Washington Post/ABC Poll: Support for Obama on healthcare slips to less than 50% for first time

[Karmadillo]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090720/pl_nm/us_usa_healthcare_poll

Support for Obama on healthcare slips: poll

Mon Jul 20, 6:46 am ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Public support for President Barack Obama's handling of healthcare reform, the pillar of his legislative agenda, has fallen below 50 percent for the first time, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Monday said.

Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress have run into stiff opposition this month as they try to pass legislation to restructure the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare industry through the creation of a government-run health insurance program.

Republicans and some fiscally conservative Democrats argue the plan, with an estimated cost of more than $1 trillion, could hurt small businesses, add to budget deficits and reduce the quality of medical care for many Americans.

Those concerns may be having an impact on the public, according to the poll, which showed 49 percent of respondents approving of Obama's stand on the issue compared to 57 percent in April.

Those saying they disapproved rose to 44 percent from 29 percent during the same period.

Obama and the White House have gone on the offensive to drum up support for the plan, which would compete with private insurers, provide cover to many of the 46 million uninsured and try to stem runaway medical costs.

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[Winterblues]

1. I reserve judgement until I see the actual plan

It would be nice if the MSM would do so as well

[berni_mccoy]

3. The actual plan is already available here:

http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/07/americas-affordable-health-choices-act.shtml

[Winterblues]

4. Health Care Reform has cleared one committee in the House

It has two more to clear before it goes to be compared and adapted into/with the Senate plan. No one knows yet what the final plan will be..

[berni_mccoy]

5. True, but it won't be radically different than it currently is.

[m_welby]

2. opposing how obama is handling the plan

is quite different than opposing the plan itself.

[timeforpeace]

6. This is why they need to get it done now.

[karynnj]

7. This may be partially timing

The poll was taken July 15 to July 18.

Obama really started speaking out on July 16 in NJ at a rally for Corzine, at a press conference on July 17 and in his radio address on July 18. Most of that effort will not be reflected. In addition, some of those unhappy now are on the left - if DU and DKOS are fair representations. Not to mention, the media has leaned right.

The other thing is that there is NO one bill to sell at this point and that makes it harder. If, say the Kennedy bill, were ok to the house or Senate, Obama could use his platform to sell it.

[kiva]

8. Some of this is, I suspect, a reaction to the flurry of

anti-reform commercials, been seeing a lot as of late. There are some ads supporting reform, but IMO they don't address the issues that concern many people. One of the things I would love to see is a response to the 'right now your health care is between you and your doctor, but this reform will but the government between you and doc". WTF! I mean, like the insurance companies aren't currently in the middle, dictating which procedures and meds they will pay for, or how long someone should be in the hospital after an illness or surgery.