Green Room

Re: Rasmussen’s Abortion Poll

posted at 4:59 pm on November 15, 2012 by

The American electorate has suddenly and overwhelmingly embraced the pro-choice position on abortion (54/38), if a new Rasmussen poll is to be believed.  This would mark an implausible reversal compared to other national surveys conducted just a few months ago.   In May, Gallup found that the percentage of self-described “pro-choice” Americans has plummeted to a new low (41 percent), with pro-lifers representing the majority view (50 percent).  In August, a CNN national poll also showed pro-life Americans outnumbering pro-choicers (52/44), with women splitting evenly on the overall question.  So what explains Rasmussen’s latest data?  I think two elements are at play here:

(1) Conservatives are demoralized and regrouping right now.  Just a hunch, but I suspect they’re less likely than ever to answer polling calls at this point in time, whereas the victorious side is eager to talk to pollsters.  That’s basic human nature.

(2) In the CNN poll, which resulted in a pro-life majority, mind you,  the overwhelming consensus of respondents (83/14) was that legalized abortion should be an option in the relatively rare circumstance of pregnancy caused by rape.  Thanks to Todd Akin and (to a lesser extent) Richard Mourdock  – and, of course, the media — Americans have been hearing a lot about pro-life male politicians bungling explanations about why virtually all abortions should be illegal.   “Well, I don’t agree with that,” people think to themselves.  This is why it is imperative for pro-life candidates — men especially — to learn how to talk about the issue in a way that isn’t alienating and scary, even to people who might otherwise think of themselves as pro-life.

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I don’t know about the sample for this poll but I do know on the daily tracking poll, Rasmussen is including this language:

The figures released today reflect updated estimates of the voting population based upon the election results. Seventy-two percent (72%) of voters in the sample are white, 13% black, 10% Hispanic, and three percent (3%) other. It also reflects a larger share of younger voters compared to our pre-election sample. Additionally, 32% of the voters are Republicans, while 38% Democrats.

In other words, in response to the election, they are trying to re-jigger their methodology.

We know they were wrong about the election so maybe all their polls previously were wrong about social and other political issues as well.

Greyledge Gal on November 16, 2012 at 7:49 AM

Thou shalt not murder. Murder requires a thoughtful decision and a heartfelt desire to see some one die. Thus the prohibition. HE didn’t give any exceptions. Rasmussen is giving flawed results to try and change minds about this and that is part of the control being exerted on our will. I never answer poll calls and there were a lot of them the last 2 months.

Kissmygrits on November 16, 2012 at 8:34 AM

…virtually all abortions should be illegal. “Well, I don’t agree with that,” people think to themselves. This is why it is imperative for pro-life candidates — men especially — to learn how to talk about the issue in a way that isn’t alienating and scary, even to people who might otherwise think of themselves as pro-life.

In other news, Guy Benson writes a blog urging white males to learn how to talk about banning slavery in a way that isn’t alienating and scary.

/BUCK FARACK/

Nutstuyu on November 16, 2012 at 10:44 AM

Dump abortion slavery from the Republican platform. Now.

Social issues are killing the Republican party with voters otherwise apposed to liberal fiscal insanity.

rickyricardo on November 15, 2012 at 5:33 PM

FIFY.

/BUCK FARACK/

Nutstuyu on November 16, 2012 at 11:04 AM

Call abortion whatever you want. The bottom line is that, like all medicine, it should be between the patient and doctor, not Washington blowhards who want to micromanage people’s lives.

And if you have to choose between two big-government types who want to rule your life from thousands of miles away, why wouldn’t you choose the one that will at least give you free stuff?

Armin Tamzarian on November 15, 2012 at 6:43 PM

So can killing my wife be between my doctor and I? As long as the procedure takes place in a medical-looking facility and everyone is wearing scrubs, then it counts as a medical procedure right?

Nutstuyu on November 16, 2012 at 11:09 AM

Comment pages: 1 2