The "pundits" keep insisting this health care reform is unpopular. What poll are they citing?!?

[bbernardini]

Just read Linda Chavez's latest pile of dung, and she includes the usual stuff:

"The president, House speaker and Senate majority leader appear ready to defy the American public and ram a disastrous and unpopular overturn of health care down our throats..."

"Now, when asked whether he's willing to accept the political consequences of passing health care legislation that the voting public opposes..."

Seriously, do they have ONE poll that supports these assertions, or are they all just making it up (as usual)?

[elleng]

1. Not questioned on the lie, as usual.

[DontTreadOnMe]

2. They get PAID..

to make shit up.

[DrDan]

3. people want a PO - there is no PO in the bill

[KharmaTrain]

4. The "Fun" About Polls...

It's like statistics...you can always find one to fit whatever framing you want. This is especially the case with healthcare as we've had over a year of endless polling that has been sliced and diced to serve the purposes of those who need justification for their point. Some polls were commissioned by healtcare companies and guess what those indicate? It's all a jumble now as the issue has become so polarizing and distorted, I don't think we're getting any accurate information.

As one who works with polls and statistics, they're only as good as the questions that are asked and the people surveyed. If you don't have access to that data, the numbers mean little. Also that these results are always a snapshot of what was...the mood of a moment, and one that doesn't last. It can be a guide to where one's been, not where one is headed.

[SpiralHawk]

5. It's just republicon BS

As usual.

And the corporate media laps it up and spews it back out...

[babylonsister]

6. It's the same ole-repeat something often enough and it becomes

fact, especially when the m$m cover every word they say breathlessly without fact-checking. But then there's this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x208782

Who Do You Trust On Health Care?

snip//



If there's an upsurge of popular opposition to the health care plan because it's too big, then why do 49% of Americans trust Obama to do the right thing on health care, and just 32% trust Republicans in Congress? If people are so repelled by Obamacare and big government, then why do they overwhelmingly trust him on this issue compared to the Republicans?

The answer, again, is what I said this morning: a significant chunk of the people who oppose health care reform think it doesn't go far enough. They're cynical about the process. And, to be sure, passing a bill won't bring all of them on board. But it can bring some of them on board. The basic elements are there: sympathy for Obama, a lack of sympathy for Republicans, a desire for some kind of comprehensive reform, agreement with the elements of Obama's plan.

[Captain Hilts]

7. It depends on how you ask it. Like 'HillaryCare' it is less popular if you call it 'Obamacare', but

some aspects are very popular.

And a public option is supported by a margin of over 2 to 1.

[robcon]

8. They're probably referring to Rasmussen...

Health Care Reform
44% Favor Health Care Plan, 52% Oppose
Monday, March 01, 2010

President Obama’s health care summit last week seems to have nudged up support, but 52% of U.S. voters continue to oppose the plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% favor the plan, up three points from last week just before the summit and the highest level of support recorded since mid-November.

But passion remains on the side of the opponents: just 22% Strongly Favor the plan while 43% Strongly Oppose it.

Since Thanksgiving, overall support for the president’s health care plan has ranged from 38 % to 44% while opposition has run from a low of 51% to a high of 58%.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Ipsos did a poll where they split up the 'oppose' (and 'in favour') numbers

And when you look at them, overall you get:

Favour reform, but the proposals don't go far enough: 17%
Favour reform, and the proposals are worth it: 32%
Oppose reform, think the proposals go too far: 25%
Oppose reform, think the proposals stop reform: 5%
Unsure (various cominbations): 20%

http://www.pollingreport.com/health.htm

What the Republicans do is combine the "these proposals don't go far enough" and "they go too far" numbers, and pretend it represents the Republican view. In fact, the "I want reform" number is about 49%, the "I don't want reform" number about 30%.

[spanone]

9. mitch mcconnell repeats this shit daily

[ThomWV]

10. You mean Right-wing Pundits say its unpopular, Change the channel and you'll hear different.

Because other places its reported that over 60%, and sometimes over 70% of the public is reported to support it and you get even higher numbers when you break out the parts of the reform package and ask about them individually.

So in short you are listening to propaganda sources.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. It's True, Americans Are Against This Proposal - Here's A Poll From DFA

Voters are in favor of mandates with a public option, but against mandates without a public option, e.g.:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/18/poll-health-care-reform-w_n_396990.html

[LWolf]

13. Health care reform is not unpopular.

The current health insurance bill IS unpopular.

[FreeJoe]

14. RCP

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html

[MannyGoldstein]

23. This is DU - Facts Are Beside The Point

As this entire thread seems to indicate.

[stray cat]

15. How many on DU want it passed - with the mandate that is included in it?

[RC]

16. People want Single Payer. Ther is no single Payer in the bill.

[AllentownJake]

17. Most local democrats I have talked to

aren't sure about it, they trust our President though.

So I can only imagine what the independents and republicans think.

[w4rma]

18. Without a public option, the bill is worthless. The only good thing about not having it is the blue

dogs up for re-election will definitely lose their seats without it.

[The Gunslinger]

19. They're not citing any

They just repeat the BS over and over again like it's just a fact and no one challenges them.

[underpants]

20. RW radio and the "news" networks started this when the PRO numbers were in the 70's

which they still are close to

this is a crystal clear example of the BIG LIE--repeat it until it is considered the truth or at least enters the conversation

[bbernardini]

21. Check out the comments on the article:

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/03/06/opinion/srv0000007747082.txt

[MadHound]

22. Health care reform is not unpopular, however this current monstorsity in Congres isn't reform

Which is why it is unpopular. Giving a mandated monopoly to the insurance companies with no strong public option is not a popular position.

[annabanana]

24. The combination of negatives from the left and right..they cite the TOTALS

And then pretend that all objections are equal and "clearly show that Americans want to start over"