most previous polls.
Yes, Obama's numbers have slipped. Perhaps that's a mix of swing voters buying the spin that "Obama's plan" (as opposed to the actual plan) won't tackle rising costs, and some liberal voters unhappy that Obama hasn't been a stronger advocate for the public plan. Perhaps it's just the mere fact that Obama hasn't handled the issue well enough to get something passed by now.
But whatever the reason is, it manifestly is not because the public has soured on the actual pillars of the bills that have advanced in the House and Senate.
So there is no reason for pundits to keep saying the president is more popular than his policies.
And there is no reason for skittish politicians to flinch from backing the public plan option based on these new polls.
If anything, it should motivate them to help the president make the case that his actual ideas are essential to expanding coverage and reducing the deficit.
Originally posted at OurFuture.org
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Contact these members of Congress and urge them to support the public plan option! These are the Democrats holding us back from the best health care plan possible.
Key people to contact - view the entire list of the 56 Blue Dog Democrats here!
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
Rep. Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip
Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04)
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The List of Democratic Senators not directly supporting the public plan health care option
Call and email them, telling them to support President Obama's public plan option!
Then when he does... he gives a press conference, makes an off-topic and controversial statement... and THAT becomes the news instead. Textbook case of how NOT to shape a message.
Yesterday, for example ,he brought his stupid point that a hospital which readmits you within 30 days of discharge should not be paid,he gave the example " if you take your car to the shop and then need to bring it back after a short period of time you dont pay for that..Comparing human beings to cars is ridiculous.
We all see elderly pts. having to be readmitted for Congestive Heart Failure.,to use one example.Not because anyone was at fault..it is just related to their condition ,or they forgot their medications or WHATEVER! Why is the hospital punished for that? Keep it up and your local small hospital will disappear very soon.
His other example..Your child has recurrent throat infections,the doctor takes his tonsills out because he makes more money by doing that.This is outrageous ,offensive and incorrect.The family doctor or the pediatrician treat the infections ,he then refers the patient to a surgeon for surgery.Unless he is accusing the primary care doctor from getting kickbacks from the surgeon,the doctor gets NO MONEY for refering anyone for surgery.
The list goes on ond on.Either he is really ignorant or he underestimates the american public.Big Mistake!Polls rflect this
THAT'S the key to the whole thing right there!!!
Okay, okay, a lot of the laws that we DO get are not exactly things that smell like roses ... :-D ... but consensus is still the thing that works best. You walk into the office of your Esteemed Colleague, the Honorable Representative from So-And-So, beat him over the head with your cane as Rep. Preston Brooks once famously DID to Sen. Charles Sumner on May 22, 1856, and then say, "ahh, yes... now that you finally see things my way, sir ..."
I am speaking figuratively, of course.
None other than FDR put it this way: "I agree with you. Now, go make me do it."