The Polling Fallacy - Are Democrats Who Are Against PO Simply Listening To Their Constituents?

[TomCADem]

Here is my question. There are certain Democratic Senators who are deadset against the Public Option, who also coincidentally happen to come from conservative states. Mary Landrieu, for example, comes from Louisiana where most polls show that residents are against President Obama and against healthcare reform. Therefore, when we demand that Democratic Senators listen to their constituents, what are we asking them to do? In the case of Mary Landrieu, listening to her constituents means opposition to the public option.

This is the real question: Which Democrats who oppose the public option come from States or areas where the local population supports some form of a public option? These are the folks who we really need to put pressure on. Likewise, we really need to identify REPUBLICANS who come from areas where a majority of the local population supports some for of a public option, because those folks should be vulnerable in 2010.

Otherwise, simply demanding that Democrats listen to their constituents may not yield the desired results, because national poll results do not elect individual members of Congress. At least as a threshold matter, those Democrats AND Republicans who come from States that President Obama won should really be identified and pressured.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Nah. They're using idiot constituents as an *excuse*...

They passively allowed the PO to be pilloried into "death panels" and "socialism", letting their idiot constituents get riled up, thus creating a feedback loop to the "Democrat", so he/she can say "I have to do what my constituents want", as he/she pockets the donations from health insurance companies.

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. You are exactly right!

The entire trajectory of this debate from Obama's inauguration to today raises serious concern that there was, in fact, a strategy to give corporate media and other professional media assassins like Limbaugh and Beck enought time for their corrosive lies and propaganda a chance to work. Cynics might offer that Obama Administration and other key Democrats were in on the deal. Why the passivity? Why wait an entire month and watch the spectacle with hardly any response? The questions are certainly there to be explored.

One thing is certain! There is no doubt that Senators like Evan Bayh are getting exactly what they want. They will be able to serve their corporate masters everything they desire and still be able to convince their idiot supporters that they are good Democrats.

[TomCADem]

6. The Problem Then Is That You Can't Threaten To Vote Them Out

If what you say is correct, then the conservadems may be immune to pressure, because they are either following their constituents or convinced their constituents to follow them. The only real vulnerable members of Congress are those who are going against the wishes of their voters.

[BlooInBloo]

7. That's why safe-seat leaders are needed for House and Senate....

Strong leadership is the best way to break that cycle.

[Hippo_Tron]

11. So you're saying it's their fault that their constituents are idiots?

[BlooInBloo]

12. (facepalm)

[TomCADem]

13. To A Certain Extent Yes, But We All Are Responsible - Are You Your Brother's Keeper?

We often base are arguments for Health Care reform on this idea of shared responsibility, yet when it comes to the politics and opinions of our neighbors, many liberals are remarkably hands-off. Right wing extremist idealogy is like a disease that festers in the sewage of the Fox News propaganda machine in this post-journalistic world. Like health care reform, we need to take some responsibility in explaining to our neighbors the need for health care reform. Of course, we need to put pressure on elected officials, but we also need to take time combat the pervasive falsehoods being spread in this debate.

Now, if you say you are not your brother's keeper, and that you have no obligation for the mental and physical well being of your fellow citizens, then why demand health care reform?

[TeamJordan23]

2. They are only listening to Health and Insurance lobbyists who are fattening their wallets. nm

[CTyankee]

10. Then progressives should PUBLISH those reps who are on the take from the insurance lobbyists

and how much they are receiving! Let the public KNOW. Polling has shown that insurance companies ripping off people and making a fortune doing so is NOT popular (how on earth could it be?).

Hold feet to fire!

[DrToast]

4. Ben Nelson's constituents are against the PO; Chuck Grassley's are for it

The problem is that Nelson will probably go with his constituents while Grassley will ignore them.

[movonne]

5. How aboub Snowe and Collins...what do their constituents think??

[OHdem10]

8. Most of these Members are Pro Business Democrats. They run

on Platforms in their state competing with the Republicans
for the upper classes and promise a couple of goodies to
get just enough middle class and lowerclass votes to win.
Their Constituency that counts is Business and Upper Classes.

Their constituents have some of the best HCI and therefore
Health Insurance Reform is not major interest other than--
Do not let the Democratic Party mess up our Gravy Train.
This is why they are against the PO. PO messes up their
gravy train.

[Hansel]

9. Democrats listen to their constituents?

Who knew? :shrug: