One provision in the 2012 federal budget that was passed by Republicans on a party-line vote in the U.S. House last week is so unpopular that even 70 percent of tea baggers — a group formerly known as the “Bush base,” whose existence is solely based on its hatred of Pres. Obama — agrees with the president that Medicare and Medicaid should not be cut, according to a new poll from McClatchy-Marist [PDF].
To the question, “Do you support or oppose doing each of the following to deal with the federal budget deficit: Cut Medicare and Medicaid?” 23 percent of tea partyites answered that they supported the cuts, 70 percent opposed and 2 percent were not sure. Among all Republicans, 25 percent supported the cuts and 73 percent opposed.
Among all voters, the response was 18-80 percent in support. Among Democrats, it was 5-92 percent; independents: 23-75 percent.
The Republican approach to Medicare, which is now the party’s official position, is to convert it from a single-payer system into a voucher program that would force seniors to buy health insurance on the open market. The plan, which was developed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), would, in effect, kill Medicare as we know it.
It is not news that tea baggers claim to hate socialism while simultaneously clinging to Social Security and Medicare, the crown jewels of American socialism. During the debate on health-care reform, for example, their demand that the government keep its hands of Medicare was a constant theme.
But while tea baggers may agree with the president that Medicare should be preserved, their hatred for him has not softened. In the same poll, a whopping 80 percent of tea partyites said they disapprove of his job performance.
