USA Today: 52% Still Want Socialist Health Care

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In a USA Today/Gallup poll, 52 percent of those surveyed say they want a public option in health-care coverage. But you'll be forgiven for missing that salient fact in the newspaper's front-page article, which appears under the headline, "Health care law too costly, most say." In fact, the public-option response isn't even addressed in the article, but appears in one of those graphs for which the self-described "nation's newspaper" is famous.

Here's how the story, by Susan Page, opens:

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say the health care overhaul signed into law last week costs too much and expands the government's role in health care too far, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, underscoring an uphill selling job ahead for President Obama and congressional Democrats.

Indeed, 64 percent say that the new law will "cost the government too much," and 65 percent say that it "will expand government's role in health care too much." But without taking into account the response on the public option, those statements should hardly be taken at face value, as they are in the article.

If 64 percent say the new health-care set-up "will cost the government too much" — assuming this conclusion is drawn from the cost of subsidies for those who can't afford the premiums charged through the new insurance exchanges by insurance corporations — and 52 percent say they want a public option, it sounds to me like 52 percent think a public option would have been a better deal for the taxpayer.

Even if I'm reading too much into my back-of-the-envelope cost-benefit analysis here, at the very least the poll suggests that more than half the American public would like to have seen a more progressive health-care reform scheme.

But you'll never guess that from reading the USA Today story on its own poll. Instead the piece reads as a gloom-and-doom scenario for Democrats in the mid-term elections, and focuses on an uptick in President Obama's disapproval rating, up to 50 percent, according to the poll. (His approval rating came in at 47 percent.)

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[mawilson 2,133]

If polls have taught me anything, it's that people have no clue what they want.

They change their opinions more frequently than their underwear.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

If polls have taught me anything, it's that people have no clue what they want.

They change their opinions more frequently than their underwear.

You mean you're supposed to change your underwear?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

You mean you're supposed to change your underwear?

Well, if you wear any

[Nagishkaw 510]

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"We have failed to listen to America," said Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the GOP leader.

Was Boehner and the Republicans in favor of the Public Option?

Edited March 30, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The message in Massachusetts says otherwise.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The message in Massachusetts says otherwise.

But clearly, the majority of Americans want a Public Option and the Republicans claim that Obama ignored the will of the people. Can the Republicans have their cake and eat it too?

[DukeOfYork 28]

I think you're cutting and pasting two different things there.

I haven't seen the poll, but 52% wanting a public option doesn't necessarily mean Boehner ignored the "will of the American People". He was referring to the fact that more than 60% of the "American People" were opposed to the legislation that was recently signed into law.

[mawilson 2,133]

But clearly, the majority of Americans want a Public Option

Today, maybe.

Tomorrow they will rally against socialized healthcare and government takeover.

The day after tomorrow they'll be in favor of it again.

November will tell us what the people really want.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think you're cutting and pasting two different things there.

I haven't seen the poll, but 52% wanting a public option doesn't necessarily mean Boehner ignored the "will of the American People". He was referring to the fact that more than 60% of the "American People" were opposed to the legislation that was recently signed into law.

Wait...what? 52% of the population still want a public option. Does that mean the Republicans will support an amendment that would add a public option? Please, no magic tricks here...it's a simple question.

Edited March 30, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[Obama 2012 1,714]

* 52% of people polled...

Who the hell ever knows what the whole nation wants....

[DukeOfYork 28]

As Paul/Vanessa said, 52% of the people polled.

By your logic, the House should not have passed HR 3590 as 54% of Americans polled were against it. 54% > 52%.

Edited March 30, 2010 by DukeOfYork

[alienlovechild 75]

I posted it before but there was poll out that most people don't know what the public option is and they didn't exactly get it with this law.

If the public option was the way to go and Obama gave a speech saying that was his choice as well, why were all the Obama supporters running from the statement?

Edited March 30, 2010 by alienlovechild

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Who the hell ever knows what the whole nation wants....

House Minority Leader Boehner and the rest of the Republicans do. They keep saying the President ignored the will of the people. Well, here it is in another poll.

And here's another poll Boehner might want to consider as well...

Congressional Republican's favorability is 22%.