Healthy Partisanship

The Obama administration has had a large effect on how partisans see the country. On many issues, the percentage of Republicans saying the nation is losing ground has increased, while the percentage of Democrats expressing this view has declined. The partisan shift is especially pronounced on views of the health care system. In December 2008, two thirds of Democrats said the country was losing ground on the way the health care system is working, while just 31% said the country was making progress or staying about the same. By contrast, just 41% of Republicans thought America was losing ground on health care, while 56% said it was making progress or staying about the same. In December 2010,with President Obama’s health care reform legislation having been signed into law, it is Republicans who overwhelmingly see the country losing ground. Two thirds of Republicans say America is losing ground on health care, while just 29% say it is making progress or staying about the same. Among Democrats, fully 64% now say America is making progress or staying about the same on health care, while just 33% say it is losing ground. Among independents, views about the progress of making the health care system work have become more positive, but the change has not been as dramatic as among Democrats. Read More