Poll: Liberals Entirely United Behind Passing Health Bill

[jefferson_dem]

Poll: Liberals Entirely United Behind Passing Health Bill

One of the more interesting health care subplots, as I’ve noted here, is the surprisingly high degree of consensus emerging on the left that passing the flawed Senate bill with a fix is best way forward — something which, earlier in the debate, seemed anything but assured.

The latest from Public Policy Polling illustrates this as dramatically as you could want:

Dennis Kucinich’s flip on the health care vote this morning is symbolic of a broader shift among liberals. Last month 73% said they supported the plan with 19% opposed. Now 89% say they support the plan with only 3% opposed. Whether it’s because of the President’s increasing visibility on the issue or because liberals finally decided the current bill is as good as they’re going to get and better than nothing, there’s been a big rise in support since early February.

The shift has come completely with Democratic voters. A month ago 39% of independents said they supported it, now 40% do. A month ago 10% of Republicans said the supported it, and that’s now actually down to 8%. But Democratic support has risen from 63% to 76% in the last month. Obama seems to have succeeded in better unifying the party around his goals.

Only three percent of liberals oppose passing the plan — down 16 points. That illustrates pretty clearly that those arguing that the bill shouldn’t be passed because it’s irrevocably flawed have lost the argument.

Also: It suggests that House Dems might be able to count on the base turning out in the midterms if they succeed in getting this thing done — another argument, perhaps, for passing it.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/poll-liberals-entirely-united-behind-passing-health-bill/

[Jennicut]

1. How long until those liberals are called DLC ers?

[denimgirly]

2. Liberals are always willing to compromise -- Which is both Good and Bad.

I am a liberal like most on DU and one thing i've noticed is that most liberals are willing to be open minded to compromise. That is a good thing but the bad side is progress is very slow and usually goes down the wrong path before being course corrected. I admire that the republican mindset is like the borg...all on one page with no compromises...this is why they get things done, and done fast.

Some times i wish we weren't always willing to compromise.

[phleshdef]

3. Willingness to compromise seems to go hand in hand with having an open mind...

...and having an open mind is the largest part of what makes a liberal a liberal.

[demosincebirth]

5. Your not talking about DU, are you?

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Clio the Leo]

6. it's about flippin' time! NT

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. As well they should be. It's time we move in a positive direction. Naysayers be damned.

This cow that's filling in for Randi (Nicole WhoGivesAShit)sounds about set to expunge Kooch from the purified left. It's not hard to figure out why I never heard of her, and why she's an internet talk show host.

[grantcart]

8. true true true progressives remain in principled opposition

[Jester Messiah]

9. ...to everything, lest some progress actually be made. [nt]

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. True progress is not in mandating corporate profits for a parasitical "industry"

Neither is it in fining the citizens of a free country for being unable or unwilling to participate in this fleecing of the population.

[Jester Messiah]

12. Ah, "No True Scotsman" is it?

Besides, given that the insurance co's won't be able to welsh on the bet, drop people as soon as they become inconvenient, and hike rates for the bleedin' hell of it... you really think that the increased money paid in to the insurance co's is going to go to -profit-?

Might be time to revisit Accounting 101.

[Cronus Protagonist]

14. The money they get WILL go to profit.

It's the only reason the insurance companies exist. To make a profit. Surely you don't need remedial accounting yourself?

As for your "no true Scotsman" comment, that's a red herring of your own imagination as I never made such an argument. Still, if it makes you feel better raising up logical fallacies in order to have something, anything, to shoot down, go right on doing it - it just exposes the lack of a cohesive and valid argument on your part.

[grantcart]

15. 26 million uninsured will now get the same insurance federal employees get

tens of millions will get subsidies.


lives will be saved and money will be saved.

Federal power will be extended and an expanded constituency using federal programs will demand more.

All pretty similar to the way that Canada started on its way to single payer. In fact from the first legislation to single payer it took more than 20 years, and another 20 if you include removing fee for service.

But you want it in a single piece of legislation. How quaint, and not supported by a single progressive politician.

[Cronus Protagonist]

18. I'm one of these 26 million

(what happened to thirty million)

And the subsidies are NOT enough to help me, but the mandates will, in fact, bankrupt me.

[Cronus Protagonist]

10. + a million

This bill is fascist and should not be supported by ANY progressives.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. You just said "true" once for every percent opposing.

Just wanted to highlight how small that minority really is.

[vaberella]

13. Excluding Koochie...n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

16. Those 3% on DU are pretty loud indeed

:o

[Scurrilous]

17. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Capitalocracy]

20. They support "the president's plan" for health care reform.

97% of self-described liberals support "the president's plan" for health care reform in this poll. No mention is made of the Senate bill versus the House bill, or the public option versus the mandate, or of any of the specifics of the plan, just "the president's plan". I just think that needs to be pointed out.

[Capitalocracy]

21. They described themselves as: 18% liberal, 47% moderate, 35% conservative

3% of liberals oppose, but only 89% approve, NOT 97%.

And adding in those who describe themselves as moderate or conservative, it's 45% in favor to 49% opposed.

I wouldn't call this such a clear-cut slam dunk case that people favor the bill, and I'm what you'd call a liberal.

Edit: I reiterate the 89% figure because some people have been using the 97% in favor figure on other posts, no correction needed here though