One of the central justifications for the Left’s proposed court-packing scheme is to claim that the reversal of Roe v. Wade is so radically out of step with the American public that it is an undemocratic, minoritarian power grab. Not only is the argument based on the unconstitutional notion that justices should weigh the vagaries of public opinion before ruling but it also relies on the irreconcilable claim that empowering the public to vote on an issue unmentioned in the Constitution is an attack on “democracy.”
Now, that’s all bad enough, but the thing is, even the underlying claim isn’t true. Take, for instance, this new poll by Monmouth University, headlined, “Majority Disapprove of Reversing Roe.” Yes, a majority of 60% disapprove of overturning Roe. And after 50 years of cultural and political indoctrination about abortion “rights,” it’s almost surely the case that a large part of that 60% of voters barely have any idea what Roe entailed, or any legal arguments for why it shouldn’t be overturned, or much understanding of what its demise means.
A deeper look at the poll shows that 46% say Congress should pass a national law “allowing abortion” — what a ridiculously vague phrase — but “44% prefer to leave abortion law up to the states.” And “just 7% want a national ban.” So, even with the purposely opaque wording of the poll, Monmouth could have headlined the findings, “54% of Americans Oppose a National Law Codifying Roe.”
How could that be? Does anyone believe that among the same 60% who support upholding abortion by judicial decree are those opposed to codifying the same exact rights through the democratic process? Or is the public confused about what Roe meant?
Pollsters have been highlighting these irrelevant questions about abortion, a practice that most Americans probably have complicated feelings about, for decades. And it probably isn’t going to get any better.
A recent Public Policy Polling survey posed this false choice: “Which of the following statements best describes your view on abortion: ‘I believe a woman should have the right to choose and Roe v Wade should not be overturned’ or ‘I believe abortion should be criminalized and Roe v Wade should be overturned in its entirety.'”
Not long ago, Politico asked voters about the prospect of prison for women who obtain abortions, which Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has nothing to do with and the anti-abortion movement has always opposed. Abortion laws in place punish those who perform abortions, not pregnant women. The Texas law everyone was freaking out about specifically exempts women from homicide charges for abortions.
Then there is NPR, which reports, “Poll: Majorities oppose Supreme Court’s abortion ruling and worry about other rights.” The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist, a transparent push poll, doesn’t even bother asking about policy. It offers no context for why anyone should believe their “rights” would be imperiled — and abortion, of course, isn’t a right. (Even with all this, a majority in the NPR poll oppose packing the court.)
When Monmouth asks if voters support Democrats’ plan “allowing abortion,” they too are misleading the public. We already know what the Democrats’ national bill would do. So a more honest question would be: “Do you support the Democratic Party’s efforts to legalize abortion through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason, paid for by taxpayers, in all 50 states?”
For that matter, why don’t pollsters ask voters if they agree with the Biden administration that abortions are vital in keeping down the poor population, increasing labor-force participation and helping the economy? Why don’t they ask voters if they support the Democrats’ efforts to force states to allow abortions after viability and sex-selective abortions, and strip parental or guardian notification for minors? These are real-life policy proposals that Democrats want to pass. The only national bill Republicans in Congress have forwarded in recent years has been a “heartbeat” bill. And guess what? It polls very well.
Then again, Dobbs finally allows us to find out what people really think.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books — the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.” His work has appeared in National Review, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reason, New York Post and numerous other publications. Follow him on Twitter @davidharsanyi.
Let ‘sm indulge—it will be worth the satisfaction in seeing it blow up on them in the mid-terms.
I have a great idea, liberals should abort themselves and the liberals can abort the RINOS also. With just Conservatives left in our Country, the border will be secure, there will be no illicit drugs, there will be no crime and all of us will work for a living.
Better idea, we should start performing late term (i.e. 60+ trimester) abortions on all of the commie and traitors in this country. Ah, it’ll never happen–our side just doesn’t have the strength and force of will these times require.
You would think they would abort themselves into extinction, but for the talent of secular socialists to live off of other’s redistributed honest wealth and life force. They suck the very life energy out of stable societies like Joe Biden ***** petroleum energy products out of our factorys and automobules, and his son’s girlfriends can suck a golfball through a staw.
That’s been part of why the left’s gotten so powerful.. WE On the right, seem to have lost the will and strength needed, to FIGHT for what we believe in.. The left, on the other hand, has not.
Democrats see everything as subjective, how they feel or want things should be (not as they are) their whole world is subjective. Not Objective.
To Democrats, Gender, Truth, Facts, Reality and History are all irrelevant, If the Democrats do not WANT to believe them or they disagree with them. Democrats will just make up their own, Gender, Truth, Facts, Reality and History to fit what they WANT to believe or fits into the Con or Deception that they are running at the time.
Democrat party supporters operate strictly on emotion, with very little rational thought and who simply do not understand reality or basic economics. Democrats are willing to destroy themselves and everyone around them before they will agree to compromise their failed policies and destructive fabricated fairy tales, lies and beliefs.
Yes indeedy, Dem Party is now copying Islam ideas of domination via force, fear & tyranny.
WHY do you think libs love the ‘religion of piece’..
liberalism is a cancer in this nation that needs cut out…..
The funny thing is, it’s not even liberalism anymore. Liberals used to be freedom loving, anti-establishment types who were extremely pro-free speech, pro-individual rights with just a enough socialism sprinkled in to make them mildly obnoxious. These leftists are just a bunch of neo-communist thugs running around destroying everything they touch. We really need to get back to embracing the idea that, “The only good communist is a dead one.”
A cancer, that needs to be cut out, with extreme prejudice.
Mark Twain reportedly said “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Had he lived in our day he might have added public opinion polls to his list.
Like always polls are misleading and Democrats have no idea what the average American thinks about anything. If you ask people if they believe the laws that make it murder to kill a baby in womb are justified, I’m sure most would say yes. 38 states have such laws, so clearly people want some protection/justice for the unborn. How many people want abortion right up to the point of birth and in some states even letting a newborn die if it was accidentally born alive?
Heck, two states have laws (or are looking to make laws) allowing abortions AFTER BIRTH up to 28 days… How sick is that.!