GOP Should Not Boot Pro-Lifers: New Poll Shows 74% of Republicans Want Abortion Limits

Date: 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 4/22/14 1:12 PM

In light of the Nevada Republican Party’s decision to jettison the kinds of social issues that built a winning coalition for the GOP, a poll the Fsmily Research Council and pro-life activist Gary Bauer co-sponsored indicates the GOP base supports limits on abortion. They say social conservatives make up a key component of a winning GOP coalition and an important voting block in the Republican effort to capture the Senate from pro-abortiion Democrats this November.A new national poll responding to a decision by the Nevada GOP to drop its pro-life plank from its party platform shows most Republicans and Republican-leaning independents favor more limits on abortion.

The poll asked: As you may know, abortion on demand is the law in the United States. Whether or not we believe abortion should be generally available, we should at least place reasonable limits on such things as late-term pregnancies and provide adequate health and safety regulations for abortion clinics. It found 74% of Republicans agree.

Gary Bauer, president of American Values, told LifeNews: “While the country is almost equally divided on the issue of abortion, large majorities support reasonable, rational limits and life-saving regulations.Unfortunately, the Obama Administration position is abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy, for any reason, and with taxpayer subsidies for those who say they cannot afford it.”

Arina Grossu, director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council, told LifeNews: “Women have a right to know the development of their unborn child at any stage. Unborn babies can feel pain by at least 20 weeks – five months – post-fertilization and must be protected from inhumane treatment. Late abortions pose higher health risks for women.”

“Further, it’s in women’s best interest to ensure that there are adequate health and safety regulations for abortion facilities. Tanning and nail salons, pools, and restaurants are more frequently regulated that most abortion facilities. Abortion facilities should be held to the same standard of regulation as other medical facilities. Many injuries and deaths of women could have been prevented at abortion facilities had they been adequately regulated,” she added.

American Values and Family Research Council (FRC) released the results of a commissioned national survey conducted by Wilson Research Strategies. The survey of 801 Republicans and Republican leaning independents was conducted March 18-20, 2014. The full sample has a margin of error equal to ±3.5%.