New Gallup Poll - Americans shift back to supporting reproductive rights

In mid-May, Gallup released a poll that found 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" and 42% "pro-choice." It was the first time a majority of U.S. adults had identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking the question, and the nine-point margin was easily the largest lead opponents of abortion rights have seen.

About a month ago, MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski pointed to these numbers as evidence that "real" Americans approve of Sarah Palin. "Look at where people stand on life," Brzezinski said. "Look what real Americans think."

I guess fake Americans are making a comeback. A new report from Gallup shows the pro-life lead evaporating since the last poll, dropping from nine points to one, 47% to 46%.

The Gallup report on these results suggests that it's possible public attitudes shifted in the wake of the George Tiller assassination. Maybe, but it seems even more likely to me that the May results, showing "pro-life" identification with a nine-point edge, were just an outlier. There were no reasons -- political, demographic, or otherwise -- to explain that kind of dramatic one-year shift, and it's not surprising that the numbers quickly shifted back within a couple of months. Once in a while, when poll results seem wrong, it's because they are wrong.

Generally speaking, there just aren't significant shifts on this. Most Americans oppose a constitutional amendment prohibiting abortions, and that hasn't changed. Most Americans want to see the Supreme Court leave the Roe v. Wade precedent intact, and that hasn't changed, either. This matters far more than ambiguous labels like "pro-choice" and "pro-life."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_08/019385.php

That it could stand on its own for support consistently.

...rather than securing rights.

and then in the next breath say except for if the woman is raped or their is a danger to the mother's life. which means that they are Pro-Choice.. They just don't realize that pro-life mean no exceptions. Even people at the Puke Convention got this wrong.. Pro-Life, except for .. remember that skit that was on John Stewart asking about Brisol Palin's "choice" and Sara's "choice" in having their children.. one as a teen and the other with a downs baby. Most women want the choice for any woman, however, most women don't want to choose to have an abortion. Most would rather use methods, such as birth control, to plan their family. The Bush years have been horrible for sex education.. the reason for an increased std's and pregnancies now occuring in the teen population. Just say "no", doesn't always work.. we all know that.

Or your son gets some 16 year old pregnant.

What they don't realize is if it is outlawed there won't be any exceptions.

but when someone asked him if women have the right to choose abortion, he answered "absolutely!"

any day now.


:sarcasm: