The common assumption is that it would be devastating for
President Barack Obama and the Democrats if they don't
pass something on health care. But what if they win and
pass something that is deeply unpopular?
As Don Lambro points out in the Washington Times,
the president is losing the popularity game:
The White House remains in deep denial about the growing
unpopularity of President Obama's government health care plan.
Recent polls not only show that a clear majority of voters
disapprove of his government-run entitlement plan; they also
show that key groups who make up that majority - seniors and
independents - are now moving away from the Democrats and
toward Republicans in the 2010 election cycle.
Yet there was White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on
Monday telling reporters "the president believes health care is
in better shape ... we think health care is in a better place."
But the highly regarded Rasmussen poll reported earlier Monday
that "just 41 percent of voters nationwide now favor the health
care reform proposed by President Obama and congressional
Democrats. That's down two points from a week ago and the
lowest level of support yet measured."
The Rasmussen poll shows that a 56 percent majority of
Americans now oppose the plan, and a slight 47 percent to 46
percent plurality say that its passage is unlikely.
Perhaps most telling of all, senior citizens are strongly
opposed to the $1 trillion plan - with a muscular 59 percent of
them opposed and just 33 percent in favor. Significantly, only
16 percent of Americans over 65 years of age "strongly favor"
the Democratic bills, while 46 percent are "strongly opposed."
Maybe these numbers would turn around in the aftermath of
passage of some compromise measure. But maybe not.
Democratic congressional candidates might find it rough going if
the administration is touting as its biggest success a policy
opposed by the majority of Americans.
