Polling shows uncertainties about 'public option' insurance in health reform

While nearly eight out of 10 Americans say they favor a "public option" insurance plan in national health care reform proposals now before Congress, fewer than four out of 10 can correctly define what a public option means, a new poll underwritten by AARP shows.

Those and other poll findings are bad news for President Barack Obama, who's facing the possible defeat of most or all of one of his administration's highest-priority goals -- health care reform -- and the increasing political ire of independent voters who helped elect him.

The new polling -- done by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates -- was presented Tuesday night at an AARP-sponsored event in Denver, along with political analysis of the issue by Washington columnist Charlie Cook.

The poll surveyed 1,000 Democrats, Republicans and independents nationwide earlier this month.

While the survey results suggest strong agreement among Americans that health care delivery and payment must change, there's much less agreement on whether the problem calls for coughing up higher taxes or insurance premiums.

The reason? It's the economy, Cook said.

Almost 65 percent oppose increasing taxes to pay for covering the more than 46 million Americans who are estimated to be without coverage of any kind, even though on other questions a majority said they believed all people should be covered. And 73 percent said they are unwilling to see private health insurance premiums rise to cover those costs.

The conflict highlights one of the essential reasons Obama and members of Congress who support reform are having a tough time selling it to the American public: the economy has everybody worried.

Cook, whose non-partisan Cook Political Report newsletter is closely watched by Washington insiders, said the polling data may be worse for the Democrats now than it was in 1993, when then-President Bill Clinton proposed a massive overhaul of health care and a year later, the Democrats were forced by voters to give up control of the U.S. Congress.

This time around, Cook said, with the president leaving it to Congress to hammer out specifics of the reform plan, "President Obama made the mistake of outsourcing major public policy to an institution that doesn't have a lot of credibility -- Congress."

Couple that with diminishing support for Obama from independent voters who were key to his election last year, and Cook said, "I don't know that there's an ending that the president is going to like."

He also predicted that Colorado would again be a political battleground state for the mid-term elections, with a newly appointed political newcomer, Sen. Michael Bennet, and vulnerable Democrats in several key districts facing election.

Click here to download the poll in PDF format.

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/08/24/daily29.html

Views: 55

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Burbia posted a blog post

Former President Trump?

When was this article written? It is attributed to Victor Davis Hanson. He is a Fellow at Hoover…See More
11 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Don’t Go Hunting For Bigfoot

It is October 19, 2019 at 5:46 AM. This will be the last time any visual evidence of Mark is seen…See More
16 hours ago
tjdavis posted a video

Most Corrupt Series: Elizabeth Warren | Forgotten History

Elizabeth Warren has built her reputation as a "reformer", but her political career has also drawn sharp criticism. Questions have been raised about her fina...
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Ashrams and Moonies Perfect Case for Mind Control
"less prone, Thanks for your support Buddy! "
Thursday
Doc Vega posted a photo

main-thumb-ti-6724328-100-cnsgqkrgkrhyeyyerazynmuwoplecnbx

When will they put Trump on Mt. Rushmore?
Thursday
Doc Vega's 4 blog posts were featured
Thursday
Burbia's blog post was featured

Charlie Kirk Assassination

September 10th 2025 in Utah Turning Point USA CEO has been assassinated. Coincidentally,  answering…See More
Thursday
Charles Magus's blog post was featured

FURTHER PROOF OF WALK-INS! Prisoners of the Dulce Base by Sherry Shriner

There is a real connection between the Cabal and what is happening at this Undergroung…See More
Thursday
Less Prone favorited Doc Vega's blog post Ashrams and Moonies Perfect Case for Mind Control
Thursday
Less Prone commented on tjdavis's blog post Sentient World Simulation
"Cannot open the link"
Thursday
Tina Sullivan is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Thursday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Wednesday
Sandy posted a video

We’re cooked

We’re cooked
Wednesday
Sandy posted a photo
Wednesday
tjdavis posted a video

Tom Horn discusses Masonic view of 2025

Startling perspective by Tom Horn of the upcoming year: 2025
Sep 16
cheeki kea posted a photo
Sep 16
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Grooming the New Generation of Assassins
"It's a distressing state of affairs when evil leftists hardwire impressionable students and…"
Sep 16
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post This Memorable Anthem Given by Nick Freitas Hit the Nail on the Head Please Listen!
"Burbia Charlie Kirk's wife is a real firebrand! God bless that poor woman! "
Sep 15
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post This Memorable Anthem Given by Nick Freitas Hit the Nail on the Head Please Listen!
"Burbia thanks for the videos! "
Sep 15
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Sep 15

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted