Americans Running Out of Patience on Health Care, Polls Show
A recent CBS News/New York Times Poll, conducted February 5-10, finds that Americans may be running out of patience when it comes to reforming health care – a sentiment President Obama hopes to change with a bipartisan health care summit on Thursday.
The poll, taken before the president unveiled his health care proposal earlier this week, gives the president his lowest marks on handling health care to date. Nearly half (48 percent) of Americans say he has spent too much time on the issue, and increased economic concerns have led to a majority (53 percent) that now say the U.S. cannot afford to fix health care at this time.
623893Mr. Obama has received lukewarm ratings on his handling of health care since CBS News began asking the question last summer. 55 percent now disapprove of his job on the issue, while only 35 percent approve. Even the president's highest approval rating on health care – 49 percent - was short of a majority.
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The poll, taken before the president unveiled his health care proposal earlier this week, gives the president his lowest marks on handling health care to date. Nearly half (48 percent) of Americans say he has spent too much time on the issue, and increased economic concerns have led to a majority (53 percent) that now say the U.S. cannot afford to fix health care at this time.
623893Mr. Obama has received lukewarm ratings on his handling of health care since CBS News began asking the question last summer. 55 percent now disapprove of his job on the issue, while only 35 percent approve. Even the president's highest approval rating on health care – 49 percent - was short of a majority.
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New Poll Reveals Surge in Isolationism
(AP)
For the first time in the institute's 45 years conducting the poll, more respondents agreed (49 percent) that the United States "should mind its own business internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own" than disagreed (44 percent). A majority, 76 percent, believes that the country should focus more on problems at home and not concentrate as much on international issues.
Andrew Kohut, the president of the Pew Research Center, told the Associated Press in an interview that the "very bad economy" factored heavily in the growth of isolationist sentiment.
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Obama Faces Challenge with Independents
5749859A recent CBS News Poll suggests there may be some cracks in support among a group that was instrumental in bringing Barack Obama to the White House – independents.
According to a CBS News Poll conducted November 13-16, a declining percentage of independents now approve of the way Mr. Obama is handling his overall job as president as well as some key policy areas compared to last month.
Even though more independents continue to approve (45 percent) than disapprove (40 percent) of the president's overall job performance, the percentage that approves is down 7 points from last month, and the number that disapproves is up 5 points.
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According to a CBS News Poll conducted November 13-16, a declining percentage of independents now approve of the way Mr. Obama is handling his overall job as president as well as some key policy areas compared to last month.
Even though more independents continue to approve (45 percent) than disapprove (40 percent) of the president's overall job performance, the percentage that approves is down 7 points from last month, and the number that disapproves is up 5 points.
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Breaking Down Obama's Approval Rating Slide
The latest CBS News Poll, conducted in early October, found President Obama's approval rating hasn't changed much over the past few months, but it is down from the high he reached in April, as he neared the end of his first hundred days in office.
The president's overall job approval rating was 56 percent in early October, with 34 percent disapproving, and 10 percent saying they don't know. Approval dropped twelve points since April, when 68 percent approved.
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The president's overall job approval rating was 56 percent in early October, with 34 percent disapproving, and 10 percent saying they don't know. Approval dropped twelve points since April, when 68 percent approved.
(CBS)
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Public's Views of Afghanistan War Have Turned Sour
(CBS/AP)
This is a reversal from October 2001, when the U.S. began military action in Afghanistan. With the country still reeling from the September 11th attacks, support for military action in Afghanistan was high and broad. Ninety percent of Americans approved of it, including solid majorities of both Democrats and Republicans.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan
?U.S. MILITARY ATTACKS AGAINST AFGHANISTAN (OCTOBER 2001)
| All | Reps | Dems | Inds | |
| Approve | 90% | 97% | 85% | 87% |
| Disapprove | 6% | 1% | 10% | 6% |
| Don't Know | 4% | 2% | 5% | 7% |
But eight years later the country is split on U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, according to a CBS News/New York Times Poll conduced September 19-23. Forty-seven percent say the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting there, but 42 percent think the U.S. should not be involved. And there is a partisan divide now; most Republicans say the U.S. is doing the right thing, while most Democrats disagree. Independents are divided.
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Americans Split on Health Care as Moral Responsibility
(CBS/AP)
The latest CBS News/New York Times Poll, conducted September 19-23, finds that Americans divide on whether or not the federal government has a moral responsibility to guarantee health care for everyone: 47 percent say the government does, while 48 percent believe it does not.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
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Polling Shows Mixed Views of Ted Kennedy
5266166Sen. Edward Kennedy, the youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and the third longest-serving Senator in U.S. history, had been a polarizing figure in American politics.
In a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in August 2008, Americans voters were divided in their opinion of him: 34 percent held a favorable opinion, while 33 percent viewed him unfavorably. Not surprisingly, the Massachusetts Senator was more popular with Democrats than Republicans.
The poll was taken just before the 2008 Democratic convention where Sen. Kennedy delivered a speech supporting Barack Obama and talked of his signature issue, health care:
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In a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in August 2008, Americans voters were divided in their opinion of him: 34 percent held a favorable opinion, while 33 percent viewed him unfavorably. Not surprisingly, the Massachusetts Senator was more popular with Democrats than Republicans.
The poll was taken just before the 2008 Democratic convention where Sen. Kennedy delivered a speech supporting Barack Obama and talked of his signature issue, health care:
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Polling Shows Public Is Turning Against Afghan War
(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
According to a recent CBS News/New York Times Poll (July 24-28, 2009), only a third of Americans think the war in Afghanistan is going well for the U.S. Most – 57 percent - say the war is going badly. Six U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday and last month was the deadliest for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the war began.
Assessments of the war in Afghanistan are markedly more negative now than at the early stages of the conflict. In October 2001, when the war began, 83 percent of Americans said things were going well for the U.S. there, reaching a high of 93 percent in December of that year.
It was a different story seven years later. Only 27 percent said U.S. efforts in Afghanistan were going well in December 2008 –- an all-time low. Since the start of this year, the percentage who says the war is going well has hovered in the 30s.
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Health Care Polling: The Haves Vs. The Have Nots
5192100As Congress takes their summer recess, the debate over health care reform has certainly not taken a vacation. Recent polling by CBS News takes a look at views on health care reform among two groups: "the haves" (those who have insurance) and "the have nots" (those without it).
Even though these groups find themselves in different situations regarding their own health care, they actually agree on many aspects of the reform proposals. Still, insured Americans, who are generally satisfied with their coverage, are a bit more skeptical than those who are now uninsured.
Two CBS News surveys were combined for this analysis in order to yield larger sample sizes. One was conducted in June, the other in July.
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Even though these groups find themselves in different situations regarding their own health care, they actually agree on many aspects of the reform proposals. Still, insured Americans, who are generally satisfied with their coverage, are a bit more skeptical than those who are now uninsured.
Two CBS News surveys were combined for this analysis in order to yield larger sample sizes. One was conducted in June, the other in July.
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How Do Obama's Ratings Compare?
(CBS)
How does this compare to past presidents?
At 57 percent, President Obama's approval is slightly higher than that of his immediate predecessor, George W. Bush (53 percent) and 18 points higher than the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton (39 percent) at similar points in their presidencies.
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Polls Show Most Say Things Are Going Well in Iraq
(CBS/AP)
?How Are Things Going For The U.S. In Iraq?
| 6/2009 | 4/2009 | 3/2009 | 12/2008 | 9/2008 | |
| Well | 62% | 71% | 64% | 56% | 52% |
| Badly | 31 | 24 | 33 | 39 | 46 |
After years of negative perceptions of the war in Iraq Americans began feeling more positive about the situation there last fall. In September 2008, 52% said things were going well – the first time a majority said so since February 2005 (53%), shortly after Iraqi elections were held.
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Views On Health Care Tied To Income
According to the latest CBS News/New York Times Poll, views on what should happen to the nation's health care system are strongly tied to household income.
Americans with lower incomes want to see a major overhaul of the health care system in the U.S., greater government involvement, and more are willing than their higher-earning counterparts to pay more in taxes in order for all Americans to have health care coverage.
When asked their view of the current U.S. health care system, half of Americans earning less than $30,000 a year think there is so much wrong with the system that it needs to be completely rebuilt -- a higher percentage than any income group. Majorities of those earning more think fundamental changes to the system are needed but stop short of endorsing a totally rebuilt system.
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Americans with lower incomes want to see a major overhaul of the health care system in the U.S., greater government involvement, and more are willing than their higher-earning counterparts to pay more in taxes in order for all Americans to have health care coverage.
When asked their view of the current U.S. health care system, half of Americans earning less than $30,000 a year think there is so much wrong with the system that it needs to be completely rebuilt -- a higher percentage than any income group. Majorities of those earning more think fundamental changes to the system are needed but stop short of endorsing a totally rebuilt system.
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Americans Have Negative Views Of Iran
(CBS)
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is facing three challengers in his bid for re-election. While many think the election may come down to domestic issues in Iran, particularly the economy, Iran's relationship with the United States will likely play a key role.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll conducted in early April asked Americans their views of a number of foreign countries, and Iran received the most negative opinions of any country -- 87 percent said they view Iran unfavorably. That figure included 47 percent who held a "very" unfavorable opinion of the country.
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Support Grows For Same-Sex Marriage
(CBS)
Despite the measure and ruling, however, recent polling shows that support for same-sex marriage in the state appears to be growing. A Field Poll released in March finds that 45 percent of California voters say gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry. This number is up from 36 percent in 2006. Another third (34 percent) now support civil unions. (See graphic above.)
California Democrats (58 percent), women (50 percent), liberals (80 percent), younger voters, and those who know a person who is gay or lesbian are more likely to back same-sex marriage.
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Polls Reveal Trends About Taxes
How do Americans really feel about taxes? Well, it depends. It depends on who's getting taxed and what the money is being used for. One's political party and income bracket play a role too.
As "tea party" gatherings to protest taxes and government spending take place across the country, some recent polling data suggests that Americans are not necessarily opposed to taxes.
While solid majorities of Democrats favor increasing taxes to help pay for such things as health care, Republicans are more inclined to oppose such taxes but not in large numbers.
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As "tea party" gatherings to protest taxes and government spending take place across the country, some recent polling data suggests that Americans are not necessarily opposed to taxes.
While solid majorities of Democrats favor increasing taxes to help pay for such things as health care, Republicans are more inclined to oppose such taxes but not in large numbers.
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