Most Americans Cannot Explain Health Care's "Public Option"  

Rush Limbaugh Is Most Influential Conservative Voice in America over Glenn Beck, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, and John Boehner

Half of Americans Would Rather Lay a Wreath on Tomb of the Unknown Solider Than Light Olympic Torch or Flip Coin at Super Bowl

John F. Kennedy is the president Americans would most like to see added to Mount Rushmore, and only one in four Americans feels confident explaining health-care reform's proposed "public option." And when it comes to the most influential conservative voice in America, 26 percent say it's Rush Limbaugh. Those are a few of the findings in the latest 60 MINUTES/Vanity Fair poll, the full results of which will be aired on 60 MINUTES, published in Vanity Fair, and posted on 60Minutes.com and VF.com.

The poll also asked Americans about their use of the U.S. Postal Service, participation in prestigious ceremonies, and the discovery of lost artifacts, among other topics.

Asked to consider a possible addition to Mount Rushmore-John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Barack Obama, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Andrew Jackson, or Lyndon Johnson-29 percent of the respondents chose J.F.K., followed by Reagan with 20 percent, Roosevelt with 18 percent, Obama with 16 percent, Eisenhower with 6 percent, Jackson with 2 percent, and L.B.J. with 0 percent. Among those identifying themselves as either Republicans or Democrats, Kennedy won 40 percent of the Democratic vote, and Reagan drew 52 percent of Republicans.

In the current health-care debate, there's been much back-and-forth over the so-called "public option." But it turns out most of us couldn't even begin to explain what the public option means: asked if they could confidently explain what exactly the public option is to someone who didn't know, only 26 percent of Americans said yes.

Rush Limbaugh is currently the most influential conservative voice in America, according to this month's poll, with 26 percent of Americans choosing the radio personality over such right-wing heavy hitters as Glenn Beck (11 percent), Dick Cheney (10 percent), Sarah Palin (10 percent), Sean Hannity (8 percent), and John Boehner (4 percent). Fifteen percent of respondents chose "None of them."

In response to a question asking which important ceremony you would most like to take part in, a resounding 50 percent chose laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Shrugged off were lighting the Olympic torch (18 percent), flipping the coin at the Super Bowl (11 percent), starting the race at the Indy 500 (8 percent), throwing the first pitch at the World Series (7 percent), and ringing the bell at the Stock Exchange (4 percent).

It appears Americans with lower incomes tend to use the postal service more than richer Americans-it's used by 56 percent of those with incomes under $30,000 and by 30 percent of those with incomes over $100,000.

Which lost artifact would those surveyed most like to find? Noah's Ark won easily, with 43 percent of those polled, and 65 percent of evangelical Christians. Eighteen percent overall chose Atlantis, 16 percent chose Amelia Earhart's plane, 13 percent said Nixon's missing Watergate tape, and 5 percent said Cleopatra's barge.

The results of the third 60 MINUTES/Vanity Fair Poll follow, including opinions about raising children abroad and company holiday parties. Click here to see and participate in the 60 MINUTES/Vanity Fair Poll.

            The 60 MINUTES/Vanity Fair Poll is a monthly measure of the American conversation on a range of topics rather than one specific subject. Geared to offer a wide-angle view of the country every 30 days, attitudes on culture, lifestyle, current events, and politics are explored to create a national survey. 60 MINUTES and Vanity Fair work together to formulate topics and questions; the poll is conducted by the CBS News Election and Survey Unit, a high-profile source of American opinion since 1969.

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Beth Kseniak      212 286-7297  beth_kseniak@condenast.com