The new Gallup poll showing Americans strongly supporting some of the kinds of pro-life laws that have been successful in stopping abortions around the country and reducing them to historic lows in some states has another interesting conclusion.
While President Barack Obama has stopped at nothing to advance abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion, the poll shows Democrats nationwide are not as strongly pro-abortion as the president. In fact, a majority of Democrats support some key pro-life laws and large minorities support others.
The polling data reveals 84 percent of Democrats back informed consent measure to give women more information about abortion’s risks and alternatives, 61 percent support parental consent before a teenage can get an abortion, and 60 percent support a 24-hour waiting period. That’s not the overall percentage of Americans who support those pro-life laws, that’s not the percentage of Republicans. That’s more than 60 percent of Democrats backing each of those policies.
The results go further and they show 59 percent of Democrats back a partial-birth abortion ban, and 49 percent support a bill to allow women a chance to see an ultrasound before an abortion. While not a majority, a good percentage of Democrats also support a ban on federal funding of abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood (25 percent), and an allowance for pharmacists and healthcare providers to opt out of participating in abortions or dispensing abortion drugs (33 percent).
Kristen Day, Executive Director of Democrats for Life of America, applauded the polling results.
“It is clear that a majority of the country and a majority of Democrats support these measures,” said Day. “We encourage Democratic legislators and Democrats across the nation to show the same courage as Representative Crawford and stand by their principles. Supporting women and supporting unborn children are consistent with Democratic values.”
She also applauded a recent vote in North Carolina, where Republicans, joined by Democratic Representative James Crawford, override a veto of an informed consent bill that will help lower the number of abortions.
“The North Carolina legislature did the right thing overriding the Governor’s veto,” Day said. “No woman should be forced to have an abortion or any medical procedure without knowing all the facts. We particularly appreciate the critical vote cast by pro-life Democratic Representative James Crawford.”
Crawford previously opposed the measure out of respect for his party. However, his final vote is more consistent with Democratic voters nationwide, Day said.
