Media Spin Spins But Off Course

Contrary to Media Spin, New Gallop Poll Shows Americans More Pro-life than Ever

This week a new Gallop poll on abortion was released. The poll attracted a great deal of media attention because, unlike recent years, it showed more Americans identifying themselves as “pro-choice” (49%) than pro-life (45%). However, a closer look at the data reveals that Americans are more strongly pro-life than ever.

The abortion lobby may have loved the opportunity for political spin, but the only way in which Americans are more “pro-choice” is in their choice of words.

The problem is that asking a broad question does not allow for nuanced responses. Asking more specific questions, such as “should my doctor be forced to perform or refer for abortions” or “should tax dollars be spent on abortions” gives a clearer picture. Other recent polls show that a strong majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion and that Americans strongly favor conscience protections for health care providers.

Ironically, the Gallup report noted that “Over the past two decades, Americans have consistently leaned toward believing abortion should be legal in only a few or no circumstances.” Here is what the poll found:

· Sixty-one percent of all Americans believe that abortion should be legal in “few or no circumstances.”

· Sixty percent of Independents believe abortion should be legal in “few or no circumstances.”

· Fifty-one percent of Americans believe abortion is morally wrong, while only 39 percent believe it is morally acceptable

· Only 37 percent want abortion legal “in all or most circumstances.”

· A 53% majority of those between the ages of 18 and 34 called abortion morally wrong

Interestingly, those who consider themselves pro-choice tend not to hold the extreme views of organizations like Planned Parenthood. Gallup’s most recent data shows that only 27% of Americans support abortion-on-demand—which means that 22% of those calling themselves “pro-choice” do not.