Americans Still Split Along "Pro-Choice," "Pro-Life" Lines (61%:most abortions should be illegal)

Gallup ^ | 5/23/11

[markomalley]

PRINCETON, NJ -- 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.

[markomalley]

The conclusion does not even come close to specifics. Almost looks like some manipulation going on (but some very ham-handed manipulation, if that was the case):

Note this following chart well:

72% say that abortion should be illegal in most or all circumstances. How can the overall conclusion be 49% "pro-choice" vs 45% "pro-life"???

And then some tabular results by demographic:

Toplines here. I haven't had a chance to fully digest them. One thing that is clear, though. The prolife/pro-choice question was asked immediately after two questions about legality. So that would tend to skew anybody who wasn't in favor of abortion being illegal in all circumstances.

[Jack Hydrazine]

This scares the living daylights out of the Left.

[trumandogz]

Not only are babies killed at abortion clinics each and every day, but abortion pills are dispensed without prescriptions at drugstores around the country each and every minute.

Both need to be stopped.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for these abortion pro and con charts. Stats can skew widely according to wording and question-order: any pollster who can't calibrate them rather precisely to suit his client, doesn't know his business.

Nevertheless, statistics have held remarkably constant for over 30 years, in that, by decisive majorities, most Americans would oppose most abortions most of the time.

Unfortunately, the exceptions could be chatracterized as follows:

• life of the mother
• rape/incest
• and "my own particular circumstances"

[Gondring]

72% say that abortion should be illegal in most or all circumstances.

Huh?

Not according to the graphs posted. "Certain conditions" doesn't mean "most conditions".

How can the overall conclusion be 49% "pro-choice" vs 45% "pro-life"???

Because they actually asked people, and reported the results. It's not a "conclusion"...it's the reporting of the results.

The prolife/pro-choice question was asked immediately after two questions about legality. So that would tend to skew anybody who wasn't in favor of abortion being illegal in all circumstances.

Shows how "Pro-Life" is an overly broad (or, restrictive, depending on POV) term for those who are "anti-abortion-choice". Many who support abortion restrictions aren't "Pro-Life" in general, and are therefore not included. Of course, there are those who don't consider themselves "Pro-Choice" because they aren't in favor of unlimited choice, but are in favor of choice in only limited cases.

[floozy22]

Pro abortion forces hijacked the dialogue a long time ago, and along with the pro-abortion media, this has a lot to do with the opinions many people hold about the issue.

The term pro-choice was a neutral way to describe a practice that is in direct conflict with a nation founded on individual liberty: state-sanctioned abortion-on-demand.

Pro-choice is a coward's term. One is either pro-life or pro-abortion.

By using the word choice, defenders of abortion-on-demand want to look at only their side of the choice argument, that is, the choice to kill a baby. If correctly used, the word choice should mean either the choice to have a baby or to not have it. So the second side of the choice argument - having a baby, is ignored, because except in rare instances a woman is never prevented - by the state - from having a baby. Her choice is always upheld. The goal of using this particular word was always to neutralize the idea of what abortion actually is.

[conservativesister]

It may have something to do with the way “college professors” are defining the issue.

I had a college gal tell me that it’s a shame the conservatives are against “Pro-Choice” which gives a gal the right to make the choice to keep the baby.

I asked her what “Pro-Life” meant and she’d never heard about it, only her college professors telling her about “Pro-Choice.

[trumandogz]

Anyone who condones any abortion for any reason cannot be Pro Life.

[conservativesister]

It may have something to do with the way “college professors” are defining the issue.

I had a college gal tell me that it’s a shame the conservatives are against “Pro-Choice” which gives a gal the right to make the choice to keep the baby.

I asked her what “Pro-Life” meant and she’d never heard about it, only her college professors telling her about “Pro-Choice.

[meyer]

So, when does the unborn baby get to make its choice? After all, the life belongs to THE BABY, not the mother.