The 2009 Netroots straw poll has some surprising results on Public option. Only a slight majority of attendees—53 percent—said they cannot support a health care reform bill that does not include a public option.
The The poll was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, in conjunction with Democracy Corps and Campaign for America’s Future.
Poll results below
Q.17 Please read the pairs of statements below and for each indicate if the FIRST statement or
the SECOND statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right
I will support a health
care reform bill even
without a public option as
long as it expands
affordable coverage to all
Americans and prevents
insurance companies from
denying coverage.
OR
A public option is the only
way to truly hold insurance
companies accountable
and bring down costs and I
will not support a health
care reform bill without it
1st Stmt Strng ---------------------- 10
1st Stmt Not Strng ------------------- 16
2nd Stmt Not Strng --------------------- 11
2nd Stmt Strng ------------------------- 42
Both ---------------------------------- 5
Neither -------------------------------- 4
DK/ Ref -------------------------------- 12
Total 1st Stmt -------------------------- 26
Total 2nd Stmt --------------------------- 53
1st - 2nd ------------------------------ -27
I expected to see an overwhelming majority, 53% is a little disappointing for me considering about 80% described themselves as either liberal or progressive.Just 9% was moderate.
Q.23 Please choose the term that best describes how you think of yourself in political terms.
Total
Liberal .................................................. 26
Progressive ............. ........................... 54
Moderate .................. .............................. 9
Conservative ......................................... .... -
(Don't know/Refuse)........................................ 11
The straw-poll results showed that progressives are sharply focused on passing comprehensive health care reform, with 60 percent of attendees rating health care reform as one of their top two priorities. Roughly a quarter—23 percent—said they are already personally working to pass reform.
Q.11 Please indicate which TWO you think progressive activists should be focusing their attention and efforts on the most
Total
Passing comprehensive health care reform........................ 60
Passing green energy policies that address
environmental concerns ........................................ 22
Working to enact progressive economic policies ................ 19
Working to elect progressive candidates in the 2010
elections ...................................................... 17
Working to enact President Obama's agenda generally ..... 16
Countering right-wing attacks on Obama and his
agenda ......................................................... 13
Increasing accessibility to quality education for all........... 9
Passing legislation to make it easier for workers to
organize ....................................................... 8
Working to end our military involvement in Iraq and
Afghanistan .................................................... 8
Working to expand rights to those in the LGBT
community....................................................... 6
Passing comprehensive immigration reform ........................ 5
President Obama has faced sharp criticism from the left, his approval rating among attendees did not reflect it. 95% percent approved of his performance while 5% disapprove.
Tough love huh?
Q.2 Please indicate if you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job
as president?
Total
Strongly approve .......................51
Somewhat approve ..................... 44
Somewhat disapprove.................... 3
Strongly disapprove.................... 2
Total approve...... .................. 95
Total disapprove ....................... 5
Former Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin was extremely unpopular with conference attendees: Just 1 percent rated Palin favorably, compared to 88 percent who rated her unfavorably. 36% rated Palin as the easiest Republican presidential nominee to defeat in 2012, followed by former Sen. Rick Santorum, who was rated easiest to beat by 20 percent, and Louisiana GOP Gov. Bobby Jindal, who was the choice of 12 percent.
More results
here