Pew: Abortion Low on List of Concerns for Healthcare Reform Opponents
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
Abortion coverage is way down on the list of concerns of those who oppose Democratic-led healthcare reform, a new Pew survey finds. A majority of Americans—55 percent—oppose abortion coverage as a "guaranteed medical benefit" in a government-run health insurance plan, but just 3 percent of those who oppose Democratic-led reform volunteer abortion as their top concern, according to the poll.
Among reform opponents, 27 percent name cost as their top concern, while another 27 percent cite a bigger role for the federal government. Eight percent worry most about the complexity of the legislation, and 8 percent cite skepticism that reform will work.
Check out this graph from Pew:
This is welcome news to Democrats, since the debate over how a government-managed healthcare plan should treat abortion coverage threatens to derail the whole reform effort.
But it's important to note what the Pew survey didn't ask: What qualifies as government-funded abortion? If government funds go to healthcare plans that include abortion coverage, even though the plans are using private premiums—as opposed to government money—to pay for the actual abortion coverage, is that government-funded abortion? Abortion foes say yes; abortion rights activists say no.
There's general agreement in Washington that healthcare reform should maintain the status quo of no federally funded abortion. The argument is over what that actually means. Would be interesting to hear what the American people think.
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Tags: abortion | healthcare | religion | polls
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Reader Comments
arroagance
My neighbors kid threw an egg at my house the other day and it really pissed me off so i was going to shoot him but my friend told me that was murder! I should have the right because I'm a woman! It should be my PRIVATE PERSONAL CHOICE...why does anyone else care? makes about as much sense as you 3.
Sex Ed
Anyone notice the viagra ad flashing at the top of the screen? How is it we live in a culture where horny old men are given products so they can continue to have sex for fun, without consequence, but the choice to stop the consequences of said free love is trying to be stopped for women? Ridiculous. Newsflash - Women and Men are equally sexual beings~ Taking away a young woman's right to have sex without reproduction is unacceptable, especially when old men's sexuality is supported and advertised.
Aloha
Abortion is a private matter decided by a woman and the people she discusses it with. A woman has a right to choose. Period.
Pro-choice supporters educate people about sex, provide contraception to those who need it, and work to make a culture without stigmas towards single parents, or parents on welfare. People who don't support abortion can reduce the need for it by engaging in the same practices. People will always seek abortions. ALWAYS. Legal available abortions must ALWAYS be protected. Hence the need for safe, sterile, legal services.
There is no money forced from taxpayers. The Catholic Church gets federal funds for its hospitals, despite the country having no national religion, because it keeps its Church activities separate from its federal money.
In practical terms, our population is at its limit. We will be facing widespread food and water shortages - people in other countries already are. We must be PRACTICAL when it comes to deciding on bringing more people into this world, because quality of life is as important as life itself.
The freedom of choice is essential and while this poll shows it isn't a big concern, I assure you, it is.
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