WASHINGTON, D.C., September 11, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A new poll reveals the vast majority of Americans say they are far less likely to support a government health-care reform that includes public subsidies for abortion.
According to the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, the nationwide poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies reveals the majority of Americans are opposed to any government involvement in either subsidizing abortions or those insurance carriers that cover abortions with taxpayer dollars.
“The bottom line is this: including government funds for abortion on-demand in health care reform is unappealing to American voters nationwide, women and men alike,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List.
The poll reveals that Congress's inclusion of government funded abortions in President Barack Obama's health care reform depresses more support among voters than it gains by five times. Over four out of ten voters (43 percent) say they would be less likely to support the president's proposed health plan, if the government pays for abortions. But a strong one-third (36 percent) of voters said they would be “much less likely” to support the plan.
Forty-six percent say it would make no difference to their support for the president's plan. But only eight percent say including abortion in health-care reform would make them more likely to support the plan.
Other key findings of the poll reveal:
– 58 percent of Americans disagree with the statement, “If the government is going to make a public health plan available for all Americans it has an obligation to provide abortion services under that plan.”
– 55 percent of Americans agree with the statement, “Whatever my opinion on the issue, I think it would be wrong for the government to pay for abortions.”
– 52 percent of Americans agree with the statement, “I do not want the government to help fund health care plans that fund abortions.”
The data reveals that including abortion in healthcare reform is not popular among independents, and even Democrats are conflicted.
The Susan B. Anthony List says it believes that these numbers are behind President Obama's repeated and false claims that the government will not be involved in subsidizing abortion in health-care reform, even though the Capps Amendment to H.R. 3200 “America's Affordable Health Choices Act” says otherwise. The poll supports this conclusion, saying the inclusion of abortion in the health-care reform plan “could alienate Independent voters and a significant proportion of the Democratic Base.”
“If the Congressional leadership and the President fall on the sword of abortion coverage, pleasing their allies and weaving it into the fabric of our daily lives, they do so at the peril of the entire bill and their own political futures,” said Dannenfelser. “Today's polling data offers the latest compelling reason for Congress to reject the President's health care proposal without authentic language to exclude abortion funding.”
Public Opinion Strategies conducted a national survey of 800 registered voters between August 30 – September 1, 2009 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
Full poll results and analysis are available on the Susan B. Anthony List website here.
See related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:
FactCheck.org: Abortion Coverage in ObamaCare is No 'Fabrication'
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09082412.html
Poll: Majority of Americans Believe Obama Health Care Would Cover Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09081906.html
NRLC Webpage Exposes Pro-Life Movement's Benedict Arnold in Congress
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09081302.html
Cat out of the Bag: Dem Congresswoman Admits ObamaCare Covers Elective Abortions
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09081202.html