Values-Challenged Governor Bredesen: Approval Ratings On the Decline

Survey USA has just released a poll of the approval ratings of the 50 state governors. (Via Political Wire)

Bredesen's approval rating is definitely on the decline; it's now at 52%. While that may seem decent, it's a dramatic plummet from his 62% approval rating in February.

No surprise there. Unless the Governor does an abrupt aboutface, his popularity will only continue its downward spiral.

Although Phil Bredesen campaigned on the promise to fix the state's expanded Medicaid program, he has since reneged on that promise. If the businessman has his way, 323, 000 Tennesseans will be cut from TennCare, and another few hundred thousand will have their benefits severely curtailed. These include people so seriously ill they will die if the Governor has his way.

Bredesen speaks endlessly of "fiscal responsibility." He doesn't say a word about moral values, or the moral imperative to care for the sick, the elderly, and the disabled.

A few months ago, the Governor spoke disapprovingly of Medicaid. In the Democrat's opinion, Medicaid is altogether too much like socialism:

"The way in which Medicaid pays for services has more in common with a socialist economy than the common-sense economic and business principles that do such a good job allocating resources efficiently in other parts of our American life."

The Democratic Governor is not merely alienating his base. His plan to abandon the sick, the elderly, and the disabled is creating strange political bedfellows as progressives and conservatives increasingly agree that there is something seriously wrong with the values of Phil Bredesen.

For more on Tennessee's healthcare crisis see:
Tennessee Health Care Campaign
Tennessee Justice Center