Despite attempts by the establishment media to convince us that the public is solidly behind Congress in the SCHIP debate, a new Gallup poll shows this to be nonsense. USA Today puts it as follows:
52% agree with Bush that most benefits should go to children in families earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level — about $41,000 for a family of four.
The public is also concerned that SCHIP would “crowd out” private insurance:
55% are very or somewhat concerned that the program would create an incentive for families to drop private insurance.
And the same percentage agrees with Bush that SCHIP would be a step in the direction of government-run health care.
Americans are also generally sympathetic to Bush’s concern about the program leading to socialized medicine.
Meanwhile, a much smaller number support the bill created by Congress:
Only 40% say benefits should go to such families earning up to $62,000, as the bill written by Democrats and some Republicans would allow.
So, it would appear that two weeks of demagoguery and child abuse has accomplished nothing for the Democrats beyond making them seem even more dishonest than ever.
[HT Bluey Blog]
Comments 5
This is a disgracefully loaded poll. Just look at the questions:
‘How concerned are you that expanding this program would create an incentive for middle class Americans to drop private health insurance for a public program, which some consider to be a step toward socialized medicine?’
and
‘As you may know, the Democrats want to allow a family of four earning about $62,000 to qualify for the program. President Bush wants most of the increases to go to families earning less than $41,000. Whose side do you favor?’
At least Gallup has the sense to add of the latter question:
‘It should be noted that this question gauges Americans’ reaction to the difference in eligibility thresholds for the two plans. A different result might be obtained if respondents were also presented with arguments about the positive and negative consequences of expanding the program.’
And in any case;
‘Despite the potentially high political stakes involved in passage of the bill, Americans are paying only moderate attention to it.’
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 2:02 pm ¶Interesting how liberals point out the problems with polls only when they disagree with the results.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 5:57 pm ¶Interesting indeed.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 7:30 pm ¶That’s because liberals use polls to influence public opinion rather than reflect it. That’s why this poll, in not keeping with the standard MSM meme, will not be above the fold anywhere.
Thanks for the link.
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 6:17 pm ¶Yep. This poll will go straight down the memory hole.
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 6:33 pm ¶Post a Comment