The majority of voters were against healthcare reform

In objective polls, almost 70% of Americans support health care with a strong public option and many other specific reforms.

The reason there was widespread opposition to the Democratic bill is that it was so watered down, no public option, and was larded with many gifts to special interests in the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical industries.

Even Democrats like myself who supported it did so holding our noses at the many weaknesses, because we felt it was at least a small step in the right direction and at least better than what we have now, and the imperfections could be addressed little by little down the line.