CBS News Poll: Congress Gets Low Health Care Grade

[cal04]

CBS News Poll Finds that Most Americans Disapprove of How Both Democrats and Republicans are Handling Health Care Reform
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/09/politics/main5374621.shtml

Congress may be coming closer to creating legislation that would reform the health care system, but Americans give both the Democrats and Republicans in Congress negative marks on handling the issue, according to a CBS News poll conducted Oct. 5 - 8.

Many say the health care debate has been more negative compared to debates on other major issues. In addition, Americans think the Republicans in Congress are not serious about reform -- and a majority would be disappointed if reform doesn't occur.

(snip)
While public assessments of Mr. Obama on this issue are mixed, they are considerably better than the ratings of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Solid majorities of Americans disapprove of the way the Democrats (60 percent) and Republicans (67 percent) are handling health care.

(snip)
Most Americans (61 percent) would be disappointed if Congress doesn't pass health care reform this year and the system continues as it is. Less than a third would be pleased if reforms do not pass.

There's a partisan divide on this question: most Democrats would be disappointed if reform does not pass, while most Republicans would be pleased. Independents sided left on the question, with 60 percent saying they would be disappointed.

[bugfragged]

1. If we got rid of Baucus and the Blue Dogs...

...the Democrats might have gotten favorable percentages.