The Unexpected Winning Issue for Democrats: Health Care

[babylonsister]

The Unexpected Winning Issue for Democrats: Health Care
John Nichols
June 21, 2010


There are still plenty of Republican candidates who imagine that they will sweep to victory this fall on a promise to repeal the health-care reform legislation enacted earlier this year by the Democrats who currently control the House and Senate.

The Democrats can only hope that the repealers will raise their voice and be heard.

Why?

Because the pattern in the polling suggests that health-care reform, imperfect as it may be, is gaining popularity at an exponential rate.

Indeed, more Americans now support the reforms pushed through Congress by the Democrats -- against the opposition of the Republicans -- than at any point since the Associated Press started polling on the question in September of 2009.

Indeed, a plurality of potential voters now say Congress did the right thing, with 45 percent favoring the initiative to 42 percent opposing it.

That's a dramatic shift in support for reform.

more...

http://www.thenation.com/blog/unexpected-winning-issue-democrats-health-care

[CTyankee]

1. A lot of liberal commentators were saying this, but when the numbers did

change right away, people like Joe Scarborough were saying, "I guess health care wasn't so popular after all."

Naa, naa, Joe...

[karynnj]

4. I suspect that as others have said, the polling likely is worse than reality

Most polls are simple approve/disapprove. This leads many unhappy that it didn't go further to be on the disapprove side. Yet those people are likely the least likely to ever vote Republican.

I suspect that are some things will have a major impact. The effects on the seniors are now beginning to be seen - many are getting checks that represent the beginning of the closing of the donut hole. Even those who don't have high drug bills will be relieved that they do not face this big potential cost.

The people with insurance from their employer will be getting their new plans - and they are impacted. Kids are on until they are 26 - whether in college or not. They also are covered at the same rate as if they were a 12 yr old or a two year old. There are some preventive services covered with no co-pay. There are no lifetime or annual caps.

Now, both of those are the groups of people who were doing the best before HCR passed. That they were not harmed and were helped to some degree is a pleasant surprise. I imagine that those getting subsidies who can for the first time afford to get insurance for their family will be happy as well.

[zipplewrath]

2. We didn't see the wave

I really expected an early wave of right wingers explaining that someones health insurance was being changed/cut/canceled because of the reform. We saw a brief flurry of this, but nothing big. Of course none of the "fines" have started to kick in yet, we'll see what happens then. That probably doesn't happen until after the election. We are seeing some hint about he medicaid reductions being blamed on HCR, but I'll be surprised if they can make that stick.

[depakid]

3. Hope springs eternal-

At least the Democrats have something to wave around this fall.

That's not a cynical view, btw- but a very practical, albeit short term political one.

[Clio the Leo]

5. yeah, but not unexpected to EVERYONE, is it Babs?

;)

:fistbump:

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. K&R

[eridani]

7. We are just getting lucky here--the repubs are too stupid to oppose only--

--the unpopular parts. As long as they keep insisting on getting rid of the whole thing, we'll be OK. If they campaigned only against the mandate and the so-called "high value" tax, we'd get creamed.

[Politicub]

8. I'm not surprised - America wanted health care reform

As flawed as the bill is, it does mark progress. And I believe people like what they're hearing about the provisions taking place now.

[jenmito]

9. It's not unexpected to ME. I recall sparring with some here who said passage of the HC bill would

end our majority in congress, and I argued that passage of the bill would IMPROVE our standing in Nov.

[CTLawGuy]

10. the Repug

scaremongering has died down, that has a lot to do with it.

[Spazito]

11. Unexpected by whom? The talking-head pundits who always get it wrong?

They are the only ones who would find this to be "unexpected", everyone that actually did their homework knew this would be the result and the numbers for support will continue to grow as more of the bill is implemented, imo.