The Deep South: How Residents view Medicaid Expansion

[Playinghardball]

http://www.familiesusa.org/infographics/medicaid-expansion-deep-south-poll.html

[Scootaloo]

1. If you called it "Obamacare" the numbers would be wildly different, I'll bet

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

2. Yet another example...

...of perception.

[Hoyt]

3. If Medicaid were offered to old white people only, 100% of Rethugs would indicate favorable.

[Bandit]

4. If only those people voted....

How is it that Republicans have such a lock in the south when almost every poll shows they are very unpopular. How does that work anyway???

[bluestate10]

8. The red meat issues, Guns, Gays, Immigrants, Welfare Queens, Abortion.

An empty suit republican politician only need push one of those over and over and he or she used to be sure of election. I say "used to be" because the South is changing as seen with the success of two republicans who didn't rip the President and call him names in primaries. One even stated before election day that his state should expand Medicaid. Red meat issues are starting to loose their power all over, even in the South - when that happens beyond a particular level, expect more Democrats getting elected, or republicans who are no longer rabid fools.

[GoCubsGo]

5. Yet, they'll still keep re-electing the same assholes who are preventing the expansion.

I know. I live among them. Can't say I'm surprised that it's mainly white conservatives who oppose it. Same shit, different day.

[karend62]

6. We don't need no stinking Medicaid

Not only did Mississippi GOP refuse to even discuss an expansion of Medicaid, this state very nearly allowed the entire program to lapse back in June. If Gov. Bryant had his way, Medicaid would have expired in Mississippi. The governor claimed that he could continue Medicaid under an executive order; however, the attorney general stated that that arrangement would be illegal under existing law.

Only Tate Reeves, the Lieutenant Governor, had enough sense to deploy a legislative maneuver in the Senate to renew funding at 2012 levels. The only thing that our esteemed governor accomplished during the 2 day special session in June was the passage of an open carry law (Medicaid? Whatever...).

Nearly half of the healthcare dollars spent in Mississippi is funded by either Medicaid or Medicare. It was pure stupidity to endanger a large percentage of the healthcare economy in this state. And legislators were more worried about open carry laws...

SMH over the number of nurses that I know who are dead-set against Obamacare or (god forbid) Medicaid expansion. Do you know where your pay check is coming from?

Mississippi battle over Medicaid

[irisblue]

7. i truly do not understand why those states

keep voting for Republicans ...no snark, just puzzlement. Electing and then reelecting R's is contrary to self interest & logic.

[karend62]

9. God and guns

In Mississippi, the GOP is seen as the guardian of traditional, Christian values. As long as a candidate will get up on a podium and proclaim his love for Jesus and the Second Amendment, the voting majority will keep sending him back to Washington.

There is also a not-so-thinly veiled racism that underlies everything in this state. White folks are quick to deny any racial bias but in the next breath, will rant about welfare cheats and "those people" at Walmart.