Anti-choicers are citing the bogus Gallup poll to claim the majority of Americans are now "pro-life"

[jenmito]

It was proven that that poll oversampled Repubs.:

Here's the poll: "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."

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

And here's the truth: "The latest Gallup (5/7-10/09) poll has party identification tied at 32-32 and caused an immediate howl of "outlier!" in the comments at Pollster.com. In this case, the howl is justified. Compared to all recent Gallup polls (so we compare apples to apples) this latest stands out quite a bit from the rest."

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/new_gallup_has_pid_tied_yep_it.php

[AndyA]

1. "Pro-life" by its very definition would also mean "anti-war," would it not?

So where are the calls to stop the wars? :shrug:

Is there an age limit to being pro life?

[ShadowLiberal]

7. Not to mention anti-death penalty

[sarah553807]

12. and the use of torture

[onehandle]

2. Pro-life doesn't automatically mean anti-choice.

The same polling says that most people do not want abortion illegal.

[jenmito]

6. Well, the people talking about this on tv sure seem to think abortion is murder...

so I bet THEY want it to be illegal.

[jody]

3. Polarizing issues by their nature will have a minority. IMO the question is whether govt. is

obligated to protect the right of a minority against the tyranny of a simple majority of the votes.

For that reason, whether a poll reports 50% vs. 50% or 99% vs. 1% is immaterial unless the issue is a right granted by the People's government.

[tularetom]

4. It's apples and oranges

As 1000 other posters here have already stated it's quite possible to be both pro choice and pro life.

The problem is the adoption by the religious wackos of the term "pro life". There is nothing even remotely pro life about most of these nut jobs. They support the killing of innocent civilians, support extreme measures in dealing with immigration, and love the death penalty. Pro life is the last fucking thing these people are, yet the liberal media insist onframing the issue as a debate between pro choice and pro life proponents and implying that the pro life folks are somehow morally superior.

[stray cat]

5. I think many americans are against late term abortions unless the mother is at risk

[TTUBatfan2008]

8. Thanks for the link on party ID...

That was the immediate red flag that went up when I saw Drudge pushing the poll a while back. Gallup's article never even mentions the ideological breakdown of the participants in the poll. I never saw anything on it until you mentioned it in this thread. I figured all along that Gallup was polling an equal number of Republicans and Democrats even though only 21% of the country is Republican, meaning that a split poll sample isn't really a fair representation of the electorate.

[MarjorieG]

9. Pro-life can also be pro-choice, if faced with real life decisions. Even late term.

Even Palin talked about the their choice to have her child.

So few Drs will now perform what is essentailly a life-saving procedure when carrying around dead fetuses. Certaining ending child bearing for many when not aborted.

Interesting Schaffer interview on Rachel, where he admitted the awareness of their political manipulation from the 80's and culpability what the rhetoric has caused.

[bunkerbuster1]

10. I want to see the poll that asks: "Do you favor criminalizing abortion?"

I'd bet they'd get as many as 25, 30% saying yes. Maybe.

[jillan]

11. I have a really hard time answering that question - because pro-life means something completely

different to me.

To me it means that I want stem cell research to save lives.
It means that I don't want handguns allowed in bars or schools.
It means that I want everyone to have access to healthcare.

I feel that so many of these people that walk around calling themselves pro-lifers are the biggest hypocrites.
They only care about the fetus. Once that child is breathing on their own, they could care less if they are fed, loved, have healthcare. It's a bunch of bs if you ask me, and it really pisses me off.

[Jennicut]

13. I knew this poll was bogus.

Used to push the pro life movement.