Opinions turn favorable on health care plan (49 to 40%)

[kpete]

Source: USA Today

Opinions turn favorable on health care plan

By Susan Page, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Americans by 9 percentage points have a favorable view of the health care overhaul that President Obama signed into law Tuesday, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, a notable turnaround from surveys before the vote that showed a plurality against it.

By 49%-40% those surveyed say it was "a good thing" rather than a bad one that Congress passed the bill. Half describe their reaction in positive terms, as "enthusiastic" or "pleased," while about four in 10 describe it in negative ways, as "disappointed" or "angry."

The largest single group, 48%, calls the bill "a good first step" that should be followed by more action on health care. An additional 4% also have a favorable view, saying the bill makes the most important changes needed in the nation's health care system.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-03-23-health-poll-favorable_N.htm

[FBaggins]

1. It needs to get well above that in the next couple weeks... or we have a problem.

The high-water mark for aproval will be slightly after it is passed (or slightly after it is "fixed" IF that happens). Then it will be downhill until the larger benefits kick in (in a few years).

Still... it's nice to see a positive bump. It demonstrates that some of the negative opinion around the process was from those who were upset that it WASN'T moving forward.

[watrwefitinfor]

3. A large part of it is also because for the first time

the broadcast networks and local news shows are giving a little bit of actual information about what is in the damned bill. Finally. Instead of spouting Repuke spin all the time. This is making a huge difference, among people too stupid to read.

Wat

[pundaint]

17. It is still spin, but its administration spin right now.

The truth would result in a lower approval rating. It's not that the benefits are relatively trivial, it's that the costs are too high, and the starting point for actual Reform has been moved further back.

[UndertheOcean]

2. where is the missing 11% n/t

[ejbr]

5. no opinion/confused I would imagine n/t

[NYC Democrat]

4. Americans love a winner and right now Obama looks like one.

[TEXASYANKEE]

6. Now perhaps ...

the Media won't be anti-Obama, anti-HCR all the time?

[dave29]

7. good luck with that!

:)

[mvd]

8. Today I am happy. We got a start and a victory for the President

Without this momentum, there's little chance our leaders would go for more progressive reform.

[wtmusic]

9. Because the Earth didn't collapse into a black hole when Obama signed on the line.

Phew...that was close. :silly:

[florida08]

10. and for some reason

the market didn't crash and is actually up..:sarcasm:

[happygoluckytoyou]

11. HERE IS THE PIVOT POINT----->

The findings are encouraging for the White House and congressional Democrats, who get higher ratings than congressional Republicans for their work on the issue. The poll shows receptive terrain as the White House and advocacy groups launch efforts to sell the plan, including a trip by Obama to Iowa on Thursday.

WHY POSITIVE NOW AND NEGATIVE BEFORE----> BECAUSE WE WERE SICK OF WAITING FOR THEM TO GET OFF THEIR ASSES AND ACT

[aquart]

14. Exactly.

No matter which side you were on, you wanted to throttle Congress.

[thereismore]

12. That didn't take long. nt

[Ivanka]

13. Has Gallup used this same wording in the past?

For an apples vs. apples comparision? Or is the first time this wording is used?

Bloomberg has it at 38% favor, 50% oppose, in a poll released today: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a2R1ChNYjoag

[nbcouch]

15. Somebody needs to tell Grandad McCain

to check out these results and then STFU. I'm sick of hearing him lie about how the American people don't want this bill. Even the last CNN poll before the vote on Sunday showed McCain was wrong on that.

They think they can get it repealed? Fat chance, they'll never even get that shit out of committee. They think the state AGs can stop it? Bring it on, they've got nothing. There is no Constitutional argument worth the time of day on this one.

[Moostache]

16. But...but...but...Rush and Glenn SAID it would end the country...

I think this is CLEARLY the work of that liberal-bias in the "mainstream media". They are always going on and on and on about "facts" and "reality", when obviously it is nothing but a liberal agenda to make me have a homosexual marriage instead of my current regular old marriage.

I don't know about you all, but I am hunkering down in the cellar with freeze-dried food and drinking water in a 55-gallon drum and I am not coming out again until the crisis is over...oh, wait...you mean none of what I have been told for 13 months on Fox and radio is actually happening? Doctors are not lining up to kill my grandma yet? Obama did not get to sentence undesirables to Gitmo yet? (OH SHIT...that's right, he CAN still do that thanks to St. George the second, may war and fear be upon him).

I just don't know what to do....but I have a bunch of really cool badly spelled signs left over there in the corner next to the white sheets and flammable cross...I guess its protestin' time again!!!

[nbcouch]

18. Yeah, and Limbaugh is still in the USA too, last I heard n/t

[DFW]

21. Not for long--sing along:

Well my bags are packed
I don’t wanna go
The Right got sacked,
So I don’t know
I thought my hateful rantings did the trick
My man misread
That Fox News poll
So I must learn
Some español
The thought of Costa Rica makes me sick

But I’m leaving on a jet plane
Don’t know if they will think I’m sane
Oh, Babe, I’ll miss my show!

[TheEuclideanOne]

24. You mean that I planted this crisis garden for nothing?

Well, at least I have alot of extra seeds for the next crisis, like when gays are allowed in the military or another black person is elected to high office. Well, I am off to see how my gold stocks are doing.

Not sure if it is true, but if we have a nuclear war I heard that the only things that will survive are cockroaches and Fox News.

[elleng]

19. No surprise, really. FACTS are coming out!!!

[HPD]

20. as expected...

i expect it to go up in favor. Now that it is passed, the media will focus on what is actually in the bill, as opposed to the fringe Tea Baggers and their protest.

Also, 1 in 6 people who were against it were actually those who wanted the bill to be more liberal (Public Option please), so now that the bill passed, many of those people will see the bill favorably, stating it's a good start.

[lovekendyl]

22. everyone loves a winner

and we won

[underpants]

25. Yes we did

and Welcome to DU :hi:

[crazy_vanilla]

23. well, that didn't take long

people realized this is good stuff

[Lifelong Protester]

26. For the parts of the bill that go into effect soon, going to be hard to campaign against

Do you really think you can make a case that this whole HCR is bad if all you have to campaign against are kids staying on health insurance of parents until they are 26? Do you think that making grandma go back to paying for meds that were previously in the 'doughnut hole' is a good vote getter? How about campaigning against kids with pre-exisiting conditions being covered? How much mileage there?

The GOP is up a creek, and when the facts get out as not near as earth shattering as they portrayed, they will be without paddles and canoe...

[deacon]

27. Removes the other GOP arguement of 'this grossly unpopular legislation' buddah bing! :) n/t

[No Elephants]

28. IOW, the largest single group expects improvement. Here's hoping Congress gets it.