New Harris Poll: Severely Limited But of Some Use

Over the years the acronym CNN (short for Cable News Network) has more than once been said to stand for the "Clinton News Network." To pro-lifers, the Harris Poll is no less ham-handed/one-sided in its coverage of the abortion issue. This is the same polling company that forever and ever has asked its basic question on abortion in a completely misleading manner, suggesting that abortion is legal only in the first trimester.

This week the Harris Poll reported on a nationwide survey that it conducted online of 2,694 adults between August 7 and 13, 2007, on "eight different social issues." We'll address the responses on "abortion rights," embryonic stem cell research, and physician-assisted suicide.

Naturally by asking people to "indicate how you feel" on "abortion rights," Harris has already assured that the response will be tilted in favor. Harris knows, as everyone knows, that by affixing the word "rights" to the word "abortion," more respondents will say they are in favor.

(The same holds when phrases such as "in consultation with her physician" are added, playing on the esteem physicians are held and ignoring altogether the truth that abortionists virtually never see the woman until she is on the operating table.)

And, overall, 52% said they support "abortion rights." Republicans were least supportive (31%) followed by "Echo Boomers" (people between the ages of 18 and 30) whose support was measured at 45%.

On embryonic stem cell research, 57% said they supported it. Again Republicans and Echo Boomers were the least supportive--42% and 47%, respectively. Were it explained to all respondents that there are loads of other alternatives to embryonic stem cells (and not even noting that these alternatives have by far the better track record), the numbers would have been much different.

Thankfully, only 39% expressed support for physician-assisted suicide. Once more, Republicans and young people ages 18-30 were the least supportive (32% and 31%, respectively).

Finally, Harris reported that a whopping 43% said abortion "might influence" how they will vote in 2008. This affirmative response transcended the usual partisan divide--45% among Republicans, 44% among Democrats, and 43% among Independents-- with Echo Boomers at the top of the list (48%).

But as is the company's wont, Harris does not probe in which direction abortion "might influence your vote in next year's presidential election." Had Harris done so, the company would have found that being pro-life helps candidates, a truth that has held firm, year in and year out, for well over 20 years.