WaPo's "The Fix" points to new polling by the GOP consultant group, Resurgent (heh) Republic on health care, with the unlikely conclusion that
the American people are not particularly eager for an overhaul of the country's health care system. More than eight in ten Americans say they are either very (45 percent) or somewhat (38 percent) satisfied with the care they and their family receive, according to the survey conducted by GOP pollster Whit Ayres. The data also suggests that a majority (52 percent) would rather their taxes were not increased even if it meant that not everyone would be covered; 39 percent said they would prefer a plan that covered everyone even if it meant a tax increase. And, the costs associated with health care weigh heavily on the minds of Americans in the Resurgent Republican data; health care costs led the way (with 19 percent) when the sample was asked to name their "greatest financial concern."
The part about the costs associated with reform is about the only thing that this poll has in common with the massive amount of mainstream polling that's been done recently. Nate has all the goods on those polls that show consisent support and recognition of the need for reform, and very high numbers of support for a public option.
Interestingly enough, if you go past Ed Gillespie's spin in the memo and the toplines, and dig down deep enough in that Resurgent Republic poll, you find some pretty interesting information. Here's David Weigel:
[T]he internals aren’t that rosy for the Republican position, either. The poll asks this question:
Do you think it is the federal government’s responsibility to provide health care coverage to all Americans, to provide health care coverage only to those who cannot afford it on their own, or not provide health care coverage to anyone and leave it up to individuals to provide their own health care coverage?
Thirty-one percent of people said the government should provide "coverage for all" and 35 percent said "coverage for those who can’t afford it." Only 29 percent said health care coverage should be entirely left to individuals. Among Republicans, 46 percent chose one of the first two options to 51 percent who chose the laissez-faire option.
The poll tests several possible messages for the 2010 election, many of them with tough partisan phrasing, and the public option isn’t as controversial as Republicans might like. Message A:
Americans need a public health insurance plan administered by the federal government to expand choices and control costs by competing with private health insurance companies.
Message B:
A government-run health insurance plan will use taxpayer subsidies to undercut private insurance rates, and force private companies out of business, resulting in everyone going into a government-run plan.
The public option wins out, 47-44, with the only bright spot for Republicans being the preference of independents; 51 percent of them support B, the generic conservative message.
My favorite part is this one: when respondents were given the choice between saying that the problem with health care in America is "greedy insurance companies and drug companies" that should be regulated, or that government regulation would kill innovation and quality in health care, 55 to 39 percent go with the greedy industry needing to be brought under control, and independents agree, 51 to 38 percent.
You'll be hearing the Republicans touting this poll a lot in the coming days, and you'll probably see a lot of reporters who don't get beyond those top lines that Gillespie is pushing. Don't buy it. Even the Republican polling shows support for reform. And the real polling even more so. Look at this phenomenal number from the NYT/CBS poll, beyond the 72 percent support for a public option Barb highlighted earlier:
While 85 percent of respondents said the health care system needed to be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, 77 percent said they were very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of their own care.
If that's not a mandate for real, substantive change, I don't know what is.