As Health Bill nears passage President Obama's support among Liberal Democrats still high 86%

[grantcart]

While DU considers itself representative of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party and appears to be in a revolt against the President polling shows a different result.

The largest non racial group of supporters for the President are those that identify themselves as "Liberal Democrats".

Besides African Americans (90%) the next highest percentage of support comes from people who label themselves as "Liberal Democrats" (86%) with moderate democrats following (83%) and then conservative democrats (77%).

The President recieves support from about half of independents (45%) and only 17% of Republicans.

Other groups that offer high numbers for the President are Non White (72%) and Hispanics (68%).

The President has positive numbers in every region but the South with the East leading at 58%.
.

[silverweb]

1. Good news!

:thumbsup:

[begin_within]

2. They must have skipped over me.

Obama has laid his true colors bare now.

[NanceGreggs]

4. No, they didn't "skip" you ...

You were represented. You're just in the minority.

[cliffordu]

37. Ouch.

:rofl:

[Aramchek]

62. it kills them to find out how few of them there are

that's why they so love the echo chamber that DU provides

[apocalypsehow]

59. Haaaa ha haaaaaaaa ha ha ha ha haaaaaa haaa ha haaa haaa ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa

n/t.

[Aramchek]

63. as will History

[NanceGreggs]

3. Tryin' to dazzle me with facts, are you?

Well, consider me dazzled!

:kick: & REC'D!

[goclark]

5. I'm dazzled too ~ sometimes I think I'm on another planet

that was just found a few months ago.

: )

Happy Holidays to everyone!

[Raine]

6. We'll see how that carries over

in the next two elections the "proof will be in the pudding".

[LoZoccolo]

7. I think we can conjecture that the convulsions are just so much posturing.

I guess if that's the only way someone thinks they can try to get more, they'll do it.

[girl gone mad]

17. Yeah, just like the convulsions over IWR.

Just a few posturing loony leftists.

[LooseWilly]

8. Well, obviously Obama should continue to piss in the Wheaties of "liberal democrats"...

as it seems to be something that "liberal democrats" enjoy.

Mmmm... piss.

I guess this poll shows me that I should give up the label "liberal", or the label "democrat" when describing myself.

For now I'll give up the label "democrat".

Enjoy the talking point though... I'm sure it's good news for Obama. And, let's face it... you're not really concerned with the welfare of the people, just that of Obama. A good day.
:+

[grantcart]

9. your anti Obama screed is not surprising but I am curious

what supernatural powers do you possess that you can discern what are the real concerns of people that you exchange brief comments with in an internet chat room?

[LooseWilly]

19. What supernatural powers?... I am a practitioner of Voudoun!!

Ok, that's bullshit. Just like your 86% support poll. Or maybe both are true.

Who really gives a shit, no?

I don't pretend to "discern the real concerns of people that I exchange brief comment with in an internet chat room".

I just react to the words they choose to spray into the chat room like a cat marking its territory... by calling bullshit, generally. And on the basis of the words that you have sprayed... like a cat in heat... I say that you are a disingenous spewer of shite... though I don't really mean that... I mean that you will wind up thusly, despite your current daydreams of being a worthwhile person... a waste of dendrite capacities is inevitable for you. So sorry...

[grantcart]

43. I am curious then since I spent only spent 7 years working in refugee camps

in Southeast Asia giving up alot of career opportunities just exactly how many years would it take to demonstrate "real concern" for people?

And what great things have you done that demonstrtes "real concern" for people other than occasionally smashing real hard on a keyboard.

[niceypoo]

71. Ironic

I work with refugees now and I think the health care bill, as it stands, is crap. Is looking slightly better the last few days though. I still have some hope.

Wow, everyone on all sides is under some bus or other. Wish they would go to committee and finish this thing so we can see what is left when the smoke clears and the blood stops spilling.

:)

[goclark]

80. LOL ~ you must not have any idea about grantcart

He is one of the best posters that DU has ever had the privilege of viewing.

[girl gone mad]

18. I've always been a registered Independent..

though I've only voted and campaigned for Dems. Most of the younger liberal people I know identify as politically unaffiliated.

[Undercurrent]

10. Great news.

All the Liberal Democrats I know in the real world (may entire family plus most of my friends) share a high approval of our President. I knew we were not alone. :D

[DontTreadOnMe]

12. Does ANYONE know how to read a chart?

Good news?


Ok, let's start here:

Democrats represent 50% of the total Electorate. That mirrors the last three Presidential Elections, so sounds very accurate to me.

REGION: East 58% Midwest 51% South 42% West 53%


So when someone makes the statement that "Liberal Democrats" (86%) with moderate democrats following (83%) and then conservative democrats (77%)",
all I can see is HOW MANY DEMS he has LOST! He is NOT at 100%

So he ONLY lost roughly 15%?

A good number would be above 90% of Dems.



INDEPENDENTS are at 45%! That means 55% DISAPPROVE.

On a positive side, it states 17% Republicans APPROVE. So does that cancel out the 15% of Dems who disapprove?

Looks to me the numbers represent 50/50. Obama won the Presidential by a much larger margin that that. That means the cumulative effect is he has slightly LOST OVERALL SUPPORT since the Election.

Now go ahead... spin that as "Good News"


EDITED TO ADD:

Personally, I think the numbers are meaningless., and that there are more than 15% of Dems that DISAPPROVE, and also that there are MORE than 17% REPUBS that APPROVE.
I can design a poll that will give you ANY numbers that you want.

[apocalypsehow]

64. In other developments, how's the 'thon going? Meeting the goals? n/t.

[Ken Burch]

11. So he has 86% support among members of the third largest political party in Great Britain?

I didn't think they got to vote in OUR elections.

[impik]

13. So you think you can come here, wave with numbers and facts

and convince me that the base is not deserting the president????

Mmmmmmm. Interesting approach...;)

[DontTreadOnMe]

14. Polls like this make some people feel better

Some of us have been around the block.

[Raine]

21. The only polls that really matter are the ones

we'll be seeing in November of 10 & 12 and what those numbers add up to.

[grantcart]

44. no someone actually dared me to do it.

Nothing will convince some people that they are the center of the universe, after all everyone of their friends agree with them!

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. The demographic not discussed is "activists"

There are lots of people out there who consider themselves "conservative", but "conservative activists" tend to have a distinct profile. Conservative activists veered off from mainstream conservatives in the Republican Party quite a while ago. At first their influence was marginalized and contained, but not any longer.

There are far more Americans who would describe themselves as liberals than as "liberal activists".
I'm just writing a short post here, not a thesis, but activists both right and left tend to be much more passionate about their belief systems, and they tune in closely to politics, developing strong opinions about specific issues relevant to their political leanings.

Support for Obama is taking a hit now, perhaps temporary perhaps not, among liberal activists, not so much among those who fit into the broader category of liberals. Liberals in general identified with Obama during the 2008 Presidential campaign season, believing he has their interests at heart. By and large though they are not political junkies. They see "conservatives" attacking their President and his political agenda and liberals continue to stand by Obama.

But this is all a moving picture. Liberal activists have been daily non stop fighting in the trenches over the nuances of health care reform going at least as far back as the dueling health care platforms of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards. Liberal activists have a far deeper and more personal connection to how this issue has played out in Congress than do Liberals in general whose degree of familiarity with the details of the politics involved is more likely informed by a broadcast evening news segment than by detailed debates on political blogs.

The implications of Liberal activists potentially becoming estranged from the Obama Administration will play out over months and years, if indeed that is what happens, not over days and weeks.

[ProSense]

54. You mean like the

ones over at OFA. Obama spoke to more than 280,000 of them recently.

[falcon97]

16. Support?

I support this President and am disappointed in him all at the same time. I'm a complex individual, apparently.

[sabrina 1]

20. That was Nov. I would have answered yes

three weeks ago also. We still had hope and I would not have been willing to make him bad in a poll while we were still waiting to understand what was in the bill.

Now, I know basically what is in the bill, and today found out that there will not be even a chance of PO, he said so. So, my answer today if I was asked, would have to be 'no'. Which only goes to prove the truth of the saying that a week in politics is a very long time.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

22. It's actually December 14-20.

[saracat]

23. Wow. I went to 5 political events loaded with "liberal " Dems this holiday season

as well as several parties attended by mixed groups and found only one Dem who supported this Bill, and she reluctantly supported it. I have no idea who these folks actually polled.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

24. They discuss their methodology.

Maybe your events weren't as mixed as you thought.

[saracat]

27. The political ones were 100% DemocraticThe otheres were mixes.

of GOP, Dem and Indie.And unless state and county party events are now somehow mixed, I have no idea how I could be mistaken.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

29. Yeah, but...we (in general) tend to associate ourselves with like minded individuals.

So it is no surprise that your friends and associates agree with you and my friends and associates agree with me.

[saracat]

32. That may be so but what was surprising is that folks I often don't agree with

were the angriest. Folks who were more party over priciple folks seem to have woken up.The arch liberals I expected to be angry were also mad and many of our candidates are running away from the President and are frustrated and angry. All different types of Dems were unified in their anger as were the GOpers and Indies.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

33. Random sampling implies that is the exception, not the rule.

:shrug:

Your concern about the sample would make sense if this was just one poll. But the numbers have remained fairly steady.

[saracat]

34. Whatever. Election results are the only numbers that matter.

And it is looking not so good for the fall.

[treestar]

41. I think I am going to consider this poll more accurate than your

partying experience.

Dumb, I know. :sarcasm:

[ShortnFiery]

25. Neo-liberal, pro-corporate democrats LOVE this give-away to the Insurance Cartel ...

True LIBERALS and/or ACTIVISTS ... not so much. :(

[SemiCharmedQuark]

26. That seems like a "No True Scotsman" argument.

[ShortnFiery]

28. I know a lot of Centrists, pro corporate democrats who love to use the "liberal" label when

they want their corporate masters to be served-up a heapin' help of OUR Middle Class's Tax Dollars. :grr: All of a sudden they claim to be "LIBERAL" instead of what they truly are (CORPORATE ASS KISSERS).

[SemiCharmedQuark]

30. Problem is that not every person subscribes to ShortnFiery's definition of liberal

[ShortnFiery]

31. No, don't take my word for it, look to Europe? The USA has morphed into a right-wing duopoly.

What was "democratic" in the 70s is now considered "far left."

Now, just the mere fact that we wish to support "the commons" such as fire, police and the school systems automatically labels us FAR LEFT and/or SOCIALISTS. :crazy:

[grantcart]

45. people no longer have the ability to classify themselves, we must do it for them.

[cliffordu]

39. Chronic malcontents, never.

[quaker bill]

35. So the vast majority

of liberals in general and an even greater number of liberals who also call themselves Democrats support the President. This is not surprising, but reading here, one might mistakenly think otherwise. It would seem that Chris Matthews is correct when he identifies the left blogs as out of the mainstream of liberal thought. I rather expected as much.

[Clio the Leo]

36. Good numbers from the Quinnipiac poll as well...

.... which I will post later if no one else has.

[cliffordu]

38. K&R for that good old timey feeling I get with that

Prez. Obama's REAL poll numbers....

[rateyes]

40. Yeah, on 9/12/2001, GWB had a 90% approval rating.

Wait until this so-called HCR bill becomes law.

I'm in the ever-growing 14%.

[quaker bill]

73. I am afraid

you are mistaken. A bill that is a political loser would not attract 60 votes. These guys may not know healthcare policy from beans, but they do know politics. Every state will have an exchange with a not-for-profit healthcare plan, subsidized with about 200 billion federal dollars. It is a no-brainer political success.

Yes, there will be fixes and adjustments to improve the product.

This issue will be completely off the radar by November 2010 for all but the strident few.

[uponit7771]

42. ...but did he save Bambi ?!?! No? well....there you go..

[Armstead]

46. I support Obama -- But I fear he is Screwing the Pooch

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

47. 86% Approval among Liberal Democrats

That suggests one of two alternatives to me:

1) Democratic Underground is wildly out of the mainstream, even of Liberal Democrats, or;

2) Many of the recent accusations being slung around this board are coming from conservative provocateurs.

[grantcart]

48. or 3) your a corporate sell out

you used keyboard, software and computer all made by corporations and then transmitted your message along a network of communication lines made from corporate manufacturers to a for profit internet provider.

:evilgrin:

[Armstead]

50. You seem to be overlooking an important point -- BALANCE

Corporations (most) are neithert all good or all bad.

They do good things. But unless their greedy side is kept in check, they can easily become abusive and roll over the rest of us. There have to be strong checks against that. That is an inherent part of true free enterprise capitalism.

But over the last three decades their power has been allowed to far exceed the ability of the ability to rein their worst sides in.

Thus they have become far too powerful and far too wealthy and actually stifle true free enterprise -- and thety have undermined the middle class in the process.

Turnking a blind eye to that and being dismissive of those who want to restore some balance to the equation is not helpful.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

70. Curse you for stating the obvious!!

:rofl:

Unless you're the friggin' Uni-Bomber, you'd best make peace with doing business with corporations.

[Armstead]

52. Yep we are conservative provocateurs for wanting te actually see real liberal reform

Real good.

(Though I will not deny that there some deliberate trolls here who masquerade as various things.)

[Number23]

49. BS. Danny Glover said black folks are mad at Obama

(Even though I'm sure that's probably not even really what he said and despite the fact that even in the article claiming black "discontent" with Obama the writer acknowledged that Obama is more popular with blacks than black members of Congress in their own districts) so a pox on this Gallup poll of actual Americans, voters and black people.

[Aramchek]

66. Danny Glover is a PUMA

[Number23]

68. Naw he ain't. He's a smart brother with a difference of opinion, nothing more or less

Even though I will forever be haunted by the sight of his naked @ss in "Beloved." That must have been ten years ago when I saw it and I'm STILL not recovered. :scared:

[AspenRose]

74. !

:spray: :hi:

[branders seine]

51. Gallup thinks Ben Nelson is a "liberal."

This means less than nothing.

[stevenleser]

53. This isnt who Gallup thinks is Liberal, it is who self-identifies as Liberal. n/t

[branders seine]

69. among those contacted by Gallup.

clue: Joe Lieberman would likely self-identify to Gallup as liberal.

[stevenleser]

79. LOL

:wow:

:crazy:

:hurts:

If this were anything different from polling agencies then the standard question they ask and have asked for decades, you might, and again I say, MIGHT, have the beginnings of a point. But it isnt anything different, so you dont.

[Cha]

55. KR

[dcsmart]

56. I am not in revolt against the Pres.

[tekisui]

57. The highest drop comes from the 18-29 group, and the greatest

jump seems to be the conservatives, D and R.

I wonder if he is trading the youth vote for the conservative middle?

[yurbud]

58. he's better than GOP, but that doesn't mean we can't expect more

[apocalypsehow]

60. Kick, Rec. n/t.

[depakid]

61. Retrospective data at this point-

wait until the public figures out what's in- and not in the final bill and has time to digest and discuss it.

Also- something to consider- a statement of support to a phone surveyor doesn't translate into enthusiasm- nor boots on the ground.

Fair warning for Rahm- and the legions of the unwary.

[Aramchek]

65. you just can't believe your lyin' Aussie eyes can you?

[depakid]

67. LOL- no, I just know how to conduct and analyze actual research

Both in the social sciences and the hard sciences.

Paid through the nose to learn how- and have been well paid (and not so well paid) for doing so IRL.

[DCBob]

72. I predict these numbers go up once the HCR bill gets passed and into law..

Success breeds success.

[saltpoint]

75. Take a good long look out the window, Mitt and Mike.

You ain't goin' noplace next 'lection, cowboys.

[mzmolly]

76. Nice!

DU is an island unto itself, it seems?

[ShortnFiery]

77. This is such, IMO, bullshit. The M$M "manufacturing consent."

I don't believe this bullshit = 86%? No way!

LIES from the whores of the M$M ... those who do their best at keeping the ruling elites in power. :thumbsdown:

[eridani]

78. Wait until they all get fucked over by the mandate n/t