No it's not a typo.
It's increasingly obvious which side of the healthcare debate our corporately owned and run media comes down on.
Take a look at a few of the top news articles posted today regarding a Washington Post/ABC news poll today...
Los Angeles Times:
Public support for Obama on healthcare dips to 49%
Fox News:
Obamas public approval on Healthcare Reform slipping
Washington Post:
Obama's shrinking approval on healthcare
Boston Globe:
Obama under fire on healthcare
Reuters:
Support for Obama slips on healthcare
What the poll actually asked below the fold...
Here's the actual poll data
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
The question that generated the headlies that made all the insurance executives smile today:
- Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling [ITEM]? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
b. Health care
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 49 25 24 44 11 33 7
6/21/09 53 27 26 39 10 29 9
4/24/09 57 NA NA 29 NA NA 13
All of the articles in question give complete credit to "conservative arguments" regarding cost, access, government control etc. being the cause for the decreasing numbers on generic approval ratings on healthcare.
There is no question that the data shows the generic approval numbers are decreasing, but nobody in any of the articles even approaches the possibility that maybe Obama hasn't been STRONG ENOUGH on advocating single payer healthcare or at least a mandatory public option. The argument for this view is supported by another question in the very same poll!:
- Thinking about health care, one proposal to insure nearly everyone would require all Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty on their income tax, excluding those with lower incomes. It would require most employers to offer health coverage or pay a fee. There would be a government-run plan to compete with private insurers. And income taxes on people earning more than 280-thousand dollars a year would be raised to help fund the program. Taken together, would you support or oppose this plan? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 54 32 23 43 10 33 3
So when asked a more detailed version of the question, including some of the most staunchly opposed parts of the plan by conservatives, there is still majority support for the "radical left" ideas that are currently being discussed in Congress.
Unfortunately no trend lines on this one, but the headlines could just have easily stated that 54% of the public approves of a plan to guarantee insurance for everyone, penalize employers who don't offer health coverage, create a government run private plan, and tax high income earners. Why its the very same plan being decried as socialist by conservatives of all stripes!!
Yet, of course, which information is more in line with what the media wants to present?
As has been since the veto of the Fairness Doctrine by Ronald Reagan the media is allied against the interests of the majority of the people. Democrats don't and it appears never will understand the awesome power that has consolidated against them and their constituents.