On Children's Healthcare, The American People Support Democrats
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany on October 17, 2007 at 01:05 PM
New polling from NPR and the Kaiser Family Foundation indicate that by large margins--and even among Republicans--the American people support the Democratic expansion of SCHIP to cover more uninsured children. The poll finds that a large margin of Americans support the expansion (70%). Even after voters hear the Bush Administration's argument against children's health care, 65% of Americans support the expansion. That includes a solid majority of Democrats and Independents, and nearly 50% of Republicans.
Yesterday, Niki Tsongas beat anti-SCHIP Republican candidate Jim Ogonowski. Ogonowski underperformed both Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey (the 2006 Gubernatorial candidate), in one of the most Republican districts in Massachusetts. Niki Tsongas will be seated in time to help override Bush's veto on SCHIP. We're at over 200,000 letters to Congress urging an override of the SCHIP veto. When will Republicans listen?
Comments - 5 »
Comments - 5 «
I would like to comment on healthcare in general in this country. People with bipolar disorder (some 4 million of them) CANNOT get a private insurance policy for healthcare - FROM ANY HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER. This was told to me recently by a representative who works within a major healthcare insurer. Those afflicted with bipolar disorder can only obtain healthcare coverage under an employer's group plan. So what happens if a person with this disorder is out of work? They are just S-O-L, as they cannot get any insurance company to cover them. SCHIP needs to be expanded even beyond children, to anyone who an insurance company WILL NOT COVER under ANY private policy. I just contributed to the DNC to help fight for people like these, and I hope you will assist by doing the same. Thanks.
Posted by Kotsunega on October 17, 2007 at 02:14 PM
Digby wrote about a USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted Oct. 12-14, which shows that the Democrats may be winning the PR battle over SCHIP, they're not dominating it.
That preference for the Democrats reflects Americans' unvarnished perception of the children's health bill. Other questions in the survey that provide information about Bush's arguments against the Democratic bill show more support for his position....
When the funding difference between the Democratic bill and Bush's plan is described to respondents (see precise wording of the question below), a slight majority say they prefer Bush's plan.
The argument against "socialized medicine" still resonates with voters:
Americans are also generally sympathetic to Bush's concern about the program leading to socialized medicine. Fifty-five percent say they are very or somewhat concerned that expanding the program would create an incentive for middle-class Americans to drop their private health insurance to enroll in the program. Another 25% say they are not too concerned about this, while only 17% say they are not at all concerned.
So 55% of Gallup respondents still think that an expanded SCHIP program would encourage people to drop private insurance to enroll. That means that the Democrats still have a lot more work to do educating people about what the SCHIP expansion means. And I say that even taking the NPR/Kaiser poll into account. The Democrats can't coast.
Posted by Corinne on October 17, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Our Democratic party has got it wrong. Americans do not want to be abused by the health insurance companies.
The American people want FREE healthcare paid directly by the government.
Our party is losing its legitamcy by letting Hillary sell herself for donations by the health insurance companies.
The American people want the FREE healthcare with no insurance companies as offered by the new ideological leader of the Democratic Party at www.franklynch.org and www.franklynch.name
Posted by franklynch on October 17, 2007 at 03:23 PM
That 70% number keeps coming up. The Republicans have destroyed the trust of Reagan Republicans. They are back to their usual Base and many of them are fleeing in disgust.
Posted by SandyH on October 17, 2007 at 07:52 PM
That is truly ridiculous. If you Dems feel confident in a poll performed by NPR and KFF then you have sorely misinterpreted the wishes of the majority. A poll doesn't mean anything if it is performed with a bias, and you're lying to yourself if you say NPR and KFF don't have a bias. They probably conducted that poll in Hollywood. If I were a Dem, I'd be concerned that 70% is the best I could get with such a lean to the left.
For those of you who want universal healthcare, give me a single example of a country in which it works. Cuba is an unacceptable answer unless the answer involves Michael Moore followed by a good punchline. You've got to be naive beyond belief if you think Cuba has better healthcare than we do.
Look, I don't like the fact that not everyone has healthcare, but there are other solutions. If the Dems would stop being brainwashed by popular media like NPR and KFF then they might find that there are sensible alternatives. The Republicans never gave up on the idea of everyone having healthcare like NPR wants you to believe. We just don't want the government taking it over and screwing it up like every other country's government has. For God's sake, look around the world. Government controlled healthcare doesn't work anywhere. The Brits are pulling out there own teeth for crying out loud.
The Dems need to realize that the government doesn't do anything well, especially versus the free market. Honestly, name one thing the government does well...
Posted by S on October 18, 2007 at 12:38 AM
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