On Healthcare, Americans Trust Obama More Than Congress

[Jennicut]

As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tries to advance a healthcare reform bill onto the Senate floor, just under half of Americans, 48%, say they trust the Democrats in Congress to change the nation's healthcare system; 52% express little or no trust in them. Trust in President Obama on healthcare is a bit higher, at 55%, while trust in the Republicans in Congress -- 37% -- is significantly lower.







Republicans' Confidence in Own Party's Leadership Lags Democrats'

These views are predictably partisan in their general direction. Most Democrats express a great deal or fair amount of trust in Obama, as well as in congressional Democrats; they have little to no trust in the Republicans. The reverse is true for Republicans. However, there is a notable difference in degree: a significantly higher proportion of Democrats than Republicans generally trust their own party's leaders on the issue. Eighty-six percent of Democrats trust Obama and 81% trust the Democrats in Congress; by contrast, 61% of Republicans trust the Republicans in Congress.

While Republicans do not trust the president much more than they trust congressional Democrats on healthcare, political independents do see him in a more positive light. This helps lift Obama above the fray, earning him the trust of the slight majority of Americans.http://www.gallup.com/poll/123917/On-Healthcare-Americans-Trust-Obama-More-Than-Congress.aspx

This is good for Obama and bad to the Rethugs although I find Gallup's polls to not always be consistent. The support is not overwhelming for Dems in Congress but it is pitiful for Rethugs. I question those who think the Rethugs will make huge gains in 2010. Their overall ratings and support is still quite low. The Dems will lose some seats but I doubt they lose the majority.

[Clio the Leo]

1. I was watching the Chris Matthews show this morning....

... NOT Hardball, the synidcated "Chris Matthews Show." One of his guests talked to a bunch of college students in FL who had worked for the Obama campaign during the election. She said that while some were frustrated by the pace at things were happening, they weren't blaming the President, they were blaming Congress. I think one thing you'll notice is that he rarely gets blamed for anything. Some accuse him of being too lax, but he's never the bad guy. Congress is or the Blue Dogs, or Gen. McChrystal, or Rahm or Geitner. Despite any drop in job approval, his PERSONAL approval number remains high.

The GOP is so screwed.

And just as an aside, Howard Fineman, who admitted on the show this morning that "I go on cable news and I'm pretty critical of the President" suddenly became an Obama cheerleader. "One thing that you can say about Barack Obama is tht he's patient. Everything he's accomplished has been because he was patient and got it done."

Gave me a new insight into what goes on the regular cable shows .... are they screwing with us? lol

It was a good show .... Chris and the guests had longer to discuss the topic at hand and did it a manner that seemed less like pro wrestling and more like a round table discussion. Everyone should check it out.

[Mudoria]

2. Congress always seems to have terrible polling numbers..

it's always amazed me that the institution is held in such low regard yet the same people always seem to get re-elected. I guess the adage about people hating everyone in Congress but they like their Representative or Senator is true.

[impik]

3. On the other hand

It's the first time this decades that congress is actually working, because the president is overloading them.

[FrenchieCat]

4. That's how I see it; they finally have to work instead of just doing a bunch of talking.

Must be a shock to their system. :rofl: