Polling Data on Embryonic Stem Cell Funding Veto Not Such Bad News for Bush

This poll by Gallup is a bit unfair in its wording, but what else is new? Still, I believe it shows what I have been thinking to be true; that the stem cell issue does not cut deeply.

6. As you may know, earlier this week, President Bush vetoed a bill that would have expanded federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Do you approve or disapprove of his decision to veto this bill? Approve-36, Disapprove-58, no opinion-6.

That isn’t nearly the margin that the media has been suggesting. Moreover, it neglects to mention that the law would have permitted embryos to be destroyed with federal money for the research. I would bet that if such a question were asked, majorities would either oppose the bill or it would be very close.

The next question measures the intensity of the disagreement with Bush.(Interesting they don’t ask a similar question of those who approved of the veto.) But note that the “How upset are you that President Bush vetoed this bill?” question came in at only 44%.

COMBINED RESPONSES (Q.6-7): BASED ON NATIONAL ADULTS: Approve-36%, Disapprove, upset vetoed-44%, Disapprove, not upset vetoed-14, No Opinion-6.

Hardly, an uprising against the President.

Finally, most see Bush vetoing the bill out of conviction, and not political calculation.

8. Would you say President Bush vetoed this bill mostly on the basis of personal moral beliefs (or) mostly in an attempt to gain political advantage? Personal moral beliefs-61, Gain political advantage-32, No opinion-7.

All in all, I don’t think this issue is as cutting against Bush or opponents of ESCR as the MSM and some scientists and politicians hope.