Health care reform: Obama, Hispanic voters differ on priorities

Hispanic voters are troubled by the direction of the country and are very concerned about the economy, spending, debt and national security, according to a new Resurgent Republic survey. The study, released today, showed that most are responsive to fiscally conservative messages and believe that President Obama is pursuing a different main priority on health care than what they think should be the top priority.

“Hispanic voters have laser-like focus on the economy, job creation and the high levels of spending and debt. As a result, this demographic group is very open to persuasion from fiscally conservative messages”

“Hispanic voters have laser-like focus on the economy, job creation and the high levels of spending and debt. As a result, this demographic group is very open to persuasion from fiscally conservative messages,” said Leslie Sanchez, Resurgent Republic Board Member. “Hispanic voters perceive skyrocketing debt as a direct threat to their children and grandchildren and favor immediate action to reduce it.”

Fiscal conservative messages resonate strongly with Hispanic voters. Fifty-one percent of respondents selected economy/unemployment/better job as their top issue of concern. When offered two viewpoints on what should be the higher priority for the federal government – spending more to help the economy recover or spending less to reduce the budget deficit, 54 percent of Hispanic voters selected less spending.

On health care reform, a majority of Hispanic voters believe that President Obama does not share their top priority. While 46 percent of Hispanic voters say their main priority is to lower the cost of health care for all Americans, 58 percent believe the top priority for President Obama is universal coverage. Overall, fully 57 percent of Hispanic voters believe President Obama is pursuing a priority on health care reform that is different from their own.

On national security, a majority of Hispanic voters are at odds with two of President Obama’s central tenets. Fifty-four percent favor a military tribunal over civilian criminal court for 9-11 terrorists, and 62 percent believe the facility at Guantanamo Bay “helps protect America by keeping terrorists in custody who would kill Americans overseas.”

This study is not without areas of concern for Republicans when it comes to viewpoints on President Obama and Congressional Democrats. Hispanic voters hold favorable images of both President Obama and Congressional Democrats, 69 percent and 55 percent respectively, and a majority of these voters (55 percent) say Obama’s performance has been “about the same” as their expectations.

“Hispanic voters give Democrats majority support, so there are some clear challenges for Republicans if they are to increase their favorability with these voters. But we also see a roadmap focused on spending, debt and national security. On the top priority of health care reform, it’s alarming that President Obama and Hispanic voters have a disconnect this late in the debate.” concluded Ed Goeas, a member of Resurgent Republic’s National Survey Research Advisory Board.

This nationwide study of 800 registered “likely” Hispanic voters was conducted March 7-10, 2010 with a confidence interval of ± 3.5 percent in 19 of 20 cases.

Through a steady stream of national polls and focus groups, Resurgent Republic helps policy makers, think tanks, interest groups and others advocate for policies that are consistent with conservative principles. More information can be found at www.resurgentrepublic.com.