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StumbleHealth care bill an anchor or a float for Democrats?
Incumbents’ reelection hopes tied to unpopular signature issue
Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada is joined by fellow Democratic senators while speaking about health care Nov. 18 in Washington.
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Reader poll
Sun Archives
- The skinny on the health care reform bills in each chamber of Congress (11-22-2009)
- Senate bill would cover Medicaid expansion for all states (11-19-2009)
- Long-sought, Harry Reid's goal of health care reform a step closer (11-19-2009)
- 2,074-page health bill includes surgery, payroll tax hike (11-18-2009)
- Harry Reid to present $849 billion health care bill (11-18-2009)
Sun Coverage
Rep. Dina Titus speaks at the College of Southern Nevada in Henderson Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009.
On first take the latest polling from Nevada offered a dim outlook for Democrats’ political fortunes: They are struggling to pass health care legislation in Congress that does not appear to have robust support at home.
A slim majority, 53 percent of those polled, opposed what was referred to as “President Barack Obama’s proposal to reform health care.”
Just 39 percent approved.
The legislation that has occupied so much political space in Washington as Obama’s domestic priority is complicating the electoral futures of the state’s Democrats on the Hill.
Both Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader, and Democratic Rep. Dina Titus, a freshman in the House, face disapproval for their actions in support the health care bill, according to recent polling for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Both are facing difficult reelection bids in 2010.
“Health care numbers are definitely a problem for Democrats,” said Tim Sahd, who analyzes House races at National Journal’s Hotline. “They’re suffering right now.”
Part of the problem is the information vacuum, since the Democratic health care bill remains a work in progress and so much of the party’s energy in Congress is focused on resolving disputes among its members.
“There’s just no bill to sell,” Sahd said.
Republican opponents of the bill have not hesitated to fill the void. In Nevada, television ads are running nonstop on both sides of the issue, including many critical of health care reform.
Ted Jelen, a UNLV political science professor, said that by failing to adequately lead the conversation, Democrats “screwed it up completely. They allowed the Republicans to define the terms of the debate, especially in Nevada. They allowed that to go on.”
Yet a closer look at the polling results offers another view of the potential political landscape on the health care issue in the campaign year ahead.
A vast majority of Nevadans want some sort of reform of the existing health care status quo, even as they differ on the extent to which the current system should be altered. Just 9 percent told pollsters that nothing should be done to the current health care system, and 16 percent said the system is basically sound with only minor changes needed.
That robust showing for reform suggests that if Congress passes a bill that is signed into law by the president, Democrats in campaign mode will have an opportunity to build support for their efforts.
Additionally, in several areas the polling found that voters remained undecided on the bill and the actions being taken by those in Congress.
For example, although 39 percent of voters disapproved of Reid’s efforts to pass health care reform in the Senate, 11 percent were unsure. Similarly, 41 percent of those polls approved of Titus’ support for the bill in the House and 47 percent disapproved; a sizable 12 percent remained unsure.
You can expect a full-scale campaign-style effort if health care reform becomes law as Democrats highlight the popular parts of the bill — such as the ban on insurance companies’ ability to deny coverage for preexisting conditions or the Medicare reforms that reduce prescription drug costs for seniors.
The massive legislation that has passed the House and is being debated in the Senate aims to lower the nation’s overall spending on health care while providing coverage for 30 million uninsured, including 500,000 in Nevada.
If Democrats can hold their supporters and capture those who are undecided, they could create a route to victory. “There’s certainly time to clean things up,” Sahd said.
Yet midterm congressional elections are rarely kind to the party in power, and 2010 is shaping up to be a brutal one for the Democrats, who control both the House and Senate, as well as the White House.
The Democratic dominance of the 2006 and 2008 election cycles has come to a close as voters nationally show discontent with incumbency. Voters just last year preferred Democrats to Republicans in Congress by double-digit margins.
Now, the two parties pull almost evenly among voters — more a sign of displeasure with Democrats than of Republican ascendancy, experts said.
“Republicans are enjoying very much a bounce at this point,” Sahd said. “The question is how much. Right now, it seems like a wave is building out there.”
Democrats are also losing independent voters, who are crucial in Nevada, traditionally a swing state.
The Nevada polling indicated that among independents, a must-have group of voters for both Reid and Titus, slim majorities disapproved of their actions in support of health care reform, showing the difficult electoral path ahead.
Reid’s tough reelection bid is well known, as the senator’s poll numbers remain in the basement at 38 percent approval — even after his campaign spent heavily over the past month in a series of early television ads to reintroduce him to Nevadans.
Titus faces a difficult reelection because of the makeup of her politically split district in Southern Nevada. The newspaper’s poll showed her running even in a potential matchup with former state Sen. Joe Heck, one of two Republicans so far in a primary battle, and only slightly besting another potential Republican challenger, businessman Rob Lauer.
Republican strategist Ryan Erwin in Nevada said Democrats have a tough job selling a health care proposal that relies on persuading voters that “the government is better at making decisions than they are.”
“I can’t imagine any educated voter is going to buy that,” said Erwin, a Heck consultant.
But Titus thinks voters have been bombarded by opposition claims, including the now-debunked death panels, that prove not to be true.
Titus is already taking steps to reverse the narrative by marketing the health care legislation to her voters in the first of two mailings that will arrive soon in homes.
“We need to continue to talk to our constituents about the bill and about the good things that are in it,” Titus spokesman Andrew Stoddard said. “There’s room to move the needle on that.”
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"A slim majority, 53 percent of those polled, opposed what was referred to as "President Barack Obama's proposal to reform health care."
Harry Reid called the 53% as saying that those people would had also give their support to slavery.
Hey, 53%....Reid just gave you the big middle finger and he also wants you to vote for him.
I think somebody is missing some gray material between the ears.
"Just 39 percent approved" and that is for a "work in progress" we are still waiting for Harry Greid's "manager's markup"
Harry Gried has likened those opposite to paying for abortions, robbing old folk's Medicare, and creation of a new entitlement program as racists.
Reid said "When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels". (Reid was of course referring to Southern Democrats).
Inept Senator Harry Reid has decided it is okay to have an IMPERFECT Bill.
Don't we already have enough laws that do not work?
This is about our health
Poor harry has lost it. When he says anyone opposed to his view of health care is a bigot he forget how that plays in homes across this state.
Now that harry has thrown in with the Botox lady from San Fransisco in telling us what we think his departure from the Senate is assured.
Poor harry has spent too much time being told how great he is by those in the D.C. beltway and forgot he represents Nevada.
This is the problem. The Chamber of Commerce funded misinformation campaign has spread everywhere with people being confused over every aspect of the bill. And of course, it doesn't help when Democratic leaders talk about giving up what's most important in the bill to please the Blue Dog sellouts, such as the public option and tighter regulation to stop the horrendous insurance industry's highway robbery of us.
There's always been strong majority support for the public option, ending preexisting condition denials, and expanding coverage to everyone. If Harry Reid helps pass a good bill that includes all of this (NOT some lame@ss Blue Dog nothing bill), he'll do fine next year. The GOP is just blowing hot air, and they won't win if we don't let them win.
The slaves need jobs after they're emancipated!
Nevada needs to distance itself from Reid next Fall, he's become a total embarrassment to the state. He goes down slavery road and forgets (age 70) that it was a Democrat named Strom Thurmond who tried to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1957. To top it off he forgot that his "old" buddy Senator Byrd of West Virginia, was a KKK Grand Wizard.
I suppose all of you voicing your opinion against health care reform are happy with the status quo. If that is the case, you should defend the current practices of the insurance industry. Care to muster that anyone?
This bill is so bad that 45 percent of doctors have said they would consider quitting if it is passed. This bill will cost jobs, lead to rationing and will make health care very expensive. It will give government control over every aspect of our lives. The American people don't want this legislation, but they insist on jamming it down our throats.
45 PERCENT OF DOCTORS WOULD CONSIDER QUITTING IF CONGRESS PASSES HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis...
Harry looks like one of the zombies from Resident Evil in that picture...
If this bill is passed Healthcare will become 50 per cent of the GNP instead of 16 per cent. There will be more nursing schools and wheel chair ads on tv. Every school kid will stop at the doctors office on the way home from school. If you make something free every one will suddenly find a need for it.
Christopher Dodd looks like he's trying to pass a stone.
Rassmussen Report
Monday, December 07, 2009
The Senate worked through the weekend on its version of the national health care bill, with President Obama stopping by for a rare Sunday visit, but for the second week in a row, only 41% of U.S. voters favor the health care plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% oppose the plan. And as has been the case for months, the emotion's on the sign of the naysayers: 40% Strongly Oppose the plan, while just 23% Strongly favor it.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_c...
<center><a><img src=http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x249/msgeek703/reaganrecordAMA.jpg alt=Reagan></a><center>
Gried has so bastardized this bill they no longer have a clue what they set out to do many, many months ago.
I'll be voting R for the first time in my life next election.
The old man has got to go!
A perfect example of far too many punches to the head for Searchlight Harry in his younger days. Do the term PUNCHDRUNK have a meaning here?????? As for Dodd he lost his sandwich partner this year so he is in mourning.
Ex-Senator Harry Reid.
Books: I think he's working on the second one.
Democrats love to re-write history to suit whatever idiotic agenda they have going at the moment.
Democrats were the slave owners and they all lived in the south. The entire rest of the country was apposed to owning or allowing the expansion of slavery out of the south.
As for the healthcare bill being a float or an anchor? Really it's just a big club perfect for beating democrats over the head with.
There are cheaper and more effective ways to solve this problem.
If you have family members, friends or co-workers that don't vote or haven't yet registered it's time to make sure they do. Reid and a lot of other Liberal Democrats have to be weeded out of congress and it has to start in the 2010 elections. So please do your part to make sure that your family, friends and co-workers understand whats at stake. I swear they are trying to bring this country down. The majority of Americans don't want ObamaCare, the majority of Americans know now that global warming and cap and tax are hoaxes meant to enslave us to the government and tax us up the you know what.
I wonder if they polled the 500,000 in Nevada who don't have any health insurance. The polls are not very reliable as they try to talk to thousands and only get to hundreds. One of the heads of a polling company admits that is the case. We have to be realistic, intelligent and not use emotions to approach this problem. There is too much politics entering into this rather then concern for all those who will be effected by the outcome.
Still waiting on a defense of the status quo...
All I have read is hyperbole and obstructionism from the right-leaning comments. At least NevadaLine has tried to cite references but unfortunately, governance by polls is an absurdity. You even cite "emotions" for the basis of law which further discredits your "argument." You managed to squeeze in global warming and cap and trade into a health care discussion though...well done Giuliani. Judging from the content and number of posts you have here, I might mistake you for a lobbyist or an operative. Well, at least you've followed the Republican manual quite well...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/02...
My brother is a doctor and he is already upset with the reduced payments he receives from Medicare. I can understand why he wouldn't be happy with cuts in Medicare.
The real problem is that Republicans have no interest in solving the health care problems we have in this country...at least not while the Dems are in power. They are simply using this issue as a springboard into the 2010 election. That, by definition, is playing politics.
The status quo will indisputably lead to higher deficits. No one will argue with that. Yet the Repubs have resolved to not put forth alternatives. The only interest is power. This issue is far too complex to be figured out by only one side or another. NevadaLine might be able to figure it out in an online response to an article though...
The real problem isn't our government. It's our people. The memories of the American people are frighteningly short. The real revelation from the Rasmussen poll is the success of the Republican obstruction campaign and the American people's willingness to subject themselves to it whether it be out of ignorance or convenience. The truth is, we will all be suffering and pointing fingers before you know it.
NevadaLine: How about "NevadaLineofBS"?
Harry exhibits an air of superiority. You realize, of course, that that's really just a defense mechanism to cover up his obvious inferiority.
In theory, ignorant and highly emotional persons are frequently swayed by his bombast and fustian words. But in reality, he says that people are pawns to be used and manipulated. What treachery!
We must act honorably. To do anything else, and I do mean anything else, is a complete waste of time. Harry's apothegms are merely a stalking horse. They mask his secret intention to perpetuate the myth that every word that leaves his mouth is teeming with care for others and useful solutions.
Education is the answer, not putting your ears toward invidious, unholy mind games that are the drivel that masquerades for discourse on this topic of health care.
The facts are in: Sen. Harry Reid believes that those rights and protections which give the American people a voice in this dying democratic society are the cause of the current "social chaos" and must be thwarted and dismantled. He will do this through the nuclear option if need be. This is his vision for America!
How else did you think he got the name, "Dirty Harry."
Harry Reid. Bad for America, bad for Nevada!
"The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency."
-Vladimir Lenin
To suggest that "death panels" have been debunked is playing a game of semantics. The "death panels" phrase is a rhetorical flourish to illustrate the consequences of government-run anything.
When the government inserts itself into the picture, there will be rationing. I know this as a disabled veteran. If you want, you can substitute the phrase "life panels," and it has the same meaning.
By putting the government in charge of healthcare, the GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE WHO GETS HEALTHCARE AND WHO DOESN'T, i.e., picking and choosing who lives and who dies.
Death Panels? Every hospital has one. The hospital administrator keeps track of how much Medicare coverage is left on each patient. Terminal patients just get palliative care anyway and they (hospital) tell you to get the hell out when you've reached the limit. They always hold out enough for a massive dose of Demerol. this is to put you in a coma and a few days later you die. I don't necessarily disagree with the practice but why do they wait till all the money is gone before they ask you to leave?
Phargo, please reference this "free heath care" you speak of. I would love to know who has proposed that. Rube.