72% reject death panel claim

There are a couple ways you could look at the results of a new Research 2000 poll for Daily Kos on the question of "death panels".

One, you could marvel at the fact that 57% of Republicans either aren't sure about the claim leveled by Sarah Palin or actually believe it. That's Greg Sargent's reaction.

Two, you could marvel at the fact that a full 76% of independents reject the claim. That's a pretty significant gap b/ween indies and Republicans (only 43% of elephants reject the claim).

To put it another way, there's a 33% spread between Republicans and indies on the matter, and a 12% spread between Dems and indies.

That means the debate and confusion over death panels has largely occurred within the Republican party. And it also suggests that growing public reluctance hasn't been fomented by the concept of death panels, but instead, a calcifying of previous reluctance to accept the proposed legislation.

For kicks, here's the Research 2000 question.

QUESTION: Do you think the health care reform plan being considered by President Obama and Congress creates "death panels" which have the authority to subjectively determine whether or not a gravely ill or injured person should receive health care based on their "level of productivity in society"?