Perino claims the public “rejected” the public option; polling shows otherwise

Written by Matt McLaughlin

Published

On Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor Dana Perino claimed that “the public itself rejected resoundedly [sic]” the inclusion of a public health insurance option in health care reform efforts. In fact, numerous polls taken in 2010 have found that a majority or plurality support the creation of a public option.

Perino: “The public option is the thing that the public itself rejected”

From the February 22 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

PERINO: All year long, we talked about the public option. The public option is the thing that the public itself rejected resoundedly, which is why the Democrats are now coming up with this health care summit.

Polls show support for public option

Recent polls show majority support. Contrary to Perino's claim, numerous polls taken in 2010 have found that more Americans support a public option than oppose it, including some showing majority support:

  • A February 17-18 Newsweek poll found that 50 percent of respondents supported "[c]reating a government-administered public health insurance option to compete with private plans," while 42 percent opposed it.
  • A January 28-31 Ipsos/McClatchy poll found that 49 percent supported the “creation of a public entity to directly compete with existing health insurance companies,” while 42 percent opposed it.
  • A January 7-12 Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll found that 53 percent of respondents said they were more likely to support health care legislation if it "[c]reate[s] a government-administered public health insurance option to compete with private health insurance plans." Thirty-one percent of respondents said they would be less likely to support such legislation, while 13 percent said it made no difference.
  • A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, conducted January 8-10, found that "[f]ifty-four percent of people questioned ... support a government-run option, with 46 percent opposed."