The Public Favors A Public Option And The Democrats Have A Huge Majority-- So Why Is It So Hard To Pass Meaningful Health Care Reform?

Americans really don't want to get fooled again. According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, out today, a "clear majority" of Americans still backs the public option-- this after millions of dollars spent in Astroturf theatrics, distorted advertising, lobbying, and bribes to corrupt members of Congress (Republicans in general, most of the Blue Dogs and the worst of the sticky-palmed Senate Democrats.) We'll get back to the poll in a moment. I just want to make sure that we all realize who the insurance industry and the Medical-Industrial Complex are targeting right now. Normally we give you career-long totals. The legalistic bribes listed below are only for the current election cycle. First the Insurance Industry (7th biggest industry in "donations to Congress this year):

Chuck Schumer (D-NY)- $172,300
Chris Dodd (D-CT)- $118,750
Melissa Bean (D-IL)- $117,550
Paul Kanjorski (D-PA)- $116,700
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)- $111,800
Barney Frank (D-MA)- $105,249
Eric Cantor (R-VA)- $98,700
Harry Reid (D-NV)- $97,750
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)- $97,350
Earl Pomeroy (D-ND)- $96,550

And those who have taken the most from The Medical-Industrial Complex, again, in the current election cycle only:

Harry Reid (D-NV)- $471,950
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)- $412,450
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)- $349,650
Arlen Specter (R/D-PA)- $324,410
Ron Wyden (D-OR)- $317,500
Richard Burr (R-NC)- $257,869
Kendrick Meek (D-FL)- $247,900
Frank Pallone (D-NJ)- $242,200
Steny Hoyer (D-MD)- $240,810
Patty Murray (D-WA)- $234,650

While the entire Republican caucus-- including Maine Senator Olympia Snowe-- and many of the worst of the corrupt Democrats oppose a public option, the public-- their constituents (the ones who vote for them)-- want to see health care reformed with a public option. According to today's Post "sizable majorities back two key and controversial provisions: both the so-called public option and a new mandate that would require all Americans to carry health insurance. Independents and senior citizens, two groups crucial to the debate, have warmed to the idea of a public option, and are particularly supportive if it would be administered by the states and limited to those without access to affordable private coverage."

All the polling I've seen shows that the public is very wary of politicians who oppose a public option and take big money from special interests. Starting today, by the way, Blue America is running more Blanche Lincoln ads in Arkansas, to commemorate her two votes in the Finance Committee against the public option-- and against the working families of her own state, who both want and need some meaningful health care reform. One national pollster, who examined every single Blue Dog district (52 of them) says any Blue Dog who votes against health care could be in jeopardy of having to become a lobbyist after the 2010 election.

On the issue that has been perhaps the most pronounced flash point in the national debate, 57 percent of all Americans now favor a public insurance option, while 40 percent oppose it. Support has risen since mid-August, when a bare majority, 52 percent, said they favored it. (In a June Post-ABC poll, support was 62 percent.)

If a public plan were run by the states and available only to those who lack affordable private options, support for it jumps to 76 percent. Under those circumstances, even a majority of Republicans, 56 percent, would be in favor of it, about double their level of support without such a limitation.

Fifty-six percent of those polled back a provision mandating that all Americans buy insurance, either through their employers or on their own or through Medicare or Medicaid. That number rises to 71 percent if the government were to provide subsidies for many lower-income Americans to help them buy coverage. With those qualifiers, a majority of Republicans say they support the mandate.

Faced with a basic choice that soon may confront the administration and Democratic congressional leaders, a slim majority of Americans, 51 percent, would prefer a plan that included some form of government insurance for people who cannot get affordable private coverage even if it had no GOP support in Congress. Thirty-seven percent would rather have a bipartisan plan that did not feature a public option. Republicans and Democrats are on opposite sides of this question, while independents prefer a bill that includes a public option but does not have Republican support, by 52 percent to 35 percent.

As Alan Grayson has been saying, few Americans care if the final bill is "bipartisan" or whether Olympia Snowe votes for it or not. What they care about is that its a bill with us in mind, not lobbyists and Insurance Industry CEOs. Senate Finance Committee member Ron Wyden (D-OR) was on with Olbermann last night discussing the shape of a public option and whether or not it's likely that one will be included in the final bill. It's an interesting piece and worth watching: