:: Fact Check #4: “Endorsements” Of Health Care Legislation Are Deceiving
It’s an open secret in Washington that only about 15-20 percent of doctors are members of the AMA. Sermo, a 110,000-member, non-partisan online community of doctors — 25 percent of whom say they are members of the AMA — has recently released polls showing that 92 percent of doctors don’t think the Democratic bills address the “real sources of cost increases,” and 94 percent don’t think there can be “effective” health reform without tort reform (which the Republican bill includes but the Democratic bills do not).
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Recent polls show that seniors are no more in lock-step with the AARP than doctors are with the AMA. Gallup, Rasmussen, and Reuters polls from the past several weeks show that seniors are opposed to the Democratic bills — by margins ranging from 43-38 percent opposed to 59-36 percent opposed. Rasmussen shows that 47 percent of seniors are strongly opposed with only 19 percent strongly in favor.
“Critical Condition”, NRO Weekend (November 6, 2009)
Of the many deceiving aspects of the healthcare reform debate are the significance of “endorsements” of the various proposals. Both the AMA and the AARP have waffled on the concept of reform they endorse. In fact, at times, it appears that the AARP has taken one position in communication with its members and a contrary position in the media.
In any event, it is important to note that the AMA is virtually irrelevant as a measure of physician opinion, representing a bare 20% of doctors. The AARP has likewise run far beyond its purported constituency in endorsing Pelosi-care.
It remains to be seen whether the House of Representatives members will vote for the evolving health care bill or not. In the meantime, these blind endorsements of the most recent House bill (which is even at present in closed door revision sessions), should carry little ballast with the voters who will reshape the Congress in mid-term elections.
