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Crimson Hexagon Inc. and NBCPolitics.com
Social media campaign analysis for Tuesday, Oct. 2. Click the image for the full daily report.
Throughout a summer of political turmoil over the budget, taxes, national security and gaffes, one issue — health care — has consistently defined the presidential campaign as President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney head into their first debate Wednesday evening, according to NBCPolitics.com's computer-assisted analysis of more than 3 million comments on Twitter and Facebook.
Every day since June 28 — when the Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which Obama signed into law in 2010 — "Health Care" has been the No. 1 driver of conversation about the president, making up more than a quarter of positive commentary, according to the analysis:
Among negative commenters, "Obamacare" has consistently been the top driver, as well, only occasionally trumped by "Gas Prices":
Taken together, the two categories make up slightly more than 44 percent of all commentary on Obama over the 3+-month period, an emphasis that's easy to see in this visual representation of all election conversation around the president:
For this report, NBCPolitics.com analyzed 3.46 million social media posts using ForSight, a data platform developed by Crimson Hexagon Inc., which many research and business organizations have adopted to gauge public opinion in new media.
More social media analysis from NBCPolitics.com
It isn't the same as a traditional survey, which seeks to reflect national opinion; instead, it's a broad, non-predictive snapshot of what's being said by Americans who follow politics and are active on Facebook, Twitter or both at a particular moment in time, and why they're saying it.
Explainer: Can you scientifically quantify social media opinion?
More than three months after the court's decision, and even as the issue has receded in media coverage, health care is still what they're talking about:
For Romney, the debate may offer an opportunity to more clearly define himself. Over the same 3+-month period, primary drivers of positive conversation have emphasized Romney's personal characteristics over specific issues:
Critics of Romney have also zeroed in on their general perception of him. The leading negative topic — by just 1 percentage point — has been "Women's Issues" (generally access to abortion and equal pay). Right after that come questions about his connection to "real Americans," his convictions and his religion.
Likewise — and in contrast with Obama — the visual representation of all 1.14 million posts about Romney indicates a high interest in whether he can win in November, as opposed to his stands on specific issues:
NBCNews.com will live-stream the debate from Denver at 9 p.m. ET.
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I work for a multi-national company. We have people visit from Asia and Europe. When conversation turns to healthcare, they cannot understand the United States and its "for profit" system. A system that benefits from peoples pain and anguish. They have no concept of not being able to see a doctor if you have no money. Why people? Why do we allow ourselves to continue down this path? With our population aging it is only going to get worse. A single payer system, slightly higher taxes to cover EVERY AMERICAN citizen is the way to solve this issue. I have healthcare, a good job. I want every American citizen to have healthcare. If I have to pay slightly more in taxes, so be it. It is better for the whole nation. I am a WE person, NOT a ME person.
I've worked with people from Europe. The family was well to-do. If they didn't have money, their son would have lost his leg after he had an accident. However, since he had money, they came to the US and the leg was saved. Yes, you may get care, but is it the best care?
Guido--see, I have a problem with your single payer system, since it REWARDS the behavior of people who have NOT been responsible by giving them everything that those who HAVE worked hard, postponed having babies until financially established, didn't have "litters'' of babies, much less that they had no way of supporting, STAYED in school or got training in a trade, etc.
And the ME people are the ones who feel like ANYONE else owes them.
I bet you think "we" should also bail out all the homeowners in foreclosure, too, right?
Then what about all the ones of us who SACRIFICED financially to pay OFF our mortgages ourselves? Who would never DREAM of spending so much for phones/plans, computers/internet, HDTV/game 'boys' DVD's, and Cable, who would have SHUDDERED at the thought of what a new car costs now., and who stayed home, rather than eat out, and cooked rather than nuking frozen prepared foods. WHEN does it become 'fair' for those of us who did the RIGHT thing?
See, I don't see you as a WE person, except in the concept of WE get stuff for FREE that WE don't have to make ANY sacrifices whatsoever to pay for, while 'THEY' (those nebulous bad guys) have to PAY for our stupidity/irresponsibility.
And Guido, I'm ALL in favor of assistance to people who have passed insurance company limits with a catastrophic health care crisis. they HAD insurance. I'm ALL for assistance to people who, thru a mental or physical handicap, CANNOT provide for themselves.(as long as they are not having babies)
I'm in favor of assistance to children who have health problems (altho, for many, there are hospitals ALL over the country that provide FREE, state of the art care for kids). But I think that any able bodied, child bearing age adult, who brings kids INTO this world when they have no way of decently feeding, clothing, housing, educating, and providing health care for the FIRST one, much less any more, should be given two choices. Either GET a job (no matter how unappealing you find it), or be put to work on public works projects to pay off your 'tab' you have been running, OR lose the kids. Because they have already PROVEN that they are bad parents.
Guido1735===Just about every Doctor in the Unites States are considered a small business owner. Like every other business in this country the Doctors are providing a service for a price. They started their own businesses and did what any of you can do, become a small business owner.
MOmaid===Since you mentioned health care for children, we have to remind everyone that smokers were taxed an additional .63 cents for every pack of cigarettes we buy.
Now that can't be American Children because they would under Medicaid or normal family coverage. This money went to everyone else. Since they passed Obama-Care they should remove this tax from the sale of cigarettes and give smokers a rebate. That would be great.
BTW Obama and the Democrats passed this thing about as fast as they could and President Bush vetoed this bill many times because of the tax burden on smokers.
@Guido: Your definition of "slightly more taxes" probably isn't quite the same as the current government-in-charge. It isn't paying more in taxes that I mind, it's the singling out a group of people to bear the burden of paying the these costs that bothers me. Obama Care, if it is not repealed, will eventually spin out of cost control. Just like social security, they'll dip into that fund to pay for other money-pit programs and then we'll have to hear about it being an "entitlement". It's all a crock and it amazes me how many people have fallen for it.
After the election is when we will be taxed to death. Obamacare and a defecit tax and Bush tax cuts expiring we will be broke and broker. just there alone could be over 10K per family.
I would rather be taxed to death than die because I couldn't afford to go to the doctor to find out I had a treatable condition. By the time I make up my mind to go to the doctor, it may be too late. I find the system of health care offensive. Poor people go to the hospital any time they want and never pay a dime. They don't even get an invoice. The middle class has to face bankruptcy for treatable conditions.
Orthehighway===You must have a job. If you do well get ready to pay even more for Health Care Taxes than you are now. Obama-Care will add another 35-40 million people to the rolls and many of them have no money. This becomes the way Obama and the Democrats start their redistribution of wealth. They take dollars and services from us and give to those that don't want to pay their way. It will be interesting to see if we can even find a Doctor without waiting months for an appointment.
Obamacare is the first step to allow people to have have care; and the Congress has to work with President Obama to get the cost of the health care down.
Otherwise, it does not matter how our government cut the programs, e.g. MediCal, and it is never caught up with the ridiculous, rising cost of the health care.
Billie, Obamacare was not the first step to allow people to have care. People were getting health care long before Obamacare. And, how many people will still not have health insurance after Obamacare? It is in the millions.
Billie--nope, Obama care is NOT the first step to allow people to have "have"(sic) care--Obama care takes the WORST offender in the cost of health care (big health insurance companies) and HANDS Them 30 MILLION new, healthy FORCED customers to take all the 'risk' of insurance off the table while puffing the insurance company's bottom line up.
Billie-2352729===Ha, ha and you believe Obama and the Democrats? Do you watch or read any news at all? The price for Health-Care across this country has gone up, because of the cost for Obama-Care.
Obama-Care is so massive that they will have to add another 10-15 thousand IRS agents just to collect those premiums. Doesn't that sound nice? The IRS is the collection agency for Obama-Care. That scares the hell out of me. The IRS takes what it wants when you owe them money. So watch out.
Romney should make a bolder move and promise to repeal any univ. health care plan new to our way of life. Pay or be fined politics is not right. Lib care we know what that is like. Like the EU where there is no freedom of speech. Dog wood if they are ever heard. They can't say anything about their country or they will never see a doctor ehh . He died waiting ohhh my.. Take charde of your life and work hard for care. Problem is we have cronies running the economy turning us all socialist.
Anyone who lists gas prices and president in the same sentence loses all credibility with me because this is one of the things that is so far out of the control of ANY president it does not even merit a mention. When you look at investment schemes, global economic policy, supply / demand, even weather as just a few things that cause gas prices to fluctuate, you realize no president can control it.
The economy improves then we use more oil then the price goes up on all goods then we are back to square one. We must never vote to raise the ceiling again. the GOP promise is to never raise it again and for good reason. Broke balls has the credit card. Put a few billion here and a few trillion there every where a million . Old Obama had a card and used it very well. With a broke bank here and abroke middle class there , everywhere a broke back. old Obama had a farm E-i e-i-ohhh.
I can't wait till Mitt gets elecedt and makes his acceptance speech..MITT where are you...MITT are you there ,,MITT . Can Mitt handle the pressure is the question. Give him a tin foil hat to wear it might help ehh !
ajgorm--as opposed to OBAMA, who had not taken ANY intelligence briefings for MONTHS and only after having that be front page for a week after his ambassador to was SLAUGHTERED, suddently makes a couple?
Who has not held a press conference where he has allowed the Press (and let's face it, the WH Press Corps is MOSTLY made up of reporters who work for the lame stream media, who are mostly sympathetic in reporting on him, and the Pres. CHOOSES who to call on, eliminating any nasty FOX news reporter's.) ALSO for months? Who has been on the campaign trail since his health care bill squeaked thru, to try to make the AMerican PUBLIC changer their opinion (a singular fail!) and to run for his second term?
I'm SHOCKED, SHOCKED, that Obama agreed to ANY debates.
In 2007, while serving as a US Senator, Barack Obama went on a racist diatribe. Watch the 40 minute video of Obama's racist ranting and raving at DailyCaller.com
Martha--while speaking in front of a group of (primarily) Blacks.
Not any different from his speaking in front of a group of HISPANICS and promising to ignore the laws he has sworn to uphold, in order to secure the Hispanic vote, and actually following up on that by 'amnesty-ing' over a million illegals.
I have a hard time voting for any more health care reforms when people who don't have good insurance are paying to get health care for people who don't have any insurance. The new enrollees will now have better health care than those paying for it. I want single payer or nothing. I am sick of paying for other peoples' health care when I still cannot afford to go to the doctor. Stop paying for health care for illegal immigrants until US citizens have health care without going bankrupt. This system is morally wrong. I don't believe illegals should be forced to die on the streets, but those sick enough to require hospitalization should be deported if they can't pay their bills. Either force everybody to pay their bill or force nobody, but the middle class cannot keep this up. It's my big issue.
Or the highway--I'll go you one better--Illegals who require hospitalization (or who use the ER for a cut finger!) should ALL be deported, once their treatment is done enough to allow for that.
And I think they should be required to SIGN permission for that, with NO appeals, before receiving that treatment.
Remember, all those foreign countries supposedly HAVE nationalized health care.
NBC declares Obama the debate winner. Debate to follow.
You can go to a clinic for 50 bucks and find out if you have something serious get real. So we are to insure 400 million people for just in case cases ..uhuh..Tax us for the cost at the end of the year , the less you go the less we spend but if you need to go it should be free. The doctors can bill the government as they do medicare. Then GUESS WHAT ? No more insurance premiums just a flat tax to pay for it as a nation. The univ. health tax is what we should name it.
I would like to know where you can go for medical treatement for 50 bucks that must have been like 10 years ago.
30,000,000 people are going to get a huge government freebie, I guess Obama will get their votes.
No Romney does not want to win, he was ordered not to win. Elections are all bull@!$%#. Our country is not controlled by the people for the people, and hasn't in a long time.
Obama wants us to support health insurance companies for WHAT reason when Gov should insure the under employed while the rest go private if needed or rich enough..
Yeah, have the government run health care and it will done as well as they do the Post Office (wait, this is losing money).
Bookem'Danno--don't forget the stellar job the government has done with AMTRAK.
One tax and dump insurance companies all together. Expand medicare to cover all our needs. PERIOD ! end of monopolization of the health industry for profit. Why do we need insurance companies after Obamacare is anyones gtuess. Grab a number !
What is the current body count of US Border Agents murdered by weapons Obama/Holder provided to Mexican narco-terrorists?
Health Care is very important. The AHCA is the best thing that Obama has done for our country.
Obama/Biden 2012
HelloDock--let me guess, you're a member of the 47%, right?
Health care policies have already jumped 18% because of Obamacare. That's just the beginning.
Yet another democrat oversampled poll.
You people don"t get it with healthcare. The insurance companies win we lose. They have the money and the way to make laws in their favor like car insurance . Have you ever had a car totaled . You can"t do anything about it the law is on their side. Healthcare will be the same after a while and they have laws to get around this healthcare bill.and we will lose big time. There are ways to lower healthcare without insurance being in on it. It is a way to make money for our government and insurance companies while they take away our rights. Obama is nothing more than a insurance/ car salesman that can say what you want to hear while leaving out the important part and make you believe anything he says . That old advice of reading everything even the fine print applies here only think of what he does not say or think of what could happen . He is not for the people he only wants to make history.
Yea, AHCA is so great the politicians passed it without reading it, excluded themselves from it and handed out passes to their doaners.
Willard & Paul's alternate universe string theory where receiving dividends from investing is somehow a job creator. But a middle-class blue-collar job (especially union) is NOT. Reagonomics on steroids. That is, Reagan would not fit in with these Tea-party people. Nor Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower, or, most especially Abraham Lincoln. ALL spinning in their graves.
Policyfirst-- Funny, but MY income is ALL from dividends. And my little bit invested, added to the little bits of OTHER retired folks, is what provides working capital for business to RUN.
And here's a shocker for you--MOST Union PENSION plans are ALSO invested in the market.
And sorry, but all the presidents you quote would ABSOLUTELY be spinning in their graves at what YOU consider to be 'entitlements', much less the taxation required to pay for it.
And By the way, Policy--you DO know that a middle class NON union blue collar job is JUST as vital as any unionista blackmailing thug job is.
It is obvious by some of the cited posts in this article that the voting public is already entrenched in listening only to their own sides media lies about the other candidate. Which makes for a very misinformed electorate unless one turns off the tv and radio and does their own reading and research on all the subjects that are important in this election. It is a sad statement on our country when all we have are uninformed people sounding off on really important political issues. Get informed before you speak about your side! Maybe that is the root of the problem...the media on both sides beats the drum and the watchers and listeners march in step...so nothing real ever gets discussed anymore. Try turning off your tvs and radios and think for yourself and read about the issues for yourself..instead of relying on highly paid entertainers to tell you how you should think.
Catherine Erickson--sadly, the PRINT media is also more and more partisan.
When I was in HS, Time was lib, US News and world reports, fairly conservative, and Newsweek was middle of the road.
Now, Time is UBER lib, Newsweek is Lib, and US News and World report is middle of the road.
and yes, there are also uber Conservative mags and papers, too. They just are les likely to portray themselves and non-biased.
Have any of you who say we should be on a single payer system been on one? You wait months to see a specialist, you wait weeks to have tests done and by that point your illness has advanced so you need a more significant surgery....let's no forget about the government appointed watchdogs that will be approving you pacemaker, heart transplant and a hip replacement they will make the decision no you and your doctor! Oh and in Canada you still have to have a supplemental health insurance to cover prescriptions, which OHP does not cover.
If the Yellow Journalist of the main stream media really wanted to give the American People the facts they would report on everything and not pick and choose. They made a mountain out of a statement Romney made over the embassy attacks instead of reporting on the fact the embassies were attacked and Obama flew off to Vegas for a fundraiser...the media is so afraid of being called racists when in fact that is what they are doing by not reporting all the news.
I'll never understand how anyone could think or expect ANY president to walk into what President Obama walked into, just when the fallout from the Wall Street disaster was beginning to be realized, and he inherited two UNPAID wars, and because of the Wall Street mess, housing is tanking, the economy is tanking, and President Obama is supposed to FIX all this in FOUR years, AND get bin Ladin (which he managed to do when Bush couldn't even do it!)? Who do you think he is, God? Give the man a flipping break! We are LUCKY we had Obama and not a clown like any of the Repugnant candidates! We'd be worse off than Greece!
Obama/Biden 2012!
Mrsbuzz--see, sorry, but I VOTED for Obama because he SAID he could.
And sorry also, but the amount of time he spent on his HEALTH CARE Bill, (which does ABSOLUTLEY nothing to improve health care!!) and on campaigning for its acceptance for MONTHS after it was crammed thru by a DEM congress, COULD and SHOULD have been spent working on ways to fix the economy.
And you DO know that the info that led to Obama "getting Bin Ladin" (which I BELIEVE Seal Team 6 actually did) was developed under BUSH?
Obama's record on the economy speaks volumes, and not a bit of it is positive.
And one REASON why we will JOIN GREECE will be because, like the government of Greece, we are spending MORE money we don't have, in 4 years, than BUSH spent in 8.
And that is EXACTLY what Obama said he was NOT going to do.
Mrsbuzz
Are you kidding me...they spent 872 billion on supposed shovel ready jobs that went nowhere...he passed Obamacare that will bankrupt this country...
so, when you need to see a specialist and you wait months remember your vote for the Manchurian Candidate BO!
@mrsbuzz: Bush was far from perfect, he pulled some real boners. BUT ..... I felt safe when he was president. He let the taliban goons know we wouldn't sit back and take their crap. And yes, the deficit climbed $5T during his 8 years in office. But it's climbed $6T in just less than four years with Obama. How is that Bush's fault? If you can remember all his campaign promises, like claiming he was going to cut the deficit in half or resign (yeah right), or bring down unemployment (with liveable job wages), strengthen the boarder (another agent was killed this week), I could go on and on. Face it, you're in love with Obama and can't see straight. People like you rationalize his debacles away and keep blaming bush. Can you please move on with the Bush-Blame game?