Poll: More Approve of Obama on Health Care

CBS News/New York Times Survey Finds More Approve of President's Handling of Health Care Following his Address to Congress

(CBS)  President Barack Obama's recent speeches and public appearances explaining his proposals for health care reform have made some impact, according to a new CBS News/ New York Times poll -- but he still has work to do, and a majority of Americans remain confused.

The president's approval rating for handling health care is up seven points from one month ago, and more Americans overall support his plans than oppose them - but four in 10 say they still don't know enough about the proposals to say.

The public has yet to accept some of the points the president has been making about his reform ideas. For instance, many aren’t sure if illegal immigrants will receive coverage. But three in four Americans think the Republicans have not explained their ideas for reform and are not trying to work with the president.

The President, Congress and the Politics of Reform

Now, 47 percent of Americans approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing handling health care, up seven points from last month, while 45 percent disapprove. In a CBS News Poll conducted before the president's address to Congress on health care earlier this month, just 40 percent approved and 47 percent disapproved.

When asked whether they mostly favor or oppose the changes to the health care system proposed by the president, 46 percent say they don't know enough about those changes to have an opinion. But among those who do have an opinion, more support (30 percent) than oppose (23 percent) the reforms.

Read the Complete Poll

Views on this divide along partisan lines, with more Republicans opposing the reforms and more Democrats in support of the changes. Half of independents don't have an opinion, and the rest are divided.

As many as 59 percent of Americans say they are confused by the current health care reform proposals, while just 37 percent say they understand them. Correspondingly, only 32 percent of Americans say Mr. Obama has clearly explained his plans for health care reform, and 62 percent say he has not.

Republicans in Congress are not doing any better, however. Only 14 percent of Americans say Republicans have clearly explained their plans while 76 percent say they have not.

More CBS News Polls:
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Obama Overexposed? Most Say No
CBS News Poll Database


There is skepticism as to whether Mr. Obama is accurately describing what the results of his proposed health care reforms would be. Just 32 percent think he describes the results of reform accurately. As many as 55 percent think that when he talks about the outcome of his proposed changes to the health care system, he makes it sound better than it will be.

More Americans think the president is describing the current state of the health care system in the U.S. accurately - 47 percent say so.

The public sees both parties in Congress as having political motivations for their stance on Mr. Obama's plans for health care reform. Sixty-four percent say that Republicans are opposed to these changes for political reasons, and 27 percent say it is because they think the proposed reforms would be bad for the country. A smaller majority, 53 percent, think Democrats support the president’s plans for political reasons, while 36 percent think they do so because the reforms would be good for the country.

Policy Issues

During the president's address to Congress, he tried to allay concerns that health care reform would include coverage for illegal immigrants, and that the government would be making end of life decisions for seniors. But despite those assertions, many Americans are uncertain about whether those things would occur, and over a quarter think they will.

Forty-four percent don't know whether the changes being proposed to the health care system will help provide health insurance to illegal immigrants, and another 30 percent think they will. Just 22 percent say they won't.

The public is more divided on whether the reforms would include creating a government entity to decide when to stop providing medical care to the elderly. Nearly half don't know enough to say, and another 26 percent think they will do so, and 23 percent think they would not.

Much of the public remains unconvinced that the reform proposals would benefit them personally; 26 percent say reform would hurt them, and 44 percent say it would have no impact on them. Just 23 percent think they would benefit from reform. Still, that number has risen five points since August.

As for Medicare, more think the program will get worse instead of better. Seniors are especially concerned: 38 percent think if the changes to the health care system are implemented, the Medicare program will become worse. Only 6 percent think it would improve.

Half of the public thinks the government should require all Americans to have health insurance, as long as financial help is provided to those who cannot afford it. Most Democrats (70 percent) support this idea, while Republicans (59 percent) oppose it.

When it comes to footing the bill for expanding health care coverage, 55 percent of Americans approve of raising taxes on households and businesses earning more than $250,000.

There continues to be support for a government-run health insurance plan, or government option, with 65 percent of Americans saying they are in favor of the plan and 26 percent opposing it. In August, 60 percent were in favor of the plan, and 34 percent opposed it.

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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1042 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone September 19-23, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[gboyd41]

No, I do not believe CBS would alter the polls. Would you?

[calcutprograms]

The demagogues are busy here at failing collapsing CBS I see!
This is SOOOOOOOO Pathetic of an online newspaper and tv station.
Well, I guess there has to be a TV & News service for people
with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and this one is it.

[cbs20091]

Read this article about health care in the United States. When are the politicians and the people who go to the town hall meetings to scream, going to realize that we need to have another system in this country? This system is going to bankrupt all of us.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/26/AR2009092602775_pf.html

[govmess]

Obama recently approved a 2% salary increase for all federal employees effective January 1, 2010. Members of the executive, legislative and judicial branch are due for an automatic pay increase in January as well. All this on the backs of seniors who will not incur any COLA increases for several years.


For the first time in history, the Congress will not allow an increase in the social security COLA (cost of living adjustment).

In fact, The Henry J.. Kaiser Family Foundation predicts there may
not be any COLA for the next three years.

However, the per person monthly Medicare insurance premium will be increased from the 2009 premium of $96.40 to $104.20 in 2010 and to $120.20 for the year 2011.

I encourage all seniors not to vote for the incumbent senators/representatives in your state in upcoming elections. It is time WE changed Washington since Obama promised change but has not delivered on his promise!!

[velma179]

by govmess September 25, 2009 5:35 PM EDT

Why are you posting information that is no longer current. Is your right-wing-talking-point website not "refreshing" correctly or just forgetting to publish the truth.

The House already voted to NOT increase Medicare insurance premiums due to the COLA for Social Security not being increased.

Plus --- STOP the "predicts there may be/not be.." comment quoting and then following with and assumption that it is actually a verifiable fact.

Dang.

You folks need to try and work with your fellow Americans, please for the sake of our beloved country.

[mjvwsr]

HEY mtnprivy
nobamo won 53-47...hardly the 15% the poll uses.

[stuart-johns]

President Obama's approval rating stands at 56 percent,

44 percent approve of the president's handling of Afghanistan,

Perceptions of the president's handling of health care, by contrast, have improved, though they are still below 50 percent. Forty-seven percent now say they approve

On the economy, one in two Americans approve of the president's performance

Asked who has better ideas on the economy between the two, 53 percent cited the president while just 27 percent pointed to Republicans in Congress.

On Iraq, fifty-four percent approve of Mr. Obama's handling of the war,

Fifty-eight percent believe he has made about the right number of appearances and is not over-exposed.

Well there ya have it my republican friends. Not nearly as bad as you would have everyone believe huh?

by stuart-johns September 24, 2009 7:20 PM EDT
Obama has a majority of the Americans approval.

Obama has a majority of Americans confidence in handling the economy.

Obama has a majority of Americans feeling his ideas on the economy are better than republican ideas.

Obama has a majority of Americans who like his handling of the Iraq War.

Obama has a majority of Americans feeling that he is NOT over-exposing himself.

Obama is such a failure! How dare children sing songs about "that" man!!

This is a travesty!! Impeach him!!

[starleo146]

Listen we never knew what Bush or even where Cheney was they did all there dirty deeds behind closed doors, helped Big business so much so brought the economy slap down, started 2 wars left one to get oil and now Afghanistan has had plenty of time to stock up on weapons once again with Iran's help.President Obama is doing exactly what he should keep the American people abreast of what he is doing. He is not over exposed this is a media statement cause every time he takes the airways they lose money .If you don't like it, I am sure you don't, I am sure you do not have to listen. At least he tells us the truth.

[psoupy]

Obama your Mama is like a mole, digging this country deeper in a hole.Is it a wonder why he is sinking lower and lower in the poles?

[Readysteady007]

I voted yes for the H.Plan on Topix Republican sheet.Guess what,it flipped and went to the other side saying "NO",even though I said yes for Obama.No wonder their polls stinks.They jamm the system so wether yousay yes or no, all the votes say no..Dont take my word for it go to topix,and click on the vote,ontop it said republicans.You will see ,wether you press yes,it will say no...hahahahahsorry losers ,are fighting like crazy to feel upbeat.all you need is a shrink,you sour losers.Republicans go sit on a nail.will do you good,earthworms

[starleo146]

by WatchDog21 September 25, 2009 12:56 AM EDT
Poll: More Approve of Obama on Health Care ( Don't Think So!!!)

How can anybody take a poll from CBS and New York Times seriously...

Yes folks just believe in Faux Nooz and Glenn Beck and Hannity and all those whackos,who are hijacking our country on your stupidity and brainwashed minds from too much Faux Nooz.Why the FCC lets this go on is beyond me.

[jab232]

If I remember from what I read in The New York Times, this poll shows 65% of those polled favor a public option. I think the Blue Dogs and others should pay attention to numbers like these.

The only way to reign in skyrocketing health care and insurance costs and limit the present abuses such as rescission, pre-existing conditions, high deductibles, and low caps on coverage is to have a strong public option.

[gboyd41]

AH,Stuart,there you are. My fiery little anarchist you. Have you looked up anarchist in the dictionary yet?

[stuart-johns]

Well I was looking until I found another word - basshole and low and behold, there was your picture, and your name was in the synonym column.

[doc_holliday76]

When it comes to footing the bill for expanding health care coverage, 55 percent of Americans approve of raising taxes on households and businesses earning more than $250,000.

There continues to be support for a government-run health insurance plan, or government option, with 65 percent of Americans saying they are in favor of the plan and 26 percent opposing it. In August, 60 percent were in favor of the plan, and 34 percent opposed it.
---------------------------------------





The American MAJORITY has spoken, electing Obama in an electoral college landslide in 2008 to reform our health care debacle.

The vast majority of Americans by a 2:1 ratio, support a government-run health insurance option to compete with the for-profit insurance bozos that have been lobbying hard for their record profits at our expense.

The majority of Americans also support raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans making over $250,000 in order to pay for this needed health care reform and not increase the deficit.

Majority rules in our constitutional republic, so the whiners in the miNOrity party of 'NO,' need to WAKE-UP!

[sjc_1]

I just saw an ad saying that poor families can not afford a tax on unhealthy corn syrup sweetened soft drinks to help pay for health care. If showed a lady getting out of her new SUV going into her lovely new house carrying a grocery bag of soda bottles.

The right wing gets the country into debt, destroys the economy and then says that we now do not have the money to do any of the things that we need to do. That is the ultimate in gall and sadism in American politics. They continue to manipulate after they close out all options and then say you have no choice.

[velma179]

by sjc_1 September 25, 2009 11:22 AM EDT

I have seen that "no soda tax" ad also.

Please.

It is so bogus. They say "soda and juice drinks"... implying juice itself will be taxed. Just another corporate tug at the ignorance and fear of some folks. A few pennies tax on soda pop would not impact a family's food budget -- unless they are VERY unhealthy people.

Soda pop is NOT an item that is essential to FEED our CHILDREN.

As a matter of fact -- it is a huge cause of making our kids SICK -- overweight, diabetes, bone and muscle failures, etc. are not caused by a healthy diet.

We need health care reform MUCH more than cheap treats to make kids sick!

[gboyd41]

rightbehind-so you want to be patient #60 for the day? Be sure to get those 5 questions in at your 2 minute appt. Good luck!

[velma179]

by gboyd41 September 25, 2009 6:12 AM EDT
rightbehind-so you want to be patient #60 for the day? Be sure to get those 5 questions in at your 2 minute appt. Good luck!

gboyd41 -- It seems you haven't been to a doctor's office lately. I say that because you seem to think what you posted would be something NEW!

Okay... today, the average time spent actually WITH the doctor in the exam room is 4-7 minutes. So, being an average... some folks DO only get 2 minutes today.

Health care reform is essential to our country's economic health and our people's physical and mental health!
Period.

[WatchDog21]

Poll: More Approve of Obama on Health Care ( Don't Think So!!!)

How can anybody take a poll from CBS and New York Times seriously....
CBS news can no longer be trusted which also goes for the entire MSM like ABC, CNN, NBC, MSNBC. All these so called news outlets are all in the bed with the Obama Administration!!!!

Hey CBS where's the story about not allowing the Baucus Bill in the Senate to be published for the public. Where's the story about not allowing the CBO to calculate the cost of the bill and make the findings public as well?

The MSM has lost its journalistic integrity!!! Fox News is the only place where the REAL questions are being asked. Not because Fox is driven to destroy the Obama Administration but that they ask the tough questions that the American public want answered. What a big coward Obama is to avoid Fox News!!!!

The liberal left along with MSM take offence to this and can only resort to labeling conservatives and all opponents as either racists, nazis, or domestic terrorists, etc. If you don't agree with Obama your a racist!!! Hmmm does that sound like Jimmy Carter? To sum everything up, MSM only wants to see Obama through rose-colored glasses because they are heavily invested in their 'Chosen One'! The MSM is in denial that there is more to Obama than meets the eye. MSM can't handle the truth so they try to hide it!!!! Too bad the American Public are too smart for the MSM!!!

[stuart-johns]

LMAO!! Yeah right! But we can trust Faux News, right? LMAO!!

[sjc_1]

I think that the President made clear the principles that he believes in. He wanted the Congress to work out the details of what is in the legislation. After the right wing hijacked the process in August, it was time to set the record straight and he did just that.

[rightbehind]

They always have. The news has been twisting stories and spreading misinformation to protect their advertisers. Freedom is not having to line a health care ceos pockets! Strong Public option = Freedom

[bradkt1]

I'm not surprised that public approval of President Obama's plans for health care reform are on the rise. It take a while to sort out and knock down a campaign of right-wing lies.

For all of their bluster, the right wing caused a lot of commotion this summer, but public approval of the right wing is still at or near an all-time low. They scared some spineless Democrats but did their own cause no good.

[gboyd41]

How can you pass a bill, which has a MAJOR impact on the way health care is delivered in this country, with a MINORITY of support-AMAZING! Where are the doctors to suddenly take care of several million patients? They appear busy enough to me already. It appears the good Congresswoman from San Fran, wants to pay the doctors the same pay scale as medicare-which barely covers cost. How many "providers", do you think, will accept this govt. plan?

[rightbehind]

Those who have bills to pay like the rest of us. Looks like they will have to serve more patients.

[stuart-johns]

75% of the doctors in the good ole' USA support healthcare reform with the public option.

[stuart-johns]

gboyd.....Grow up. Americans ALL want reform. The majority of Americans WANT a public option. You and your mental midget republican extremist pals will just have to get over yourselves.

[johndevinejr]

The majority of Doctors favor a government option. There is in fact a majority supporting these reforms. Like most republicans it is clear that you do not understand the meaning of the word majority.

A majority means that one group has the most members (that would be us Democrats). It is not a label. You are not in the majority, you are in the minority. A very obnoxious, rude, uninformed and dishonest group of republicans who oppose these reforms based on bald faced lies.

And it is clear that you know that millions of Americans have no way to obtain health care, but evidently you don't feel that is important.

That is in fact the republican position. If you do not have enough money to pay for medical care, you don't deserve it.
The republican "Death Panel"

[starleo146]

The support of this health care bill is overwhelmingly FOR than against. I only notice these loud mouths who just do not care about the average citizen, these citizens cannot afford a insurance plan at the rate the insurance companies keep charging,while all along denying care for one reason or another. People are filing bankruptcy over there health. pre-existing conditions is another falisly they throw on the people to get out of paying a client. The only one I see against this bill are Legislatures on the right who are in the pocket of these insurance companies they give a lot of money for there campaigns they do not want to give up, also Insurance Co. are pouring money into beating this bill and certainly do not want the Public Option, but without it is giving the insurance co. a great edge. We have to have the Public Option.The last is Faux Noox Glen Beck, and Hannity, Bill O Reiley and above all the owner Murdoch who approve this division only to support the right, and cause great harm to this country. I am not so naive to think everyone thinks alike and I compliment the sane republicans although FEW. These people have a agenda and it is to destroy our president at all costs "BRING HIM DOWN" I think they use,or this is his "Waterloo". Therefore there words are not truly noteworthy to me, and all the shouters and gun carrying fools out there do not love this country, this country is made up of all different kind of ethnic people. As soon as the southern republican gets that and realizes America is a country not a republican orgy to do just what you want, I know you have had your way for eight years but sanity has arrived, so just realize that. President Obama has had a lot to deal with, with absolute no help from the country as a whole, If anything the last administration has done all this to our country and he is working very hard to come to grips with it. I know you can't get through to all on this forum, but this country will come together one way or the other, we can go up or we will go down and you right wingers will be the reason.I wish we would have a march with our guns on our shoulder to shut FAUX NOOZ down for good, they incite people to riot and they deserve to be shut down

[bzzpd]

You can poll all you want to. Look at (usdebtclock.org).......

We owe as citizens...82.7 Trillion dollars of on the book debt...off the book debt...and the monies being used to save the banking industries.

We have 14,900,000 american citizens unemployed at a 9.7 percent unemployment rate.

Divide 14,900,000 by 9.7....it equals 153,608.4 or one percent of the working population.

153,608,240 is one hundred percent of the working population in the United states.

Divide $82,700,000,000,000.00 by 153,608,240 people working.
It equals $538,382.50 for every working american citizen in the United States. Half a million dollars??? Most people only make 1 million dollars in a lifetime.

The United States is bankrupt. We can't afford a Health Care Plan or any other plan.

These officials who have spent, and hidden the United States debt, should be ashamed of themselves. They have bankrupted us all.

Hyperinflation will be the only alternative. If anyone at CBS can count....which I truly question....then report on the next financial dirivative to collapse. The currency dirivatives.

There is way more money in currency dirivatives than there were in bundled mortgages.

You'll be lucky to get two more years out of this economy before the Chinese and Japanese refuse to buy our treasury bills anymore.

[rightbehind]

You math is flawed. I don't want the chinese buying our treasury bills anyway. It's corporate globalist thinking.

[Daves1221]

There should be emphasis on E-Verify being adopted by every business in America, mandatory or not? Now that it?s locked into the US workers psyche, it should be evident to the pro-illegal immigrant groups that--THE PEOPLE--are not letting go of this computer illegal immigrant enforcement application without a fight. It has been ridiculed and ostracized by the US Chamber of Commerce and subjected to federal lawsuits by the anti-sovereignty groups as the ACLU. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but when the Council of Foreign Relation intolerable globalist and internationalists get involved with America?s immigration face-off, you really wonder what their true agenda is? GOOGLE-- across the Internet and understand their plan for the free flow of low income labor in every available industry including Agricultural jobs.

This quasi agency was the machine involved with the inception of NAFTA. Coincidentally, I recall that President Obama and his administration addressed the general public that he would renegotiate the treaties of NAFTA and CAFTA? So far this has not materialized, nor has his promise to implement an open transparent government? He is following the same illusory lines as the Bush presidency, other than National security--remaining secretive?

E-Verify is a very powerful immigration tool that is a composite of the SAVE ACT. Around the country it's building in momentum as more and more companies are intending to use it? It could additionally have multiple future uses, including detecting illegal aliens applying for driver?s licenses. It could also be adapted to apprehend any foreign nationals who apply in any health care reform or any other government benefit. By overturning the 1986 Immigration legislation and enacting a new AMNESTY the American population lose culturally and financially. Another possibility is checking the status of individuals admitted to higher education or schools. Its availability is a free service on the web, by accessing both Homeland Security and the Social Security databases. On an ongoing basis it is seemingly the principle tool to detour anybody who is stealing jobs from the legal population.

It almost succumbed to Democratic leadership, because both Sen Reid and Pelosi had an ulterior motive to kill E-Verify and other immigration enforcement weapons. Having massive illegal immigrant occupation in both Nevada and California and an escalating need to financially support the millions already thriving in all Border States. YOU CAN HELP AMERICAN WORKERS IN THIS JOBLESS SETTINGS AND HALT ANY NEW AMNESTY BY CONTACTING YOUR POLITICIANS AT 202-224-3121. NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & CAPSWEB have many of the true answers for you to decide.

[salmoc44]

If verification legislation made it very far, Beck, Hannity, and Bachman fans would claim it was a gov't plan for rounding Cons up and putting them in camps. And, this would be Big Gov't in action if this was enacted. Don't forget that.