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NRL News
Page 2
June 2009
Volume 36
Issue 6

Public Opinion on Abortion Tilting Pro-Life,
Obama Impact Hard to Miss
 By Dave Andrusko

“With the first pro-choice president in eight years already making changes to the nation’s policies on funding abortion overseas, expressing his support for the Freedom of Choice Act, and moving toward rescinding federal job protections for medical workers who refuse to participate in abortion procedures, Americans—and, in particular, Republicans—seem to be taking a step back from the pro-choice position. However, the retreat is evident among political moderates as well as conservatives.

“It is possible that, through his abortion policies, Obama has pushed the public’s understanding of what it means to be ‘pro-choice’ slightly to the left, politically. While Democrats may support that, as they generally support everything Obama is doing as president, it may be driving others in the opposite direction.”
      From Gallup Poll, May 15

Polls conducted in April and May by respected organizations show not only that a majority of Americans identify as pro-life and believe abortion is morally wrong but also that (according to Gallup) a total of 60% oppose all abortions (23%) or support abortion only in a few cases (37%). That public opinion is steadily shifting is no surprise, given the hyper-aggressive policies of Barack Obama, the most pro-abortion President to occupy the White House since Roe v. Wade was handed down in 1973.

For the first time since Gallup began asking the question in 1995 a majority of those surveyed identified themselves as pro-life.

As reported/interpreted by Gallup’s Lydia Saad, we learn that in a poll conducted between May 7–10, 51% of Americans described “themselves ‘pro-life’ on the issue of abortion and 42% ‘pro-choice.’” A year ago the numbers were virtually reversed: 50% said they were pro-choice and 44% pro-life.

Gains were especially pronounced among Republicans. But there was majority pro-life sentiment expressed by both sexes as well as by Protestants and Catholics, according to Saad, reflecting similar strong gains.

To give some context, when Gallup first asked this question in 1995, a whopping 56% self-identified as pro-choice to only 33% who said pro-life!

Gallup was not alone in its findings. A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll taken in mid-May asked the question, “On the issue of abortion, would you say you are more pro-life or more pro-choice?”

Forty-nine percent said pro-life to 43% who said pro-choice. Last September 49% said pro-choice to 41% who said pro-life.

In that same May Gallup poll 56% said abortion is morally wrong, versus only 36% of Americans who said they believe abortion is morally acceptable. A year ago 40% responded to Gallup that abortion was morally acceptable, meaning there’s been a drop of four percentage points since May 2008.

If we take the long view, in 2001 there was almost an even split. Forty-five percent told Gallup that abortion was morally wrong but 42% said it was morally acceptable—a difference of only 3%. The gap is now 20%!

That’s real progress.

Respondents were also asked by Gallup which abortions they thought should be legal. Remarkably, as many Americans said they oppose all abortions (23%) as said they support all abortions (22%).

What about the 53% in the middle, who say abortion should be “legal only under certain circumstances?” Turns out that more than two-thirds of that subset (37%) support abortion only “in a few cases.”

In other words a total of 60% oppose all abortions (23%) or support abortion only in a few cases (37%).

Less than two months before, the results of a Pew Research Center for the People & the Press poll were an early warning sign that change was in the air. Between August 2008 and March/April 2009, Pew recorded an eight percentage-point decline (from 54% to 46%) in those saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Those who said abortion should be illegal in most or all cases rose from 41% to 44%.

Focusing primarily on the results from Gallup’s survey (conducted May 7–10 of 1,015 national adults, aged 18 and older), what do they tell us? Let me summarize five important points.

1.         The massive turnaround means pro-life self-identification surpassed 50% for the first time ever. Previously, Saad writes, “the highest percentage identifying as pro-life was 46%, in both August 2001 and May 2002.”

2.         As mentioned above, when given options about which abortions they believe should be legal, 23% said abortion should be illegal in all circumstances (previously 17%) as compared to 22% who said it should be legal under any circumstances (previously 28%). And to reiterate one more time, Gallup found that 60% believe that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances (23%) or legal in only a few circumstances (37%).

3.         Who is changing their expressed view? According to Saad, “The percentage of Republicans (including independents who lean Republican) calling themselves ‘pro-life’ rose by 10 points over the past year, from 60% to 70%, while there has been essentially no change in the views of Democrats and Democratic leaners.” But there are other changes that are more significant.

4.         “A year ago, Gallup found more women calling themselves pro-choice than pro-life, by 50% to 43%, while men were more closely divided: 49% pro-choice, 46% pro-life,” Saad writes. “Now, because of heightened pro-life sentiment among both groups, women as well as men are more likely to be pro-life.” Specifically, women now self-identify as pro-life 49%–44% while men self-identify 54% 35%.

5.         Obama’s commencement address at Notre Dame was part of his ongoing attempt to divide and conquer the Christian community. But according to Gallup, there has been a seven-point pro-life gain among Catholics (from 45% to 52%), and an eight-point gain among Protestants (from 51% to 59%). Were the figures broken down still further to analyze the opinion of very regular church attendees, the percentage of self-identified pro-lifers would be higher.

And Obama is just getting started. As explained by NRLC, “Democratic congressional leaders, who are currently in control of both houses of Congress, are working with the Obama White House behind closed doors to craft ‘health care reform’ bills—legislation that Barack Obama has already pledged will incorporate expansive pro-abortion provisions.” And although he continues offering what an adoring press calls  “moderate”-sound words on abortion, never forget that Obama has set his sights on ending the right of physicians not to be involved in abortion in any way.

It’ll take a while, but sooner rather than later, most Americans will understand that Planned Parenthood and NARAL never had a friend in the White House like Barack Obama. And as they do, the number of self-identified pro-life Americans will continue to mount.