The New York Times Selectively Reports Health Insurance Poll Results

Perhaps you spotted the pro-universal health care story on today’s New York Times front page, but what you likely didn’t read speaks volumes about the Times.

The article was an example of selective reporting based on a NY Times/CBS News poll which included loaded questions and only provided liberal answers for respondents to pick from.

One of the most loaded questions asked, “How serious a problem is it for the U.S. that many Americans do not have health insurance – very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious?” Not surprisingly, 70 percent of respondents chose “very serious.” 

In one question, the Times poll had only two options – universal coverage or leaving the system alone. There was no choice of free-market health care reforms or letting individuals have more choices regarding their health insurance.

Poll responses were also contradictory at times, but went unreported by the Times. While 64 percent agreed that the federal government should guarantee health insurance for all Americans – and 48 percent of those people still agreed if it would result in higher insurance costs for themselves – 52 percent were “very concerned” about health care costs in the coming years. Higher taxes certainly wouldn’t do much to help their concerns.

You can find the full story from the Business & Media Institute here. MRC’s TimesWatch also covered this article here.