Reply #1: I don't understand what digby is saying

[muriel_volestrangler]

"Cilizza himself writes in the same piece that polls show that a majority support Obama on health care reform --- and always have". Huh?

Cilizza writes:

43

That's the percentage of Americans who say they approved of the way President Barack Obama has handled the health care debate as compared to 52 percent who disapproved, according to new data from Gallup.

What's fascinating about that number is that it is virtually unchanged from similar surveys in July and August done by Gallup. The July survey showed Obama's approval/disapproval on his handling of health care at 44 percent/50 percent and an August poll put it at 43 percent to 49 percent.

So the Gallup poll has said more disapproved than approved, in July , August and September. The only poll showing more approving Obama's handling is "a CNN/ORC survey in September showed that number moving up to 51 percent".

Digby just seems to have got the numbers back to front, to me. :shrug:

What worries me is this Gallup poll (part of the same one, I guess):

Americans are closely divided as to whether Congress should pass a healthcare bill this year. Thirty-eight percent say they would advise their member to vote for a bill, 40% would advise a "no" vote, and 22% do not have an opinion. When the leanings of those without an opinion are taken into account, 50% of Americans favor or lean toward favoring a bill, while 47% oppose it or lean toward opposition.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/122957/Healthcare-Bill-Supporters-Cite-Uninsured-Foes-Big-Govt.aspx

So it's basically even on whether any healthcare bill should be passed at all. WTF? What the hell did people vote Democratic (both president and Congress) for in 2008, if not to do things like pass healthcare reform?