More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” for First Time - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jplinville · #1 05-15-2009, 11:01 AM

Does this mean that the Dems will start switching sides now?

http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/More-Americans-Pro-Life-Than-Pro-Choice-First-Time.aspx

PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.

diametricalbenz · #2 05-15-2009, 11:16 AM

I guess the missing 7% have no life...

Fitz · #3 05-15-2009, 11:17 AM

They say they're Pro-Life, but they don't vote like it.

kerry · #4 05-15-2009, 11:23 AM

There's something odd about that survey. There's a seven point increase in the pro life position. There's also a six point increase in the percentage of people who think abortion should be prohibited in all circumstances, which is a much bigger jump, comparatively speaking, than the pro-life/pro choice position. This confirms my experience which I posted about in another thread a few weeks ago. The right wing/patriarchal culture warriors are winning the battle.

Honus · #5 05-15-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

There's something odd about that survey. There's a seven point increase in the pro life position. There's also a six point increase in the percentage of people who think abortion should be prohibited in all circumstances, which is a much bigger jump, comparatively speaking, than the pro-life/pro choice position...

That is odd. The curves really take a sharp turn in the last year.

Quote:

This confirms my experience which I posted about in another thread a few weeks ago. The right wing/patriarchal culture warriors are winning the battle.

If you look at the curves over that last 14 years or so, the pro-life side has made great gains.

If I understand the second graph in that article, 74% think that abortion should be legal, at least in certain circumstances (that's the 53% who think it should be legal in some circumstances plus the 22% who think it should be legal in all circumstances). That strikes me as about right.

I'm glad to see the number of people who think it should be legal in all circumstances drop. Of the three possible positions in that survey, that one is the craziest, IMHO.

While so much of the pro-life movement has been dishonest, crazy, and sometimes even violent, they have performed a public service. Trying to outlaw abortion in all cases won't work and would be counterproductive, but I think that too many people take the easy way out by saying that it is totally up to the woman to choose. I think the pro-life people have made people at least pause to consider the life of the fetus, which is a good thing, IMHO.

oldsinner111 · #6 05-15-2009, 11:40 AM

I'm for mandatory abortion for welfare mothers,and prison time 18 years for lazy Dad's.
No I'm not for a Taliban style Government,like the Holy Republicans want you to think.

kerry · #7 05-15-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

That is odd. The curves really take a sharp turn in the last year.If you look at the curves over that last 14 years or so, the pro-life side has made great gains.

If I understand the second graph in that article, 74% think that abortion should be legal, at least in certain circumstances (that's the 53% who think it should be legal in some circumstances plus the 22% who think it should be legal in all circumstances). That strikes me as about right.

I'm glad to see the number of people who think it should be legal in all circumstances drop. Of the three possible positions in that survey, that one is the craziest, IMHO.

While so much of the pro-life movement has been dishonest, crazy, and sometimes even violent, they have performed a public service. Trying to outlaw abortion in all cases won't work and would be counterproductive, but I think that too many people take the easy way out by saying that it is totally up to the woman to choose. I think the pro-life people have made people at least pause to consider the life of the fetus, which is a good thing, IMHO.

To think that it should be legal in all circumstances doesn't imply that's it's moral in all circumstances or even that it's moral in any circumstances.

cmbdiesel · #8 05-15-2009, 12:03 PM

Anyone willing to extrapolate a survey of one thousand people, on the phone no less, to the entire population of the US is patently out of their mind. The variance is also stated at +/- 3%, which would, in an extreme, completely reverse the findings.

aklim · #9 05-15-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz

They say they're Pro-Life, but they don't vote like it.

How should they vote then? I mean, just because I am pro-choice doesn't mean I will automatically vote Dem. I voted for Obama for other reasons. Now, if the choice came down to McCain and Obama and they were pretty much split, sure, I'd vote McCain. OTOH, if the thing is pretty unbalanced in McCain's favor, I'd have voted him.

Fitz · #10 05-15-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

How should they vote then? I mean, just because I am pro-choice doesn't mean I will automatically vote Dem.

Obama got over 50% of the Catholic vote, and the majority of those Catholics would probably claim to be pro-life. What people say matters little compared to what they do, in this case, how they vote.

tankdriver · #11 05-15-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

To think that it should be legal in all circumstances doesn't imply that's it's moral in all circumstances or even that it's moral in any circumstances.

Indeed. Some think that the government has no right to the decision.

jplinville · #12 05-15-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Anyone willing to extrapolate a survey of one thousand people, on the phone no less, to the entire population of the US is patently out of their mind. The variance is also stated at +/- 3%, which would, in an extreme, completely reverse the findings.

So...you are saying that polls are wrong and can be turned in such a way that differing results can be made? What about Presidential approval ratings?

aklim · #13 05-15-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz

Obama got over 50% of the Catholic vote, and the majority of those Catholics would probably claim to be pro-life. What people say matters little compared to what they do, in this case, how they vote.

Maybe that 50% are pro-life but that is not their #1 priority in life. Kinda like a used car. You can't have everything you want in it but some things are lower on the priority list.

Medmech · #14 05-15-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz

They say they're Pro-Life, but they don't vote like it.

Its called not being a one issue voter.

Fitz · #15 05-15-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Maybe that 50% are pro-life but that is not their #1 priority in life. Kinda like a used car. You can't have everything you want in it but some things are lower on the priority list.

If you believe abortion is murder, and that is the position of the Catholic church, how can you compromise on the issue?