Posted on 08/07/2009 4:00:14 PM PDT by freespirited
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared last week that health insurance companies are “villains,” and 25% of U.S. voters agree with her.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% disagree with the speaker and don’t believe health insurers are “villains.” Virtually the same number (38%), however, are not sure, a finding which should give insurers pause as the health care reform debate intensifies.
Fifty percent (50%) of Republicans disagree with Pelosi, as do the plurality (45%) of voters not affiliated with either major political party. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Democrats share her view, but 19% don’t. Yet all three groups have sizable numbers who are not sure.
Still, 80% of those with health insurance rate their own coverage as good or excellent. That’s up 10 points from May.
Higher-income voters are generally less critical of health insurance companies than those who earn less. Voters who make under $20,000 per year are evenly divided on the question.
Pelosi in remarks to reporters on July 30, as reported by The Politico newspaper, said, “The public option — that’s where the insurance companies are making their attacks — it’s almost immoral what they are doing.
“Of course, they’ve been immoral all along,” she said. “They are the villains in this. They have been part of the problem in a major way. They are doing everything in their power to stop a public option from happening, and the public has to know. They have had a good thing going for a long time at the expense of the American people and the health of our country.”
Just 35% of voters support the so-called “public option” - a government health insurance company to compete with private health insurers - as President Obama and congressional Democrats propose in their health care plan. Fifty percent (50%) oppose a government-run health insurance company.
Forty-one percent (41%) of voters have a favorable opinion of the people opposing the health care reform plan at town hall meetings now being conducted by members of Congress, but 35% don’t.
Just 14% of voters give Congress good or excellent marks this month, the lowest rating for the legislators since February.
Fifty-six percent (56%) say Congress is doing a poor job, up nine points since June and the highest level found since October of last year.
Americans are closely divided over the health care reform proposals working their way through Congress, but most remain convinced that the plans will raise costs and hurt the quality of the care they receive.
And they want to change that.
25%? That’s hardly a majority.
NAZI Pelousey, I see a swastika in your future.
You fascist ms piggy.
We already knew a percentage of the population would vote for a grissly bear if he had a D behind his name. I actually thought it would be higher then 25% — we have made progress!
....and government corruption is ok? They TAKE money and then call everyone else evil....idiots!
25%? Low, but not as low as Pelosi’s congress’ approval rating.
If the RATS’ motives are so pure, why is it necessary to vilify ins. companies.
If socialized medicine is best, why didn’t Ted Kennedy go to Canada?
It is no wonder the country is so divided with Obama, Pelosi et al and their hateful class envy. These people are beyond immature, they’re crazy. They care only about themselves, yet there’s enough dumbasses out there to fall for their crapola.
50-60% dont know who she is.
80%+ think Congress are villians
math is easy
I think that Pelosi and her supporters are villains.
Health Insurers are “villians”?? Even if you accept the premise, at least you have a choice. With a single payer government payer system, you have no options.
If insurance companies are villains, so are the auto makers, the airlines, the TV companies, the vacation resort chains, makers of computers, people who bottle vodka, in fact, THAT’S the idea in America, try to offer a BETTER product at a cheaper price. So why doesn’t she risk her OWN personal money, and those who support her to offer the public freedom of choice, and come to her non villain insurance company and get affordable care?
Well, insurance companies ARE corrupt and evil.
I’m surprised the percentage isn’t higher.
But they are schoolchildren compared to big government-run ‘health care’.
After we defeat the socialists we have to go after the evil that infests banks and insurance companies.
Far be it from me to defend the insurance industry, or their banking brethren in crime.
At the end of the day, and if I have to choose, I’ll choose evil criminals that don’t have armies, and a police force, thank you very much.
Hey, grizzlies are useful. They vote for parasites.
Health insurance companies are 100% regulated by ERISA..Federal Regulations and State marketing law. They can only march to Pelosis orders. She needs a big mirror to see the real Villan..mmmI mean Varmint.
Would that include Medicare, Medicaid, and SSI, Ms. Pelosi?
I am a retired Doc and I agree with the 25% of Americans that think health care comppanies are villans. It is raining in Borneo right now. You ask: “what does that have to do with what the “old Doc” started to say.” I say about as much as health care companies being villans and the Obama plan have to do with each other. They are apples and oranges meant to distract. In undergraduate school I had journalism majors in various classes. AS A WHOLE they were not the sharpest knives in the drawer. Sorry but true. I expect a lot of criticism but think about how they just read the teleprompter and regurgitate someting written by a “Mary Mapes” like producer.
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