The new Post-ABC News poll shows that 78 percent of Americans don’t want Medicare touched and 69 percent of them don’t want Medicaid touched. These are two of the main drivers of the nation’s long-term debt. But these results are more startling when you look at the cross tabs of who is opposed to cuts to either Medicare or Medicaid (listed respectively).
Republicans 72 percent, 55 percent
Independents 74 percent, 66 percent
Tea Party 69 percent, 56 percent
This tracks with results in the McClatchy-Marist poll (page 20) released on Monday that showed 80 percent of Americans opposing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Their cross tabs are almost identical to those
above.
Republicans 73 percent
Independents 75 percent
Tea Party 70 percent
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/raising-the-debt-ceiling-prognosis-negative/2011/03/04/AF5Q0zIE_blog.html
The Republican budget plan, drafted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (Wis.) and approved by the House last week, calls for a major restructuring of Medicare and Medicaid, with sizable savings in future costs. Obama, in his plan, opposes the GOP’s restructuring, but he has said that future savings will be needed to keep Medicare solvent.
The Post-ABC poll finds that 78 percent oppose cutting spending on Medicare as a way to chip away at the debt. On Medicaid — the government insurance program for the poor — 69 percent disapprove of cuts.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/poll-shows-americans-oppose-entitlement-cuts-to-deal-with-debt-problem/2011/04/19/AFoiAH9D_story.html