Gallup: More Americans Identify as “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” For First Time

MAY 24, 2009 (http://the-american-catholic.com)  -  This is only one survey, but it is encouraging all the same. The denial of legal protection to an entire class of human beings is one of the most serious human rights issues of our time. Here’s an excerpt from the article, with some thoughts below:

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.

Not surprisingly, support for the almost unrestricted access to abortion in this country provided for by Roe/Casey is also near a historical low:

I have a few initial, more political, thoughts about this:

1) The study (and others) suggests that, for all the caterwauling about the ‘excesses’ and ‘extremism’ of the pro-life movement from certain quarters, the movement (combined with sonograms and fourth grade biology) does appear to be effectively increasing pro-life sentiment. This is an impressive accomplishment given elite disdain for pro-lifers and the current state of the law under Roe/Casey.

2) The claim that the Republican party needs to drop the pro-life platform to attract voters is becoming less persuasive by the day (not that it was ever particularly persuasive).

3) If these numbers are duplicated in other polls, it suggests the country may eventually move towards a level of abortion restriction more consonant with the views of its citizens. Granted, the view of one extreme has been the law of the land for the last thirty-five years, but I think a majority could be a significant tipping point. If politicians (including those on our nation’s courts) think there is more suppport for abortion restrictions than not, I would predict movement in that direction.