Posted on 08/14/2009 5:31:03 AM PDT by markomalley
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.
The parties are tied this month on the issue of the war in Iraq, each receiving 42% support. The GOP held a four-point lead on the issue last month and an eight-point lead in June. Republicans hold a 47% to 43% lead on national security and the War on Terror, after leading by nine points last month.
New polling shows that Americans remain skeptical of most of the countries in the Middle East as one war in the region winds down and another one intensifies.
The only issue the Democrats currently hold an advantage on this month is government ethics and corruption. Democrats now lead 34% to 31% on the issue, after trailing Republicans for the past two months.
Finally, Republicans hold a 46% to 36% lead on abortion, up from a seven-point lead last month.
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Conducted August 5-8, 2009
By Rasmussen Reports
1*I’m going to read you a short list of issues in the news. For each, please let me know which political party you trust more to handle that issue.
First, the economy.
46% Republicans
40% Democrats
14% Not sure
2* National security and the War on Terror
47% Republicans
43% Democrats
10% Not sure
3* The War in Iraq
42% Republicans
42% Democrats
16% Not sure
4* Immigration
43% Republicans
35% Democrats
22% Not sure
5* Government ethics and corruption
31% Republicans
34% Democrats
35% Not sure
6* Taxes
51% Republicans
35% Democrats
15% Not sure
7* Health care
44% Republicans
41% Democrats
15% Not sure
8* Social Security
43% Republicans
39% Democrats
28% Not sure
9* Education
41% Republicans
38% Democrats
21% Not sure
10* Abortion
46% Republicans
36% Democrats
17% Not sure
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence
STEP ONE of ANY healthcare reform absolutely MUST be:
T-O-R-T R-E-F-O-R-M
Step 2- no member of our elected officals can be exempted from the bill they pass. Mandatory enrollment for ALL elected officials (except sitting president who retains an on staff dr DURING his time as president. All former presidents on our healthplan as well)
step 3- ALL legislation MUST be written in PLAIN language, not legaleze so they UNDERSTAND what they are voting for and we can actually read and understand all bills.
“Trust on Issues (Voters Give GOP First-Time Lead on Health Care)”
Was NO ONE paying attention when the GOP had both houses?
Or has it taken only a short time to realize that the Dems are even worse?
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