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Phasing out the “Pro-Choice” Label

The best “brand” that abortion proponents have had for decades is the “pro-choice” label. For years, pro-choice has been the “in” position. Even people who thought abortion was terrible and shouldn’t be legal would self-describe as “pro-choice” because it seemed like the tolerant thing to do. No more.

Gallup has polled on this label question going back to 1995. The latest poll released this week shows that 50% of Americans now self-identify as pro-life and, according to Gallup, a record low of 41% as pro-choice. “The 41% of Americans who now identify themselves as ‘pro-choice’ is down from 47% last July and is one percentage point below the previous record low Gallup trends, recorded in May 2009,” states Gallup.

Gallup continues: “…identification with labels has shifted from a wide lead for the pro-choice position in the mid-1990s, to a generally narrow 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.”

So, who is driving the numbers? Republicans have become more pro-life from 68% a year ago to 72% now. Independents have moved from 51% pro-choice a year ago to 41% now. Finally, even Democrats have moved, with 68% identifying as pro-choice a year ago to 58% now.

In addition to the label question, the Gallup poll found that 51% of Americans believe abortion is “morally wrong,” and 38% say it is “morally acceptable.” Regarding the legality of abortions, the poll found that 52% of Americans believe abortion should be “legal only under certain circumstances,” 25% say “legal under any circumstances,” and 20% favor “illegal in all circumstances.” It is important to note that while only 25% favor legality in all circumstances, that is the current state of the law across America.

All in all, good news for our great cause!

Read the Gallup poll results here.

Barbara Lyons

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