Poll: Americans Oppose Democratic Party Platform Forcing People to Pay for Abortions
Democrats are set to vote today on a platform that calls for forcing Americans to fund abortions — but a new national poll finds Americans are strongly opposed to being made to have their taxpayer dollars pay for aborting babies.
The proposed Democratic Party platform this year is more extreme than it has ever been, calling for a repeal of the Hyde Amendment and full-fledged taxpayer funding of abortion. It also specifically names the abortion giant Planned Parenthood and calls for support of its work. The current Democratic Party platform already supports legalized abortion on demand for any reason up until birth.
The new Democratic proposals are so extreme on abortion that even some of its own party members are getting uncomfortable. Taxpayer funding of abortion and unlimited abortions up until birth are extreme positions that go against most Americans’ views on the matter. However, the Democratic National Committee officially rejected an effort by pro-life Democrats in 2012 to get the party to include them in its platform.
But a new poll conducted by Maris University finds Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.
“The majority of Americans in favor of abortion restrictions has been consistently around 8 in 10 for the better part of a decade,” said Barbara Carvalho, director of the Marist Poll. “Though self-identification as pro-life or pro-choice can vary substantially from year to year, the support for restrictions is quite stable.”
Taxpayer funding for abortion is opposed by 62 percent of Americans. This includes 65 percent of African-Americans, 61 percent of Latinos, and 45 percent of those who say they are pro-choice, as well as 84 percent of Republicans, 61 percent of Independents and 44 percent of Democrats.
Among the key findings in the new Marist national survey:
Though 51 percent of Americans say they are pro-choice, about 8 in 10 Americans support substantial restrictions on abortion (78 percent), and would limit it to, at most, the first three months of pregnancy. This number includes 62 percent of those who identify as pro-choice, 85 percent of African-Americans and 84 percent of Latinos.
“The Americans people have spoken clearly on their desire for abortion restrictions, less taxpayer funding of it, and common sense regulations on this industry to protect women’s health,” said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. “Our courts, politicians, candidates and parties should heed this consensus.”
Concerning the recent Supreme Court decision, Nearly 8 in 10 Americans (78 percent) want abortion clinics to be held to the same standards as other outpatient surgery centers. This includes 77 percent of African-Americans and 82 percent of Latinos, as well as 77 percent of women, and 84 percent of millennials. About three-quarters of those who identify as pro-choice (74 percent) agree, as do strong majorities regardless of party affiliation.
In addition, 70 percent of Americans want doctors who perform abortions to be required to have hospital admitting privileges. This includes 71 percent of women, 77 percent of millennials, and 78 percent of Latinos, Pro-life and pro-choice adherents are also equally likely to support such a requirement at a rate of 7 in 10 for each group (71 percent).
And by almost 20 points, a majority of Americans (56 percent to 37 percent) do not believe that healthcare providers should be forced to perform abortions against their conscience or religious beliefs. This includes 6 in 10 Latinos (61 percent) and 4 in 10 who identify as pro-choice (41 percent).
The survey of 1,009 adults was conducted July 5-12, 2016, by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the continental United States were interviewed on either landline or mobile phones in English using live interviewers. Results for adults are statistically significant within ±3.1 percentage points. The error margin increases for cross-tabulations.
