Despite best efforts by conservatives and media personalities:
A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that most Americans oppose the GOP plan to cut Medicaid, throwing into question the conventional wisdom that this health insurance program for the poor lacks the widespread public support generally attached to Medicare.
Opposition to Medicaid cuts to reduce the deficit proved almost as strong as opposition to cuts to Medicare. Fifty-three percent of respondents said they favored “no reductions” to Medicaid, while 59 percent said the same of Medicare.
And, as big believers in conventional wisdom, Republicans pivot from their plan to end Medicare and shift to their plan to end Medicaid:
Republicans Look to Medicaid as Winner Issue
Senate Finance ranking member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, thinks repealing a piece of the health reform law that keeps states from kicking people off their Medicaid rolls could hitch a ride with legislation to raise the government’s debt limit. “I think we’ve got a shot at putting that in there, but we’ll just have to see.”
While Democrats keep hammering Republicans over a House budget that would turn Medicare into a voucher program, Republicans have been trying to shift the focus back to Medicaid.
Shift the focus. Because, as you know, Medicaid is always referred to as a program for “the poor” and nobody likes those people.
Except. Turns out. Many of those polled know “the poor” personally, because they have relied on Medicaid at one time or another, or know someone who currently relies on Medicaid.