Obama's Pollster Joel Beneson: Most Americans want health care reform (WaPo Op-Ed)

[jefferson_dem]

Most Americans want health care reform
By Joel Benenson
Saturday, March 13, 2010; A15

It is ironic that Democratic pollsters Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen felt "compelled" to "challenge the myths" about public attitudes on health care by simply restating one of the most commonly stated -- and patently wrong -- Republican myths .

No pollster, including me, could look at the recent data and responsibly say anything other than that the American public is closely divided when it comes to supporting or opposing various health-care plans. The most recent Washington Post poll (from Feb. 10) shows a narrow gap between support and opposition: 46 percent favor; 49 percent oppose. This data is consistent with eight of the 12 most recent independent public polls reported on Pollster.com.

In light of this data, it is irresponsible, and wrong, for Schoen and Caddell to assert that a "solid majority of Americans oppose" health-care reform.

In fact, two recent polls, including one with the most negative ratings on health care, reveal through follow-up questions that a significant number of people who oppose current plans do so because they don't go far enough rather than because they go too far. Not only is it absurd to suggest that these people would rise up against Democrats for passing the president's plan, it is far more likely that they would join others who support the plan and punish those who tried to block reform or voted against it.

Let's take the CNN poll from early January -- the most negative independent poll on health care and one that predated President Obama's proposal. Only 40 percent supported the bills passed by Congress, while 57 percent opposed them. But in a crucial follow-up question, a net of 10 percent of all Americans opposed the bill because it was "not liberal enough." If one makes the reasonable assumption that these people are far more likely to side with supporters of the president's plan than with Republicans who are obstructing it, the results would show that 50 percent favor the plan or want a broader one, while only 45 percent oppose the plan.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031203719_pf.html

[Clio the Leo]

1. "you think I dont have my own pollsters?"

.... I cant remember where the President said that, at a recent town hall or somewhere ... but I had to laugh.

Barack Obama is a LOT of things, but "stupid" is not one of them. He's not going to be "shoving down the throats" of American voters something that they're going to HATE 8 months from now. Nope, not this close to the 2010 elections.

[Jennicut]

2. It is nearly split. Gallup found 45% favor, 48% oppose Obama plan.

Virtually identical to the Wa Post poll. Only Rasmussen says it is a 10% split or more in opposing the plan and we all know about them.

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. ..they just don't want to pay for it

"Why should I have to pay for this" and "It's not my problem" are two common replys I hear all of the time

[ibegurpard]

4. The fallacy in their argument:

that Americans want THIS healthcare reform.
Americans want healthcare reform...they just don't like what they're seeing right now.

[Cha]

5. Good..bc I think it will be a good

start for our country.