New Gallup Poll: Obama on Collision Course with Public Opinion on Abortion Policy
by Staff
May 18, 2009
WASHINGTON, May 15 (christiansunite.com) -- In response to today's release of polling data from the Gallup's Annual Values and Beliefs Survey, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser offered the following statement:"These polling results confirm a long trend: Americans are increasingly identifying with the position of protecting human life. It's not shocking that we're seeing stronger pro-life opinions. This trend has been steady since the early '90s. What is interesting is American's shift in self-labeling to a majority 'pro-life' identification. Americans are now seeing through the PR-generated label, 'pro-choice.' Sonograms and real- life experience have deemed this label hollow. President Obama and the pro-abortion majority in Congress are in a collision course with public opinion on abortion policy. What we're debating right now -- taxpayer funding for abortion -- dramatically outstrips public opinion."
This is the first time since 1995 that the majority of Americans have identified themselves as pro-life in Gallup's Annual Values and Beliefs Survey. Gallup proposed that the shift could be due to President Obama's overreach on the issue. They posit: "It is possible that, through his abortion policies, Obama has pushed the public's understanding of what it means to be 'pro-choice' slightly to the left, politically. While Democrats may support that, as they generally support everything Obama is doing as president, it may be driving others in the opposite direction."
"GOP leaders across the nation should take note of both this week's poll and last week's Pew research that show the pro-life position is strengthening the Republican Party," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "It's time to abandon the 'blame pro-lifers first' approach when the GOP loses. If Republicans want to improve their electoral performance, standing on the side of Life is one of the best decisions they can make."
Earlier this month, a national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found overall support for abortion down, and that the largest numbers of converts to the pro-life cause have been self-identified independents and liberal to moderate Republicans.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 156,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.
