One final note on the abortion poll…. Did you notice how support for aborting a baby because s/he was conceived due to rape or incest enjoys the same level of support as saving the life of the mother (70% vs. 75% respectively). While I am persuaded that the logic of the pro-life persuasion does not justify abortion in cases of rape/incest, at this point in time any attempt to outlaw abortion that does not make an exception for such cases is likely to fail. On a tactical level, we would do well to work towards passing legislation that limits abortion in those areas where the majority of Americans support such limitations. Once we have accomplished those limitations (which constitute 94-95% of all abortions), then we can take on the rape/incest justification. Of course, that is on a legal plane. In our personal, one-on-one pro-life evangelism we should demonstrate how the pro-life logic rules out rape/incest as morally justifiable exceptions as well.
May 15, 2007
Poll: One Final Note
Posted by Jason Dulle under Abortion, Apologetics, Statistics, Tactics[3] Comments
Thinking to Believe 
May 17, 2007 at 8:35 am
Agreed. We should not work according to an all or nothing strategy. The pro-life movement is going to have to fight for each inch of ground. The comfort and hope is that many lives are saved for each inch of ground gained.
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May 17, 2007 at 9:38 am
Jason
One should exercise caution when it comes to gleeful acceptance of poll numbers as a transparent reflection of public opinion. On the basis of the poll you cited, you write: “Americans actually oppose 94-95% of all abortions being performed in this country!! This tells me Americans don’t know what their support for abortion in general, and their support for Roe in particular, is actually accomplishing.” This is a mistaken inference. Years of research has demonstrated that many people, especially American citizens, often hold contradictory positions on single issues, which they may or may not combine into coherent ideologies.
A better way to understand the poll results for the questions on support for abortion is to also compare them with questions like this:
1. Who should have control over an individual’s medical decisions, a doctor or the individual?
2. To what degree should the government pass laws restricting access to medical services?
3. To what degree should the government pass laws restricting access to abortion?
4. Etc
I think you would see a different pattern emerging. Namely US citizens are ambivalent in regards to abortion, but are opposed to what they percieve as outside influences on their medical decisions. On that score, they know exactly what support for Roe v. Wade is accomplishing.
Steven
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May 21, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Steven,
The questions about restricting certain kinds of abortions asked whether the respondent thought those types of abortion should be illegal. The vast majority of Americans thought those particular justifications should not be legally justified. Apparently, they don’t think the woman and her doctor should be able to make the decision. They think the people of this country should make the decision to ban abortion for those reasons. What I think they don’t realize is that those justifications account for 95% of all abortions in this country.
Jason
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