72% Of Americans, Including 56% Of Democrats, Say Obamacare Is Unconstitutional
According to Gallup, a big majority of Americans (not to mention a smaller but still clear majority of self-described Democrats) say that Obamacare’s health insurance mandate is unconstitutional.
(CNSNews.com) – Seventy-two percent of American adults and 56 percent of self-professed Democrats say that the provision in the health-care law signed by President Barack Obama that requires individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a fine is unconstitutional, says the Gallup Poll.
In March, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear cases challenging the constitutionality of the mandate.
Among Republicans, according to the poll, 94 percent say the mandate is unconstitutional and 6 percent say it constitutional. Among Independents, 70 percent say it is unconstitutional and 21 percent say it is constitutional. In contrast to the 56 percent of Democrats who say the mandate is unconstitutional, only 37 percent say it is constitutional.
This is the same poll which showed that Obamacare is unpopular in swing states, though we should keep in mind that only the popularity of the insurance mandate is being tested here.
There is a very real possibility that the Supreme Court will strike down the insurance mandate, but leave the rest of Obamacare standing. Even without the insurance mandate, there are a number of aspects that are still troubling. For instance, the power the law gives the federal government to determine what our insurance policies will and will not cover (including controversial things like contraception/abortion pills). The ban on insurance companies disqualifying applicants for pre-existing conditions, and mandates for coverage of “children” through the age of 26 on their parent’s policies, are also driving health insurance costs through the roof.
But these other policies aren’t nearly as controversial or unpopular as the insurance mandate. Perhaps because they don’t get as much attention as the individual mandate.
Let’s hope the Supreme Court doesn’t sever the insurance mandate from the rest of the law and strikes down the whole law.
Tags: election 2012, gallup, obamacare, polls
