GOP debate: Romney: Healthcare ‘not worth getting angry about’

The Hill ^ | January 26, 2012 | Joshua Altman

[RFEngineer]

“Very Few” was 70 percent, according to this article and referenced poll.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/poll-70-of-tea-partiers-oppose-cuts-to-medicare-medicaid.php

[fortheDeclaration]

I doubt 70% of the people were voting to against Democrats because of Medicare.

Excuse me if I find that poll suspect.

[Solson]

Good catch! Thanks!

[fortheDeclaration]

Looking at the poll itself it has some odd results. In the question on supporting the shut down of the Gov't, only 13% doing so to keep Medicare from being cut.

55% said they would support it to stop Democrats from increasing the debt.

57% said the top priority was to cut spending, while only 27% said to maintain benefits

One of the top priorities of Congress should be, according by Tea Partiers, reducing the deficit (66%) while only 9% said it should be maintaining services and benifits.

I would consider 9% 'a few' in relation to 66%.

I don't know how they phrased the question regarding Medicare, it may have been a priority question, nothing in the poll actually stated what those responding actually wanted to be cut!

[fortheDeclaration]

Looking at the poll itself it has some odd results. In the question on supporting the shut down of the Gov't, only 13% doing so to keep Medicare from being cut.

55% said they would support it to stop Democrats from increasing the debt.

57% said the top priority was to cut spending, while only 27% said to maintain benefits

One of the top priorities of Congress should be, according by Tea Partiers, reducing the deficit (66%) while only 9% said it should be maintaining services and benefits.

I would consider 9% 'a few' in relation to 66%.

I don't know how they phrased the question regarding Medicare, it may have been a priority question, nothing in the poll actually stated what those responding actually wanted to be cut!

[RFEngineer]

“I doubt 70% of the people were voting to against Democrats because of Medicare.”

Why? It’s a change to the status quo, and people want their benefits from the government, sadly, even conservatives.

Republicans RAN on “decimating medicare”.

Those that decry the loss of liberty,freedom and fairness in Obamacare will find, if they look, the same in Medicare.

Those that decry the cost of Obamacare will find the same unaffordability in Medicare.

“Excuse me if I find that poll suspect.”

You can and should suspect everything that every poll and politician tells you - but the poll is there for you to poke holes in.

Conservatives that do not see that Medicare has all the things you hate about obamacare are deluding themselves. If you disagree, watch as Medicare BECOMES Obamacare.

If a politician says “No change to Medicare and Social Security” they are lying. And they are all lying.

[fortheDeclaration]

I agree that many would not want the benefits changed if they or someone else was dependent on them.

But the fact is only 19% said that they would oppose a Gov't shutdown that was for the purpose of cutting those programs.

The polls also said that they were against Defense cuts as well.

So, the Poll never did say what was suppose to be cut to shrink the deficit.

Again, those polled may have viewed it as a case of priorities, cut those things last, not first.