(Despite) Good Insurance News: Women, Minorities Hit Hardest

The left-leaning Robert J Woods Foundation can't seem to help itself. Here are the facts (as reported by the RWJF itself):

"(T)he Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Care Consumer Confidence Index (RWJF Index) found that Americans’ confidence in their health insurance coverage and access to health care rose slightly in June. The RWJF Index rose 3.6 points last month to 102.3, up from the May confidence level of 98.7."

That's a pretty decent bounce, especially coming after months and months of "it's a crisis!" The index is based on monthly surveys of some 500 households (it's not clear how the demographics break down - useful information to have). But this is how that surprisingly good news is portrayed at the top of the email I received from Bob J and company:

"Minorities and individuals with lower incomes report significantly lower confidence in health care."

But of course.

The spin gets even more interesting when one drills down a bit further. According to The Index, over 80% of those surveyed "believe health reform is an important part of addressing the nation’s economic crisis." Of course, the only "economic crisis" lately is the one that's been self-inflicted by our Betters in Washington©. The next item reports that:

"Less than half of all Americans are still worried that they will not be able to pay for their future health care needs in the event of a serious illness."

Okay, you caught me: it doesn't say that.

Instead, the spin goes:

"More than four in 10 of all Americans (43.3%) are worried that they will not be able to pay for their future health care needs in the event of a serious illness."

Nice little sleight of hand there, Bob!

Here's an attention grabber:

"Americans are afraid of losing their insurance in the coming year."

Now, that sure sounds like a lot of folks are losing sleep over this one. But the study actually says that less than one in four of our fellow citizens is worried about such an eventuality.

So why, if there truly is a crisis, must these "advocates" deliberately mislead us about it?

Well, here's one good reason:

"Key House Panel Cancels Health Care Session as Moderate Democrats Voice Concerns"

Despite a filibuster-proof Senate and an overwhelming House majority, these folks can't even sell themselves on "the cure."