A new Gallup poll shows the number of Americans who consider themselves pro-choice has dropped to 41 percent, which is a record low in the United States. Compare that number to July of 2011, where 47 percent of Americans viewed themselves as pro-choice.
The previous record low was in 2009 when 42 percent considered themselves pro-choice.
Fifty percent of Americans now call themselves "pro-life," the poll also shows.
In analyzing the data, Gallup notes:
Gallup began asking Americans to define themselves as pro-choice or pro-life on abortion in 1995, and since then, identification with the labels has shifted from a wide lead for the pro-choice position in the mid-1990s, to a generally narrower lead for "pro-choice" -- from 1998 through 2008 -- to a close division between the two positions since 2009. However, in the last period, Gallup has found the pro-life position significantly ahead on two occasions, once in May 2009 and again today. It remains to be seen whether the pro-life spike found this month proves temporary, as it did in 2009, or is sustained for some period.
In other words, this number for the time being could be fluid or fixed.
The Morning Joe panel looked at the poll results today and discussed what they considered to be reasons behind the shift in opinion.
Joe Scarborough said he thinks advances in technology may play a large role in that number:
You now have the technology that not only takes parents inside so early. And it’s three-dimensional imaging and you sit there and you know what you do? You tear up. That’s what you do…The imagery that’s allowing parents to see their unborn children earlier, that’s having an impact. I remember seeing the 3-D imagery, and as I walked out of the office, I said ‘This is going to change the abortion debate. This is gonna change that because you see that and you immediately go ‘Ok, you can call it what you want to call it, but that’s a human being in there.’ That’s not a political statement. That is a statement as a dad.
Scarborough also said favorability for abortion along with gay marriage, what he called "the two most volatile social issues of our time," are moving in opposite directions.
"[Americans] are becoming more progressive on gay marriage, because they’re meeting more people who are married and saying 'Ok, come on. What’s the big deal? Just let them get married.' And so that number is going in one direction."
Two new national polls show rising support for gay marriage in the United States.
Random House's Jon Meacham also noted that: "You can be pro-life but also favor laws that allow choice. You can be personally pro-life but believe that there is a right to an abortion under certain circumstances."
What do you think accounts for the shift in opinion on abortion? Does new technology play a large factor? What are other reasons?
Leave a Comment:
Evidently, us Pro-Choice people aren't screaming our heads off, like the religious righties. That's all. Pro-Choice does not mean we are for abortion, far from it. Pro-Choice means just that, WE make the choice. East person decides for themself what path to take. Ever notice the choices in the Ice Cream section? Picking Pecan over Chocolate is a personal choice. Get it? PRO-CHOICE.
No one dies when you choose Pecan.
Pro-choicers aren't screaming their heads off like the religious right? Really? You must not have been paying attention when pro-choicers threw a fit because the Komen Foundation decided to stop donating money to Planned Parenthood.
The reason people are becoming more pro-life is because it's becoming more obvious that an unborn baby is a human being. But pro-choicers never want to discuss this part of the issue. So they put it in terms of "women's reproductive health."
Choice? My grandfather used to shoot and kill any puppies their dog gave birth to. Why? Because he was too poor to pay the registration fee for the dogs. Was this his choice? Remember, this was his property, his dog, and his money. Could he have adopted them out? I'm pretty sure he could have. But still.... He was justified, right?
You can never control a person actions no matter how hard you try...plain and simple and that is what the issue of abortion is about controlling other people's bodies. Is abortion wrong? That's up to the individual person to decide. Are there other ways of dealing with people who have abortions? Yes, but who are we to decide what people do with their own body...you live your life and I'll live mine the best way I know how. Don't make decisions on someone else's behalf when you have never walked in their shoes and dealt with the things they have had to deal with.
Earthgirl your comment makes absolutely no sense. You said that pro choice does not mean we are for abortion - far from it. Let's see, if you are not pro life, but you are also not for abortion, where exactly does that leave you? The choice to do what? Have the baby - you are pro choice. Having the choice to terminate your baby's life - you are pro abortion. How else can you look at it?
You just do not get it. You CAN BE PROCHOICE and not PRO ABORTION. I had an abortion when I was 19 and the father is my husband of 33 years. We were not married then and probably would not be now because neither of us were ready or able to raise a child. I believe every child born should have the opportunity to live a decent life.......that is often NOT the case. Until you are faced with the situation, you have no idea how you will deal with it. PRO CHOICE means just that. We have raised two fine sons that are productive citizens.
I don't think they asked the right people. I wouldn't have had an abortion, but it's the woman's right to decide. Hence, I am pro choice, as are most people I know.
I'm of an age to remember when abortion was illegal. Women were getting them anyway, from pretty dubious "doctors".
I'd like to see another poll.
I agree with you totally. With the exception of Rachel Maddow, the mainstream press is doing a great job suppressing the attacks on the pill. I have mentioned to many women that I can't believe that many Republicans are utilizing "personhood" to make the birth control pill illegal. These are erudite, well-educated women and none of them were even aware that this is happening. The press could be more forthright in what is at stake for the average person in the US.
The righties should mind there own business and tell congress to pass a JOBS BILL.
By the way congress has passed many jobs bills it is the senate that wont pass them. Just because it is not the presidents job bill does not mean they haven't been passed. As far as keeping my nose out of other peoples business I guess I shouldn't care if Joe Blow gets killed on the street by someone I guess I am not supposed to care if murder happens.
by the way why don't you Google and find out how many bills for jobs Congress passed. The Senate is Democrat majority and and any bills sent for approval was not passed when they were sent to Congress. America is suffering because Your Republican politicians are living up to the vow that Mitch McConnell said their main agenda is to defeat The President,so you all must suffer in order to get that Black man out of the highest office.The well being of America is obstructed by mean spirited,bigoted,cunning brainWASHERS.To the Pro life you are going to have a lot of babies to take care of when birth control is repealed.If you are such Christians why have you not gone back to the mothers of the babies you saved from abortion and offered help and finances to help? Get ready for massive amounts of births because someone will have to take care of their needs.You save them You should be forced to support them.None of you people seem to care about that life after an unwanted birth occurs.Think about this Rich Women will still be able to get abortions because money talks,and people is still going to have SEX regardless so get ready.
The "jobs" bills passed by House were nothing but crap. Tax cuts and less reform, same old BS. The problem is the PRO LIFE people are also PRO WAR and PRO DEATH PENALTY. Go figure. Such Christian behavior. Religion does not belong in politics.
If it is so awful to cut down a tree, or catch too many fish, or burn fossil fuels, why is it so easy for some to discount the value of human life? Maybe the people who work to protect the trees and the fish and the air quality should make the effort to protect unborn babies.
You really think that it's an easy decision for someone? Wrong, it's very tough. But so is having a child and having to take care of it for 20 years or so when you aren't ready. Many of us who prefer clean energy know that we have to burn some fossil fuels. We know that some trees need to be cut down so other things can progress. We also eat fish, but we know that overfishing is going to have serious consequences. None of these are easy choices. Only the right wing seems to think so.
If you can't afford a child, or you aren't ready for one, don't get pregnant. We know it's not an easy decision, so use your smarts and protect against pregnancy.
If only that worked in real life, aren't the almighty Catholics against using birth control.
I guess murder is okay if it is done in the privacy of my home? People are now realizing a fetus is a human and murder is murder.
Keith, when you can become pregnant, when you can give birth, then you can judge. Pro-choicers and Pro-lifers have been battling for decades and it's still as much of a hot button today as it was 40 years ago. Each women should have the CHOICE. As Ann said above, its about the choice, not whether you believe in it or not.
Just because Keith can't become pregnant doesn't mean he can't be a parent. A woman should have a right to do with her own body what she wants; but the baby's body is a different issue. If you don't want a child, or aren't ready to be a parent, don't get pregnant. For women who still find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy, there are some good options...lots of people waiting to adopt.
So is starting wars and sending other peoples kids to fight them.
If the pollsters really want an accurate measure on "changing" attitudes It would seem that they would have to poll the original respondents,using the original questions. Attempting to see if in fact,their opinions had indeed changed. It is amazing how many people put stock in polling. One of the easiest things to do is manipulate a poll. Using certain wordage you can skew the results to have them show whatever you would like them to show.
I would like to know the exact nature of these polls. I have had two robocalls where when I answered the phone thequestion was, " This is "conservative" are you pro-life?" Caught me off guard but I was able to respond no. Stupid questions require fast thinking and stupid answers.
I am pro-choice. If you do not want to have a baby, don't have it. Look at all of the abused children, whether it be from a broken home or from parents who did not want to become parents. It is difficult enough raising a child that you want, don't have one because the government will not ok doctors to help you abort the baby in a safe and healthy manner for the woman. Get out of our bedrooms and give children a chance. They are the ones who really suffer when they come in the world unwanted. What a cheap shot to give a mother a picture of the fetus - that could be anyone's baby. What a bunch of slime balls we have. Give the woman a chance at making the best life she can for herself. Every child really needs to be wanted and to have somewhat of a chance in this world who favors the wealthy. For the middle to low class people cannot provide a good life for children - they should have a right to choose.
They have a right to choose to not become pregnant.
Well Kathy you missed the point Murder is Murder a life is a life just because it is your body does not make it any different. You made your choice when you had sex unprotected. If I kill someone in the privacy of my house it is still murder not a choice.
kk2012 There are other options besides murder. Do you know how many people want children and cannot have them. adoption is a great method. I have had friends who have wanted children and cannot have them and cannot adopt because there are no children to adopt.
Keith, what a crap line that is. There are so many children waiting to be adopted.
Keith I hope some one in your family gets raped so you can have a kid.
frank-4558355 I have two lovely daughters thank you. You might also know that most pro life people feel that rape and incest are reasons for an abortion. But, a mistake is not. In the case of rape there is also the day after pill.
By the way frank-4558355 what kind of person hopes another gets raped?
THAT'S what you RIGHTIES say even if you get raped you should have that child.
I guess you speak for me now. I just said rape and incest are a persons choice to do what they wish, but with todays methods rape is really not a reason since there is the day after pill. But, please let me speak for myself and not have you tell me what I believe.
We need a new category in addition to Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. I'd call it: Pro-I-Don't-Tell-You-How-to-Life-Your-Life-and-You-Don't-Tell-Me-How-to-Live-Mine.
And who will speak up for the unborn?
you may speak for your own zygote but you may not speak for mine.
Why does this culture put the "rights" of a couple of cells over the rights of a grown woman? My suspicion is that they in fact value sperm cells over the personhood that looks like womanhood.
If the government will not protect the most innocent of life, what fools we all are to think that the government will actually protect ours.
Violence on the innocent will eventually bring violence upon the guilty. The child produced from the rape is not the fault of the child.
This is more of an example of the media trying to manipulate public opinion.
I am in agreement with a majority of the comments already made. No polling service requested my opinion.
PRO-CHOICE
I have noticed that those (most) that oppose abortions are among the first to beat the drums of war and take up arms to go into foreign lands risking thousands of lives all the while declaring the advocacy of Democracy/Freedom.
And, yet, in the same breath, deny the individual freedom of choice in our own Nation.
I find that rather twisted.
They are also for the death penalty.
What a covenient euphamism you "pro choicers" hide behind. Several years ago it was called pro abortion but that wouldn't do. That sounds too terrible - lets not call it the opposite of pro life, let's not even call it what it is. You would rather soften it's name to sound more PC. It never was a choice. If you are opposed to giving birth then what other "choice" is there but allowing death? To me, it's always been about fixing the symptom instead of the sickness. Your "choice" was to allow yourself to become pregnant when maybe you shouldn't have. Since you abdicated taking responsiblity for your actions, you now hide behind calling yourself pro choice so you have an out to get rid of your unwanted symptom. A womans right to choose is what you decide to do with your body BEFORE you get pregnant. What hypocrites you make yourselves to be when you rally around the Spotted Owl and at the same time demand your choice to kill your unborn child.
You must be a man. As a nurse who has worked in OB, there are times when a fetus has an awful condition or deformity that is considered incompatible with life. In other words, it will not survive the pregnancy or delivery and many times can put the mothers life at risk. Do you understand what I'm saying or should I draw a picture for your simple mind. No woman should ever be forced to carry a fetus if she has been the victim of rape or incest. See what I just did there, you seem to think that all abortions are done for convenience because a girl AND a boy decided to have sex without ever thinking about protection, or maybe it failed. Such narrow minds, so then war is murder when soldiers kill, and if you kill someone in self defense it's murder no matter what right?
There, there Runner17. There's no need to call names. As an OB nurse I don't doubt what you say is true concerning condition, deformity, etc. But you of all people should know how small that percentage is. Statistics prove the overwhelming majority of abortions are in fact a matter of convenience. This is to whom I was speaking. I am not so naive to believe there are always exceptions. Let's be careful who we're calling simple minded when you compare the killing of someone in self defense in the same sentence as killing someone who has no defense.
Sharon my view I am not trying to restrict your right of choice just your right to murder.
All you women haters, yes I'm talking to the men, STFU . Last I checked we lived in a Demacratic society with the freedom of choice to make our OWN decisions, you don't like it-then move somewhere else!
As an OB nurse when do you consider abortion not okay? My question is not a trap or to lead you into a corner. Since abortion is legal up to the time of birth at what point do you feel that it is no longer an option or is it always an option? This is a female and not a women hater, I just wanted to know in your profession is it something you are okay with even when you the fetus would be viable outside the womb? Again, I won't be rebutting your comment just curious. Thanks.
China's government claims authority to make women HAVE abortions - for "their own good and good of others".
In America, some would deny women the right to have an abortion for "their own good and the good of others".
If being pregnant or unpregnant is FORCED on a person it is most certainly NOT for her own good and the good of others. Birth control is a private decision between an individual and her God, it is NOT a decision about an individual and her government. If a child comes through me, she/he will have God to thank, not the government.
As a male whose girlfriend had an abotion. It haunts me everyday. That was 50 years ago. Where was my rights. I wanted to keep the Child. It was murder then and is muder now. Abortion is not birth control. Margy I hope you read this