Do Presidential Candidates Really Represent America’s Views on Health Care?
by Fred Fortin
Well, I know I keep harping on this point (made here and here), but let’s review: In answer to the following question asked in an ongoing Kaiser Health Tracking Poll,
“Thinking about all the candidates for president in 2008, regardless of political party or who you intend to vote for, which candidate BEST represents your views on health care?”
Americans responded with “Don’t know/Can’t name/None”
- 60 percent — March 2007
- 59 percent — June 2007
- 59 percent — August 2007
- 50 percent –October 2007
- 53 percent – December 2007
So what gives? With all the incessant talk about health care, are half of the people still in a mood to keep their options open? Where is the groundswell?
I think this is exactly why Obama is standing pat on building a consensus on health care in a country which is still very much divided on the issue. Politicians keep complaining that drug companies etc. are to blame for lack of progress, but methinks that the root cause goes much deeper than that glib explanation.
