Gallup has a interesting new poll out. When asked whether “pro life” or “pro choice,” more say the latter than the former. From the poll:
Americans are closely divided between those calling themselves “pro-choice” and those who are “pro-life,” now 49% and 45%, respectively, in Gallup’s 2011 update on U.S. abortion attitudes. This is similar to a year ago, when 45% were “pro-choice” and 47% “pro-life.” However, it is the first time since 2008 that the “pro-choice” position has had the numerical advantage on this Gallup trend.
“Pro life” or “pro choice” are political terms that are subject to interpretation. For example, if someone wants abortion outlawed except for life of the mother, incest, or rape, is that person pro life? Or is he/she pro choice? Which to choose when answering a poll is in the eye of the beholder (as it were).
That’s why I think this is the key finding. A whopping 61% would like to see abortion outlawed in “any/most circumstances:” From the poll:
Since 1994, Gallup has also asked those who think abortion should be legal under certain circumstances to say whether it should be legal in “most” or “only a few” circumstances. On this basis, Americans are rather conservative in their stance on abortion, with 61% now preferring that abortion be legal in only a few circumstances or no circumstances. By contrast, 37% want abortion legal in all or most circumstances.
This is very interesting. Could it be that those who oppose abortion are winning the moral argument? If so, eventually Roe will fall because, in addition to being a terribly reasoned decision, as the old saying goes, the Supreme Court follows the elections.
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