Posted on 01/25/2006 9:37:14 AM PST by summer
As the nation marks the 33rd anniversary of the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade that established abortion rights across America, a slight majority believes abortion should be always be available, or should be available without government financing, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.
The survey shows that 52% favor abortion, including 10% who saying they believe it should be available, but that the government should not pay for it.
Forty-three percent oppose abortion, though most of those believe there should be exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnancy posed a grave threat to the life of the mother. A total of 9% said they “always oppose” abortion.
Among women, 50% said they favored the availability of abortion in all cases, while another 8% said they favor its availability but do not want the government to pay for it. Thirty-eight percent of women said they opposed abortion outright, or with certain exceptions. Among men, 59% said they oppose abortion completely or with certain exceptions, while 35% said they favor it always. Another 12% said they favor it but do not want the government to pay for it.
“What’s striking to me is that the numbers were radically different ten years ago,” said John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby International. “Ten years ago, maybe just seven or eight years ago, pro-choice forces were in the ascendancy and posted pro-choice numbers in the area of 65% to 68%.”
They still represent a majority, but just barely, the survey shows.
The Zogby survey highlights a dramatic partisan split on the question. While 74% of Democrats said they favor abortion the availability of in all circumstances, just 9% of Republicans feel the same way. And while 78% of Republicans oppose abortion either completely or with some exceptions, only 17% of Democrats agree.
Among independents, 45% said they always favor the right to an abortion.
Among Republicans, 77% said that “abortion destroys a human life and is manslaughter,” while 13% disagreed with that statement. Among Democrats, 15% believe that abortion destroys a human life and is manslaughter, and 70% disagreed.
The poll comes as the U.S. Senate is preparing to vote soon on the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Judge Alito, nominated last year by President Bush to take the seat now occupied by moderate Sandra Day O’Connor, is considered a conservative that could change the balance on the court on this issue and others.
The partisan divide over abortion is most dramatic when considering whether parents should be notified before a daughter’s abortion. While 88% of Republicans agree parents should know ahead of time, just 26% of Democrats agree. One in every two independents say parents should be told ahead of time.
The national split extends to the question about late-term abortion. One-third opposes late-term abortions except when the mother’s life is in danger; one-third opposes the procedure except when the overall health of the mother is at risk, and 20% said they opposed late-term abortions in all circumstances. Another 11% said they did not agree with any of those circumstances.
The Zogby Interactive survey was conducted Jan. 20-23, and included 5,640 interviews. The margin of error for the poll is +/-1.3 percentage points.
(1/23/2006)
Very true, and point well taken. I suppose my only reply to your point is that my personal belief is that the trend demonstrated here by the Zogby poll is that this nation is finally waking up to the horrors of abortion, and what it truly represents. Thus, such a quandry as you described will not occur if the matter is put to the people.
Did I misunderstand you?
I've reread your post and now I think you've suggested that the word feminism is a good one that has been hijacked and besmirched by Steinhem, Friedan and the rest. Well! Sorry, I misunderstood and jumped to the defense. (I'm just used to being pounced upon on this forum for typing the forbidden "F" word.)
"No flame, but to me, the actual physical life of a baby takes precidence over the "mental health" of a mother any day.
There's always adoption."
I understand and respect your opinion. I guess my point was that it is easy to say what you would do or wouldn't do until you or someone you know or love ends up in that very same situation. btw, if I'n not mistaken, just about all rape victims (if they report to police or doctor) are given the morning after pill. I know people are also against the morning after pill...
What exactly is a "fully realized human being"?
Born.
Lawrence (KS) abortion clinic closes because of funding woes
Eugene abortion clinic closes; surprising many (Hooray !!!)
Prayer credited for closing of abortion clinic [Eugene, OR]
Planned Parenthood will shut down 3 clinics [Indiana]
Persevering Students Help Close Abortion Clinic [Santa Paula, CA--Thomas Aquinas College]
Abortion Clinic Managers Quit After Being Outed by Operation Rescue [Wichita, Kansas]
One Man's God Squad: Troy Newman's plan to stop abortions in Wichita, Kansas
Baby Saved From Abortion is Baptized [New Orleans]
Judges rule civil suits against Planned Parenthood can proceed [Los Angeles, CA]
CA: Abortion opponents hope to limit access for California girls (Prop 73)
Jill Stanek's Accurate Summary of Cincinnati Abortion Center Closing: 'Debi Does Ohio"
Clinic is caught in the fog of abortion war (Abortion Clinic Closes) [Springfield, Missouri]
Thank you!
I guess my point was that it is easy to say what you would do or wouldn't do until you or someone you know or love ends up in that very same situation.
Yes it is easy when not in that situation, however I'm reasonably confident (as confident as I can be about anything in a hypothetical situation) that if this situation fit a person I loved and cared for then my position would not change.
btw, if I'n not mistaken, just about all rape victims (if they report to police or doctor) are given the morning after pill. I know people are also against the morning after pill...
That's correct, the victim is given the morning after pill. The victim isn't forced to take it though (as well they shouldn't).
Again, I can say with as much certainty as possible, if I were in that situation, my position would not change. Life is life, period. Ethics cannot (or shouldn't) change based on situations, that's situational ethics, which is a faulty ethics principle. And yes I'm for protecting all life, which means I'm against capital punishment as well.(which makes me in the minority around here but that doesn't change my mind either)
From his own research and the work of others, Reardon reports some results most people would find surprising:
For example, it is commonly assumed that rape victims who become pregnant would naturally want abortions. But in the only major study of pregnant rape victims ever done, Dr. Sandra Makhorn found that 75 to 85 percent chose against abortion. This evidence alone should cause people to pause and reflect on the presumption that abortion is wanted or even best for sexual assault victims.
Several reasons are given for not aborting. First, approximately 70 percent of all women believe abortion is immoral, even though many feel it should be a legal choice for others. Approximately the same percentage believe abortion would be just another act of violence against their bodies and their children.
Second, some believe that their child's life may have some intrinsic meaning or purpose which they do not yet understand. This child was brought into their lives by a horrible, repulsive act. But perhaps God, or fate, will use the child for some greater purpose. Good can come from evil.
Third, victims of assault often become introspective. Their sense of the value of life and respect for others is heightened. They have been victimized, and the thought that they in turn might victimize their own innocent child through abortion is repulsive.
Fourth, at least a subconscious level, the victim may sense that if she can get through the pregnancy, she will have conquered the rape. By giving birth, she can reclaim some of her lost self-esteem. Giving birth, especially when conception was not desired, is a totally selfless act, a generous act, a display of courage, strength and honor. It is proof that she is better than the rapist. While he was selfish, she can be generous. While he was destroying, she can be nurturing.
By contrast, Reardon notes, women who go through with abortion find that abortion itself is the real revictimization.
"Many women report that their abortions felt like a degrading and brutal form of medical rape," he writes — involving "a painful examination of a woman's sexual organs by a masked stranger who is invading her body … while she lies there, tense and helpess, the life hidden within her is literally sucked out of her womb. The difference? In a sexual rape, a woman is robbed of her purity; in this medical rape she is robbed of her maternity."
I am in the minority with you because I have also changed my mind about capital punishment. :)
Excellent post.
Abortion simply compounds the crime, IMHO.
**************
I can imagine that this is indeed true.
One thing I always ask my liberal friend (i only have one lib friend thank God) if it is not a living thing then why is it called an abortion. Abort means to stop. How can you stop something that is not alive?
Well, planes takeoffs are aborted frequently, and they're not alive. It just means to stop.
How many of those rape victims do you think also turned down the morning after pill when it was offered to them following the rape?
****************
Good question. Guilt does strange things to people. Denying that they have killed a life within them is easier than facing the truth.
You are stopping progression with a plane as you are stopping progression with a childs life. So if it is not alive how can you stop progression. Gheezzz.
The plane is not alive. The takeoff is not alive. You asked how it couldn't be alive, and I gave you an example.
Get your head out of your ass.
Cool, that makes two of us. Only a million more to go. hehe
It's nice to meet you, too. It's been a civilized conversation around here this afternoon. You know, until now. :)
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