78 effing percent

[senseandsensibility]

That's the percentage of Americans who support vaccines, according to the new NBC poll. Democrats should be hitting this, and RFK's attack on the CDC HARD. As Stuart Stevens said this morning, Democrats seem to be afraid of characterizing Republicans using simple, brutal language. How about this? RFK is crazy. Or Republicans are lying about vaccines. Or people will die if we don't stop them.

We should have the wind at our backs here. We should be able to force this charlatan to resign.

[genxlib]

1. It is actually worse than that

The vast majority of the people outside of that 78% are a result of these same anti-science idiots having poisoned the well over the last 20 years.

I wonder what that number was in 2005 and just before Covid.

[senseandsensibility]

2. You make a good point

That's why messaging on this point needs to be swift and brutal before more damage is done.

[popsdenver]

34. Yet another example

of what is critically needed but not being done.

I Repeat:

"They" are still walking down the Jungle Path, swatting at mosquitoes, completely oblivious to the herd of charging Elephants......(pun intended)

Every last Dem in the Congress should be CONSTANTLY outspoken daily and railing on the Republicans in Congress, much like Newsome is doing...............

The dems should be launching a barrage of facts against them on a daily basis, putting THE REPUBLICANS constantly on the Defensive, not the Republicans putting us on the defensive daily........

The down ballot Republicans should be targeted repeatedly, every day, by ALL the down ballot Dems,,,,,, before the next mid-term election......IT IS TRULY *THOSE* REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS THAT HAVE ENABLED MR. POOPY PANTS, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY..........

In addition, these congressional Dems and the Dem party should be going all out, like never before, to make sure Dem voters are legitimately registered, and encouraging the massive numbers of voters who didn't/haven't voted to get registered AND vote in 2026..........

Back in the Clinton's run up to elections, the Clintons and Dems assembled a war room that went into action.....over night they focused on what was being said THAT DAY by the Republicans, and worked all night, every night, making video ads against what was said, and bought ad time on all the major networks to air the next morning and all day, into the evening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the Dem voters rained on their efforts with campaign donations........

[senseandsensibility]

35. We definitely need a War Room

as well as all the offensive actions you describe. Not seeing it yet, I am sorry to say.

[Iggo]

10. I learned during the Baby Bush administration that this country is always 22% stupid, no matter what the issue.

[JT45242]

31. Precovid numbers dating back to 2001

The importance of vaccines. In the 2019 survey, 84% of adults said it was extremely important or very important that parents get their children vaccinated, down from 94% in 2001. At the same time, 4% of adults said it was not at all important that parents get their children vaccinated, up from 1% in 2001.

Advantages and disadvantages of vaccination. Of those surveyed in 2019, 89% said they had personally heard a great deal or a fair amount about the advantages of childhood vaccinations, up from 73% in 2001. On the other hand, 79% of those surveyed also said they had heard a great deal or fair amount about the possible disadvantages of those vaccinations -- more than twice the percentage of those surveyed in 2001 (39%).

taken form https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20200318gallupvax.html#:~:text=The%20importance%20of%20vaccines.,aim%20to%20prevent%20both%20increased.

The smear campaign by semiliterate celebrities and kooks like RFK Jr has worked even better since covid.

[genxlib]

41. Thank you for bringing the numbers

As I suspected, this isn't a one time challenge.

This is the latest battle in an ongoing 20+ year war to erode the public confidence.

Sadly it has been working.

It was unsuccessful when it was just the cranks. But somewhere along the way, someone decided it could be a political issue in alignment with the "government-does-nothing-good" crowd. That is when it got the power and money of the political machine behind it.

RFK Jr. is just the useful idiot leading the charge.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. 22% Is Ridiculous

We have allowed stupidity to become a virtue in our culture.
That 78% should be 98% with the 2% being legitimately called a lunatic fringe.

[senseandsensibility]

6. I agree of course

Their propaganda has worked on too many. Now they (RW media, politicians, and maga in general) are trying to continue their brainwashing by making it appear as though there are two sides to vaccine policy, and everyone should be "free" to make their own choices. So it is important to point out that the pro vaccine people are still in the vast majority. Also we need to fight back loudly before the number of brainwashed increases even more.

[paleotn]

11. Unfortunately, the lunatic fringe is much higher than 2%. And that's not a new phenom.

The anti-vax goobers are roughly the same % as those who thought Tricky Dick was still a great guy when he took his last ride on Marine 1.

[Polybius]

23. You're forgetting about the ones with no opinion

They are in every poll.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Not Sure That Matters

If you don't have an opinion on vaccines, you are only barely better than the antivax crowd.
There should be 2% total that don't support vaccines no matter their reason for not being in the 98%.

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. The question doesn't show a 'no opinion' option

just 'strongly support' (48%), 'somewhat support' (30%), 'somewhat oppose' (14%) and 'strongly oppose' (8%).

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26085240-final-nbc-news-decision-desk-poll-august-2025-topline/ (Q12)

[LudwigPastorius]

27. Ah...a line from one of my favorite movies...

[calimary]

42. What movie is that?

[muriel_volestrangler]

45. The 1965 'Flight of the Phoenix'

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059183/

[calimary]

46. Aha. Thanks.

Never saw that one.

But I did see “A Hard Day’s Night” about a dozen times.

[muriel_volestrangler]

47. It was quite good, as far as I remember

It has been remade, but I haven't seen that. The 1965 version has a top cast.

[Karasu]

29. It's a fucking obscene number for a "first-world" nation.

[senseandsensibility]

5. I like your first message because

it hits directly at the purpose of this propaganda. They want to both sides the vaccine issue as if both sides have good points and the voters are evenly divided. Neither is true, and your message emphasizes that.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. I called my congress person Friday...

The kid who answered the phone tried to tell me that the only change was to the mandate and not to worry. I asked him if he had tried to get the update and he said he was just going to get it at the pharmacy like he did before.

Their own employees are in the dark.

Marvelous.

[senseandsensibility]

8. Depressing

I remember months ago I called my DEMOCRATIC congressperson to advocate that they boycott the State of the Union. This was very early in his term, but I was already stunned and disappointed by the Dems tepid response. The intern who answered was clueless about that as well. Had no idea if my rep would boycott (she didn't).

[sprinkleeninow]

14. 'We' shouldn't have to be their 'nanny'. They the ones who suppose to have the wherewithal. nt

[paleotn]

17. Yes. It's called leadership. Some Dems should try it sometime.

They know who they are.

[paleotn]

16. Confusion was the goal. They know they can't simply ban vaccines. The public would go ape shit.

But spread enough confusion and misinformation among the populace, healthcare providers, and even congressional office staff, and it's mission accomplished.

Seems access depends on where you are. Even here in VT it's hit or miss. One regional pharmacy chain wants a prescription first. Another, where I got my jab yesterday - new vaccine for the new strain, says come on down. In fact, they gave me a 10% off groceries coupon just for getting jabbed. I'm not 65 yet, but not a single question about underlying health conditions.

Governor Healey down in Mass more or less told federal HHS to go fuck themselves. Vaccines will be provided in Mass. The mandates for certain vaccines and certain segments of the populace will not change. VT is part of the same, newly formed, northeast vaccine policy coalition, yet our tepid Republican governor is playing opossum once again, hoping the Feds won't notice us. So, in VT, it's confusion and hit or miss. So much for our motto...Brave Little State. Our governor is a fucking coward.

[mnhtnbb]

40. I have an appointment tomorrow

at a national chain pharmacy for the latest Moderna COVID vax. They require a prescription, even though I'm over 65.
This morning my 39 yo son called both his doc and local pharmacy who both refused him an updated COVID vax. This is NC.

[littlemissmartypants]

9. I plan to call again tomorrow and the next day and then the next...

Ad infinitum.

❤️

[Hekate]

12. Democrats should ask my gov how to talk about this & other issues. Newsom, Pritzker, Walz...

All speak truth in a straightforward manner and can even be brutal if necessary.

And governors are better positioned to do this than many others are.

[paleotn]

13. Actually, I'm kind of surprised it's that high.

But I'll take encouragement wherever I can find it.

[senseandsensibility]

15. Yes, I actually meant it as a positive revelation

about how sane people are still in the majority. There's going to be twenty something percent who will say that money grows on trees or whatever.

[GiqueCee]

18. I've heard...

... that the Democratic Party leadership has done all sorts of noteworthy things to counter Trump's depredations, but... BIG but... the vast majority of loyal Democrats have heard nothing about these accomplishments. Nothing. WHY?

All outward appearances seem to suggest that they're keeping quiet so as not to attract unwanted attention from the Orange Psychopath currently defecating all over everything that once made this country truly great. They surreptitiously belittle those who do have the cojones to speak out; Senators Bernie Sanders, Mark Warner, and others, as well as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Governors Newsom and Pritzker, as well as many thousands of brave, unnamed citizens who risk their freedom, and their very lives to protest the horrors inflicted on the nation by second-string psychopaths like the aforementioned Kennedy the Lesser, RFK, Jr., Stephen "Nosferatu" Miller, Kristi Noem, Secretary of War, Pete Kegbreath, and, of course, the unspeakably evil thugs of ICE, may they all melt in Hell. And these – people, and I use the term loosely – are supported by hordes of mental defectives that believe the law is a weapon to control thee, but not to hamper me.

There are those that claim the mantle of leadership, but silence is NOT leading, and certainly not helping. TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING, and we'll support and defend you, but keeping us in the dark is NOT the way to go about it.

[senseandsensibility]

19. I put no faith in rumors of behind the scenes strategic moves

that may or may not exist. I don't think most Democrats do. As you say, it they want support they need to show us more offense and it needs to be out where we can see it.

[calimary]

22. I like what you did there, GiqueCee!

“…supported by hordes of mental defectives that believe the law is a weapon to control thee, but not to hamper me.”

Nails it!

[travelingthrulife]

30. Then you need to demand MSM cover them.

They are out there saying tough things but our right wing media never carries any of it.

I don't have anger at Democrats for flailing as they try to fend off a 'flood the zone' strategy. I DO have anger at rich Democrats who never bothered to build the infrastructure to carry and promote Democratic ideas and people. They knew rich GOP people were doing this yet they did nothing.

How long have people been screaming that the radio people listen to while driving or at work is 100% right wing.

[SidneyR]

20. Someone needs to take the lead in vaccine education.

What is needed is an explanation of what vaccines do: jump-start the immune system, giving our bodies advance warning of an intruder so we can mount a successful resistance before the immune system is overrun. There needs to be a campaign of education of the history of vaccine development and the long struggle to come up with successful vaccines.

[senseandsensibility]

21. Welcome to DU

I used to teach second grade and our reading textbook had a whole chapter on American heroes. There was a great story about Jonas Salk. The story, of course, was written at the second grade level, but it was so well done that the students loved it. At the end of the chapter, I assigned them to choose their favorite hero to write a paragraph about. Most of them chose Salk, and explained why. Second graders were more than capable of understanding the issue!

[Wiz Imp]

25. Recent Childhood Vaccination Trends

Republicans are on a mission to kill their kids.

?resize=1536,1131

Republicans Trust Donald Trump, RFK Jr & Dr. Oz as much as they trust their doctor to make the right recommendations on health related issues. This proves Republicans are certifiably insane.

?resize=1536,1319

https://www.kff.org/health-information-trust/poll-trust-in-public-health-agencies-and-vaccines-falls-amid-republican-skepticism/#:~:text=Among%20parents%2C%20three%2Dquarters%20(76%25)%20say%20public%20schools,not%20require%20any%20vaccines.%20Other%20findings%20include:

[muriel_volestrangler]

43. Dear God, those Republicans are brainwashed

They don't trust the CDC, or the (end of Biden-admin) Dept of HHS, but they think Trump and Brainworm Bob are trustworthy? (Trusting Oz is probably from stupidity too - he may be a doctor, but he's not as knowledgeable as all the groups they distrust).

[Wiz Imp]

26. Far Fewer in U.S. Regard Childhood Vaccinations as Important

https://news.gallup.com/poll/648308/far-fewer-regard-childhood-vaccinations-important.aspx#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20D.C.%20%2D%2D%20Fewer%20Americans,but%20sits%20at%2069%25%20today.

Decline occurs among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fewer Americans today consider childhood vaccines important, with 40% saying it is extremely important for parents to have their children vaccinated, down from 58% in 2019 and 64% in 2001. There has been a similar decline in the combined “extremely” and “very important” percentage, which was 94% in 2001 but sits at 69% today.

The July 1-21 poll also finds 17% of Americans saying it is somewhat important that parents get their children vaccinated, while 5% say it is not very important and 7% say it is not at all important. In 2001, 1% said having children vaccinated was not at all important.

Republican-Aligned Americans Account for Decrease in Importance
The declining belief in the importance of vaccines is essentially confined to Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, as the views of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have changed little over the past 24 years. Twenty-six percent of Republicans and Republican leaners -- half as many as in 2019 -- believe it is extremely important for parents to get their children vaccinated. In the initial Gallup poll on vaccinations, Republicans and Republican leaners (62%) held similar views to Democrats and Democratic leaners (66%); the two groups now differ by 37 percentage points.

A slim majority of Republicans and Republican leaners (52%) now say it is either extremely or very important for parents to get their children vaccinated. That compares with 93% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. Eleven percent of Republicans and Republican leaners do not think it is important at all for children to be vaccinated.

[twodogsbarking]

28. Tommy was a few years older than me. He had polio. He would come to church in leg braces,

then crutches, then a wheel chair, then he died. That's what happens without vaccines.

[Bettie]

32. Someone needs to take them through an old cemetary

so that they can see how many dead children there were in nearly every family plot before vaccines.

But, these people are aggressively stupid, so I doubt it would make a single bit of difference.

[senseandsensibility]

33. The stakes here are so high

as your suggestion shows. I think the Dems are justified in using very dramatic language to fight RFK and this whole anti vax thing. People are with us on this already, and now we need to push to get this guy out of there!

[pansypoo53219]

38. i like old cemeteries. lots of dead young women, kids, group illness graves. a lot of 4 yr olds.

[AdamGG]

36. DNC should run ads hitting this during NFL games in states w/ contested midterm seats

Many Republicans at least understand the value of vaccines. The 22% who don't are Dump's core base. The ad campaign should expand to other issues as the midterms approach - including the efforts to enact partisan redistricting so that they can't be held accountable.

[flamingdem]

37. The hearing got media coverage

But after that the thread was lost.

A winning issue. Florida says no mandate. How will this impact the elderly there?

So many deadly diseases, so few vaccinated.

[senseandsensibility]

39. Yes the Dems should have milked the energy from that hearing for

all it was worth. Ads, petitions, a coordinated call for RFK to resign signed by every member, talking points blaming R's for enabling RFK and endangering Americans, etc. The point is don't let the thread get lost, damnit!