Hey Whaddya Know, They Like It!

The main argument we're hearing from the craziest GOP wingers is that America hates this particular health care reform bill (law! HA!  Feels good to say that.)  "The polls show..." is pretty much the first three words of any Mitch McConnell/John Boehner/Eric Cantor presser.

They may not have been fond of the bill.  But the polls show Americans like this law now that it's passed.

Americans by 9 percentage points have a favorable view of the health care overhaul that President Obama signed into law Tuesday, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, a notable turnaround from surveys before the vote that showed a plurality against it.

By 49%-40% those surveyed say it was "a good thing" rather than a bad one that Congress passed the bill. Half describe their reaction in positive terms, as "enthusiastic" or "pleased," while about four in 10 describe it in negative ways, as "disappointed" or "angry."

The largest single group, 48%, calls the bill "a good first step" that should be followed by more action on health care. An additional 4% also have a favorable view, saying the bill makes the most important changes needed in the nation's health care system.

A good first step.  You hear that, Dems?   You've still got work to do to make this law better.  The Senate reconciliation fixes are a start.  The road continues on, and pretty clearly, Americans want you to keep going down that road.

As angry as they are about this, the GOP is right when they say this is not the end of the health care debate.

As BooMan says:

Next up, the Republicans will go to court to challenge the mandate. They'll lose, of course, but they'll score political points like crazy because no one wants to be compelled to buy insurance from a private corporation. The answer, which should be repeated like a mantra, is, "I agree with you, so let's create a publicly-administered alternative. If you don't want to pay for CEO bonuses, cut out the middle man and buy the public option."

The more unpopular the Republicans make the mandate, the more we can re-channel that unpopularity to support for a public alternative. It's a trap that we must set. 

I like that idea very much.