GOP Candidates Are Losing the Support of Healthcare Workers

[RandySF]

Public trust in medical professionals is the highest it’s been in years, and some politicians are hoping to snag that goodwill for themselves — even if their policy views don’t align.

The continued spread of the coronavirus in Arizona has put a wedge between some political figures and medical experts, but recent polling suggests that public trust lies more with healthcare workers than with politicians.

Arizona has become a hotspot for the coronavirus since Gov. Doug Ducey allowed his stay-at-home order to expire on May 15. Since reopening, the number of confirmed cases of the virus has skyrocketed from just over 13,000 to more than 87,000. Hospitalizations, ventilator usage, ICU bed usage, and virus-related emergency room have all reached near-capacity, causing state health officials to authorize the implementation of crisis standards of care.

Recent polling from Pew Research found that Americans who strongly trust medical scientists to act in the best interest of the public rose from 24% in 2016 to 43% in 2020. Overall, 89% of Americans expressed confidence in medical experts.

Nurses hold the highest level of confidence — not just among healthcare workers, but out of every profession. Gallop polling has found that nurses are consistently seen as having the highest level of honesty and ethics among working professionals. Politicians, by contrast, consistently rank at the bottom in terms of trustworthiness.

Some Republicans, like former state House member Brenda Barton, hope to lean on old alliances with medical workers.

Barton termed out of her seat in the legislature in 2018, where she served in the state House of Representatives for six years. In that time, she garnered the support of the Arizona Nurses Association (AZNA), receiving their endorsement in 2016. She did not receive their endorsement during her 2014 and 2012 campaigns.

But despite showcasing the AZNA on her official campaign website, AZNA Executive Director Robin Schaeffer says her organization has opted not to endorse Barton for the 2020 elections. Instead, the group endorsed Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans, who Schaeffer says has been taking the right approach to curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

“There are three necessary steps that every Arizonan needs to take to mitigate the spread of this very serious virus,” said Schaeffer. “Wear a mask or face covering, wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer when a sink is not available, and practice social distancing.”



https://coppercourier.com/story/gop-candidates-are-losing-the-support-of-healthcare-workers/

[smirkymonkey]

1. Losing?

It should have been lost long ago. It's very clear that Trump and the republicans don't give a damn about them or their well being. How any health professional could possibly support him is a complete mystery.

[OnDoutside]

3. It's head shaking stuff. People voting against their own interests,

they should have known that from republicans trying to kill the ACA.

[OhioChick]

2. The GOP lost them long before the Pandemic

This probably sealed the deal for those on the fence:

Trump health chief says US healthcare workers ‘don’t get infected’ with COVID-19 — as 94,000 have contracted COVID-19 -

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/07/trump-health-chief-says-us-healthcare-workers-dont-get-infected-with-covid-19-as-94000-have-contracted-covid-19/

Can't find it on Common Dreams, if you can, be my guest.

[dutch777]

4. Maybe the Dems should use Covid frontline medical staff in their advertisements?

Nurses saying they held the hand of the dying patient who was otherwise along and then saying it didn't have to be that way for so many if Prez/Governor/Mayor had taken appropriate action...ordered masks, etc.