Why the Public Isn't Buying Obama's Health Care Plan

More now support plan than oppose it

(AP) - The patient is alive and kicking. A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds public support for President Obama's new health care law has risen to its highest point. The nation remains divided, with 45% in favor and 42% opposed to the president's signature domestic accomplishment, but the shift is significant—last month, supporters were outnumbered 39% to 46%. "I thought when people began to realize what was in the health care package that they would see it's a good, solid program," said one respondent. More»

Poll shows 49% in favor of new law, to 40% opposed

(NEWSER) - The ink is barely dry on the new health care reform law, but the public has already come around on it, says a new USA Today/Gallup poll . Among those surveyed, 48% called the law “a good first step,” saying more should be done to reform the system. Roughly half said they were either “encouraged” or “pleased” by the bill’s passage, compared to only 40% who were “disappointed” or “angry.” More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama “is currently just flinging stuff against the wall, in trillion-dollar chunks, to see what sticks,” and his plans for health care are no different, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal writes on Politico. Thanks to failed bailouts and a “trillion-dollar stimulus that has not stimulated,” America is up to its neck in deficits, and the Democrats’ health plans will drive up costs and decrease quality. "This here is a fine pot of gumbo," scolds Jindal, a GOP hopeful for 2012. More»

President is dooming reform effort with 'giveaways': Krugman

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama loves to talk about his post-partisan approach to politics, finding common ground on domestic policy and bringing Republicans into his fold. But on many issues Obama "searches for common ground where none exists," New York Times columnist Paul Krugman writes, and the resulting bills are far too weak. That's what happened with the stimulus package, and on universal health care the president sounds "all too eager to make concessions." More»

His mother had health insurance when she died, and it paid up

(NEWSER) - A recent book on President Obama’s mother undermines his oft-told story that his mother spent the final years of her life battling insurance companies over her medical bills. The book, by New York Times reporter Janny Scott, reveals that Ann Dunham actually had health insurance that readily paid her claims. She did have a dispute, but it was with her disability insurance, the Times reports. And Obama must have known that, because in one letter she turns the case over to “my son and attorney, Barack Obama.” More»