Both Sides See Benefit If Health Overhaul Passes
In a case where at least one group likely will be proven wrong, both Dems and GOPers predicted that their party will be helped a lot in the midterm elections if Congress enacts something close to Pres. Obama's latest health care reform plan, according to the new National Journal Congressional Insiders poll.
Among Dems, 55% said that their party will be helped a lot in the elections and another 32% said that they will be helped a little by enactment of the proposal; 14% said that Dems will be hurt. GOPers were even more bullish on their own prospects, with 76% saying that the GOP will be helped a lot and another 24% saying that they will be helped a little; no GOPers said that they would be hurt politically by enactment of Obama's plan.
In comments accompanying their responses, several Dems conceded the party's current political predicament and said that completing health reform was essential. "The Democrats need to get something passed. Otherwise, they will have fallen victim to nothing more than fear-driven attacks," wrote a Dem Congressional Insider.
Another said that with health reform enactment, "people see it's not the end of the world and learn more about its benefits. The more they know about it, the more supportive they are. Best of all, we can begin talking about something else."
From the GOP side, a Congressional Insider said that completion of health reform "would be an act of political suicide." Another wrote, "Democrats are trapped: They have wasted over a year pushing a plan no one wants but don't have a Plan B, so they'll make their team walk the plank one more time."
Also in this week's poll, the Congressional Insiders voted on whether the Obama admin would be better off if two top WH aides had more influence or less influence. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel got a mixed grade from each party, with 40% of Dems and 47% of GOP responding that he ought to have more influence.
"The only way the Obama administration rights the ship is the through the pragmatic bare-knuckles approaches pushed by Emanuel," responded a sympathetic Dem. A GOP supporter wrote, "He's one of the few people in the White House who isn't beholden to the wacko Left."
Among Emanuel's critics, a Dem responded that "he has no moral compass and disdains all who do," and a GOPer said that "now, more than ever, the White House needs an adult in the room. Rahm's not it."
For Obama's chief communications adviser, David Axelrod, Dems leaned slightly negative -- ranging from a supporter who praised his "calming effect on all" to a critic who said, "He disdains all politicians because he thinks they have no moral compass." Among GOPers, Axelrod did not receive a single vote in favor of more influence. The GOP attacks ranged from "he still hasn't figured out that Obama isn't the Messiah" to "pure partisan hack."
For complete results and comments from the Congressional Insiders on both questions, click here.