CNN Poll: President's approval on health care under 50 percent
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/22/art.obama0722.gi.jpg caption="A new CNN Poll of Polls indicates that 47 percent of Americans approve of how President Obama is dealing with health care reform."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Hours before President Barack Obama holds a prime time news conference to push for health care reform, a new CNN Poll of Polls indicates that less than half the country approves of how he's handling the issue.
According to the CNN Poll of Polls, 47 percent approve of how the president's dealing with health care reform, with 44 percent disapproving.
The CNN Poll of Polls on health care was compiled and released on Wednesday. It's an average of the three most recent national surveys to ask about Obama's performance on health care: USA Today/Gallup (July 17-19); ABC/Washington Post (July 15-18) and CBS News (July 9-12).
The ABC News/Washington Post poll, which was released Monday, indicates Obama still has a large advantage over Republicans on the issue. Fifty-four percent of those questioned say they trust Obama to do a better job handling health care than Republicans in Congress, with 34 percent putting more faith in congressional Republicans than the president.
CNN Radio: Obama losing ground on health care
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll taken in June showed that roughly half the country is confused by the major points in Obama's health care proposals, said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "That poll also showed that Americans who understand Obama's proposals support them, while a majority of Americans who are confused by the issue oppose Obama's plan," said Holland. "That may be one reason why Obama is making a prime-time push for his proposals, and doing so in a question-and-answer format."
A separate CNN Poll of Polls puts the president's overall approval rating at 56 percent, with 40 percent disapproving. In early June, Obama's average approval rating was 62 percent. It stood at 61 percent by mid-June, and stayed at that level through the rest of the month.
"Obama remains more popular than most of his policies, including health care," Holland says. "The question is whether he can turn some of that personal popularity into political capital in order to get what he wants out of Congress."
The CNN Poll of Polls on Obama's overall approval was also compiled and released on Wednesday. It's an average of the three most recent national surveys: AP/GfK (July 16-20); USA Today/Gallup (July 17-19); and ABC/Washington Post (July 15-18).
I'd like to know what the exact questions were in this poll. I doubt very seriously that the question was simply, "do you approve of the way that the President is handling health care?" Yes or No. Polls can be twisted to ask/mean anything you want them to. That's why I don't mention the polls, even when they seem to favor the President.
To Congress: Just get it done! Let go of some of those pet projects, your travel expenses and other unnecessary expenses to pay for it, instead of taxing Americans on one end or the other. If you don't pass health care this year, I'm voting to boot you out at the next election. Period! This has gone on long enough.
Fix the problems in the system first before you start spending more money we don't have. This non-plan will simply cost more and create problems we don't need. I totally oppose this strong arm approach from a president who hasn't any idea of the harm he's inflicting on the country. When he and our muddle headed Congress agree to share the same health care system they want to force on the rest of us, they just might have a tiny bit more credibility.
Beware of fair weather supporters....When things are going well they're happy.....When the Dow drops their support drops....You gave Bush 71/2 years to make a mess.....At least give President Obama a year to breach its surface.....Have a little faith - Lose the fear....It's not at all noble......
Republicans have no say in this government.....Left to their wicked devices they would have put a raging McCain and a fickle Palin in office to face these humongous problems....God only knows the state we would be in at this same point in time......Be grateful....
Take a look around, we in Canada are not the only country in the world with universal health care. Many others have this system of healthcare. Don't put any faith into advertising from lobby groups in Washington that are being funded by healthcare insurance providers, the only people that stand to lose money on this issue. No Canadian would ever claim that our healthcare system is perfect, but no one is at risk of losing their home or going into debt to receive the care they need. Don't allow the wealthy to dictate to the majority of the population what type of healthcare you need. I am happy to pay a little more on my taxes to keep our system.
-CNN- the new FOX news channel.
How about you give the anti obama spin a rest! Fox news already has that demographic covered!
I support you, Mr. President. Keep up the amazing work, and Godspeed on your efforts of healthcare reform.
It's obvious that as more people come to understand this bill, more people don't like it.
The President himself said that the bill needed work, yet Pelosi declares that it's almost done. Now the President wants to address the nation TODAY and pitch this same plan which he says needs work.
What needs work are the 10% of Americans who don't have jobs.
Well I guess we better hurry and pass this on through, before catastrophy comes. What catastrophy? America wising up.
If a compilation of 3 liberal polls is under 50% what's the real number?
It will be nice when the polls are shown, the questions asked, be shown as well!
If people don't want health care reform then don't complain about the cost
The Adminisrtation has not sponsored a heath proposal. There are a lot of competing proposals and nobady really has a specific plan to approve or disapprove. IT appears that the classical mistake of sweeping change, covering every aspect has been made again. The key to improvements is one issue at a time. The first should be computerization of data, this will improve safety & efficiency and save money. the next is coverage of those now without coverage.
pelosi is wishing she hadnt forced that climate change vote in the House right about now.
@ john.
"To All Those Who Say State Provided Health Care is Socialism:
1. When State Provides Social Security, is it not Socialism?
2. When State Provides Free Education, is it not Socialism?
3. When State Provides Unemployment Benefits, is it not Socialism?
4. When State Provides Minimum Wage Laws, is it not Socialism?"
John, your sarcasm is obvious. These are nice to have's from the govt. but the difference is that all of these items listed above "currently" have a free market alternative option. If Obamacare passes, it will remove all competition from the market due to price. Soon, all we'll have is govt. owned and run healthcare. The budget for this healthcare will begin to suffer (like every other govt. program – see your list above). Then in order to stay within budget, the govt. will choose who get's what medical care based on their own set of guidelines.
Come on people...look a little into the future. You don't need a crystal ball for this.
Putting the whole country on Medicare is NOT an improvement on the world's best healthcare system. If you think the actual cost will go down, you know nothing about how our bureaucracy web works.
That's okay. It's well established that the GOP are experts at invoking fear among the intellectually challenged. Once it passes and people see the results, that will change.
Why are we or the Dems are surprised about Obama not making any decisions?!!! This is the man that voted "present" for most of his time as an elected representative and it is all he can do! He is a weak person with a huge ego and little leadership abilities. He is sort of learning on the job, but that is not what this nation needed!!! G_d help us all. Hopefully he will not do any permanent damages in the next 3 years before we can vote him and the Dems out of office!!! And unfortunately I am a Democrat saying this and thinking this!!
To LadyLindy @ 12:15PM –
You made the exact same point I was going to make, nearly verbatim. Nice to know there are others who see the question as skewed and not properly phrased.
@ Simmy July 22nd, 2009 12:57 pm ET
You're right Simmy, "the Republicans have no say in govt." This means that it all lies on the shoulders of your beloved Obama, Pelosi, Reed and all the cow towing dems in congress. This economy and healthcare system now BELONG TO THE DEMOCRATS. No more excuses from any of the left wing looney's about Bush this and Bush that. You wanted "change". You got it. It's all on you now. Good luck with that.
All the polls prove is that the masses can easily be fooled. After all, look who got elected to the White House.
Lets show Obama how much we disapprove of this boondoggle of a health plan and not watch him tonight! Poor ratings will make him think twice about going on air to tell us why we need to obey him and I would be willing to bet that stations will not fall all over themselves to air him!! Go to Hollywood if you want to be a tv personality!!!
All of these polls are making my head spin!!!
I fail to understand how the opinion of less than 1000 people are ruling the way the american people think. I have never been asked my opinon – and i certainly don't need to hear how this "fraction" of the public thinks on a minute-by-minute basis
Would that be the 47% who voted him in office? Well remember that 50% of the people are at the income level of not paying taxes so that should be no surprise that that he has their support....after all their still waiting for their checks in the mail and the rest of you ignorant souls who changed parties to vote this ego maniac in office deserve what you get.
As for the rest of us...I hope you all wake up vote all incumbents out of office and REALLY CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
Congressional Dems have been asking President Obama for input on the plan, but he is not helping out, but rather attacking people for not supporting it. I think it is funny how he and others are blaming the Republicans for this when they have enough Dems to pass it, but they (Dems) are starting to see that this is something that needs more time to make sure it is right. Well the right thing is do nothing and really look at the data and not rush into anything. Two great examples TARP and American Reinvestment Act (Stim. Package).... both large bills that were rammed through Congress and both have great results.
Also, Obama is the one who has been running more ads to "scare" people into supporting this. This will be some great TV tonight... I think I will watch some DVR programs or something else.
I am sure Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and Hoyer will all blame the Republicans and Bush for this not passing... guess what that is getting old.
Fix healthcare with Tort reform first. That should lower the costs for all of us.