Progress Ohio | Dave Harding's Blog: Video: Chuck Todd On Health Care Polls: "When Americans Hear The Facts, It's Another Story"

Video: Chuck Todd On Health Care Polls: "When Americans Hear The Facts, It's Another Story"

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio - Aug 19th, 2009 at 1:28 pm EDT

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Categories: Affordable Healthcare, Media Accountability, Featured

In the new NBC News poll, people were asked, "From what you have heard about Barack Obama's health care plan, do you think his plan is a good idea or a bad idea?" Just 36% think it's a good idea; 42% think it's a bad idea. The numbers are exactly the same as they were a month ago.

Chuck Todd raised an important point this morning: "According to our poll, when [Americans] hear the facts, it's another story. After being read a statement that include actual details of the Obama health care plan, a majority -- 53 percent -- say they are in favor of it."

Watch It:

Several Republicans seem encouraged by the fact that only 41% of poll respondents approve of the way President Obama is handling health care reform. But let's not overlook the next question: "Do you generally approve or disapprove of the way that Republicans in Congress are handling the issue of health care reform?" Just 21% approve, 62% disapprove.

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Fox News viewers overwhelmingly misinformed about health care reform proposals.

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio Aug 19th 2009 at 2:13 pm EDT (Updated Aug 19th 2009 at 2:13 pm EDT)

Here's another way to look at the misinformation: In our poll, 72% of self-identified FOX News viewers believe the health-care plan will give coverage to illegal immigrants, 79% of them say it will lead to a government takeover, 69% think that it will use taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions, and 75% believe that it will allow the government to make decisions about when to stop providing care for the elderly. But it would be incorrect to suggest that this is ONLY coming from conservative viewers who tune in to FOX. In fact, 41% of CNN/MSNBC viewers believe the misinformation about illegal immigrants, 39% believe the government takeover stuff, 40% believe the abortion misperception, and 30% believe the stuff about pulling the plug on grandma. What's more, a good chunk of folks who get their news from broadcast TV (NBC, ABC, CBS) believe these things, too. This is about credible messengers using the media to get some of this misinformation out there, not as much about the filter itself. These numbers should worry Democratic operatives, as well as the news media that have been covering this story.

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Give them a chance

By User from Miamisburg, OH Aug 19th 2009 at 2:14 pm EDT (Updated Aug 19th 2009 at 2:14 pm EDT)

You won't listen to the Rep ideas on health care finance reform; we already have the best health care in the world--just ask the illegal aliens who receive it--they don't run back to Mexico for health care--they come here! We just need to have more ways to purchase and increase competition to keep cost down.

Re: Give them a chance

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio Aug 19th 2009 at 2:32 pm EDT (Updated Aug 19th 2009 at 2:32 pm EDT)

and exactly what are those "Rep ideas on health care finance reform"? Please provide a full list for our readers to consider.

Oh and since you seem convinced we have "the best health care in the world", please explain why:

The U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country on health care but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance.

Looking forward to your response ;-)

Re: Give them a chance

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio Aug 19th 2009 at 2:55 pm EDT (Updated Aug 19th 2009 at 2:55 pm EDT)

Google "Mexican Dental Vacations" and you'll find over 500,000 hits on how you can get lower cost (than in the US), high quality dental care in Mexico and have a vacation at the same time.

It's one of the fastest growing travel plans offered in the US today. Thousands of US citizens are taking advantage of it every day.

Re: Give them a chance

By Chris Aug 19th 2009 at 2:46 pm EDT (Updated Aug 19th 2009 at 2:46 pm EDT)

They've been given many chances but they are unwilling to compromise and work towards a solution. Republicans are likely to all vote no on any bill just like when the Dems gave concessions on the stimulus and they all voted no. They want Obama to fail and Democrats to fail which is why no matter how many claims of "death panels" and "socialism" fall under the light of the facts, they continue to grab for more excuses for why they believe reform(or at least reform proposed by Democrats) is wrong.

This isn't a debate about whether we have the best health care in the world it's about whether we have the ACCESS to health care. The liberty of thousands of individuals is trampled upon by health insurance companies constantly taking their money when it's profitable and denying claims whenever it means they have to pay. It's understandable to be fearful of expanded government, but on this issue it's about time we joined the rest of the civilized world and guaranteed the right to health care, not just when you can afford it or when the insurance companies say it's ok, they'll cover it, but always and without exception.