Posted on 08/13/2009 10:05:27 AM PDT by LdSentinal
For the first time in over two years of polling, voters trust Republicans slightly more than Democrats on the handling of the issue of health care. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that voters favor the GOP on the issue 44% to 41%.
Democrats held a four-point lead on the issue last month and a 10-point lead in June. For most of the past two years, more than 50% of voters said they trusted Democrats on health care. The latest results mark the lowest level of support measured for the party on the now-contentious issue.
Public support for the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats has fallen to a new low with just 42% of U.S. voters now in favor of it. That’s down five points from two weeks ago and down eight points from six weeks ago.
Overall, Republicans lead Democrats in terms of voter trust on eight out of 10 key issues for the second consecutive month, and the two are tied on one issue.
Republican candidates continue to hold a modest lead over Democrats for the seventh straight week in the Generic Congressional Ballot.
The GOP now holds a six-point lead on the top issue of the economy, an advantage that has changed little over the past four months.
Health care is not the only issue which the Republicans are enjoying a first-time lead. Voters now trust the GOP more than Democrats on the issue of education, 41% to 38%. This is also the first time in over two years the Republicans have held an advantage on that issue. Democrats led Republicans on education by three points in July and seven points in June.
Republicans lead Democrats on Social Security for the second straight month, this time by a 43% to 39% margin. Social Security is another issue where Democrats have enjoyed consistent leads in recent years.
The GOP maintains a strong 51% to 35% lead on taxes, after holding the same lead in July. Republicans have been trusted more by voters on the issue of taxes in every poll conducted since February.
Recent polling shows that 54% of U.S. voters say tax cuts for the middle class are more important than new spending for health care reform, even as the president’s top economic advisers signal that tax hikes may be necessary to fund the plan. But 76% say it is likely taxes will have to be raised on the middle class to cover the cost of health care reform.
It should not even be close
Story to be buried by the msm. They have been doing a lot of shoveling.
dont both sides have insurance and drug companies lobbys behind them? and dont they court donations at election time? does anyone think the gov will go against these lobbies make healthcare cheaper?
But, that's how it has to be. That's what I believe this time we live in is all about, sadly. It's about people learning the old basic lessons the hard way. They could simply read Poor Richard's Almanac and save themselves the trouble, but that's not how life goes. Hopefully we will see people learn and retain some of these basic life lessons, and thus this era won't have been a complete waste.
When are the Reps going to announce a unified GOP plan? Coburn and Ryan have prepared one, Patient’s Choice Act, but the GOP has not signed on.
That is huge considering how the polls lean to the left.
I’m amazed of this shift, given the apparent lack of action by the GOP. This could be due to a media black-out on GOP plans, or something, but the GOP is leading. Almost as if they are doing this in spite of themselves. Too bad it took electing socialists to the White House and Congress.
Bwa-hahahaha.
This is really amazing, considering the GOP doesn’t even have a health care plan or alternative...
That’s what I’ve been talking about. The GOP using this issue and this opportunity to re-gain relevance.
Anything good in the Patient’s Choice Act?
My fear, of course, is that the Congress, irrespective of party, will serve their big pharma and big insco donators.
It’s similiar to what happened to the Dems. They didn’t do anything to deserve election, but the GOP was so out of touch, corrupt and failed to keep their word they were tossed and Dems won by default. The GOP is benefiting for the same reason. Now if they actually cleaned house and started standing on conservative principle imagine how wide the lead would be? This lead is solely based on the Democrat’s incompetance which is amazing in it’s own.
This two-party system is an absolute joke. Both parties take turns screwing things up and oh, how convenient, the masses forget the other party screwed them just recently.
With all due respect, what is the GOP plan?
Perhaps there just might be hope for our Republic yet.
But the solution will ultimately require the dissolution of all "parties".
"We the people" don't need any self serving career politicians to rule us.
Exactly, I laugh out loud when the Dems accuse the GOP of organizing the opposition and demonstrations against the health care plan. The GOP could not organize itself out of a paper bag.
I think this is why the Dems are so unhinged. They have no experience dealing with an actual grassroots movement and in their frustration are attacking in a clearly tone death manor. The assume that since all their community organization efforts are frauds any from the right must be the same.
I hope they keep of the good work, because the GOP is incapable of doing anything.
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