At the University of Notre Dame, President Barack Obama spoke of the intense debate in America about abortion. Indeed, many Americans feel morally conflicted about the procedure.
But it is a common error to believe that the American electorate is deeply divided about how the government should deal with abortion. In fact, there is substantial consensus that the government should not criminalize abortion.
A just-released CNN poll finds that 68 percent say that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned. A recent WorldPublicOpinion.org poll asked, "Do you think the government should be involved in trying to discourage abortion or do you think the government should leave these matters to the individual," and 69 percent said that the matter should be left to the individual.
Further, of the 29 percent who said that the government should be involved in trying to discourage abortions, a remarkably low 8 percent favored using criminal enforcement methods.
So why does it seem that the American people are so polarized on the topic? Many Americans find it a compelling proposition that a woman has a right to choose what to do with her body. But it is also a compelling proposition that a fetus has a right to life. When poll questions force Americans to make a choice, more say that the woman should have the right to choose, but many also feel inner conflict and look for ways to express that. Thus, when asked what the government should do about abortion and given a middle option - somewhere between strict prohibition and government permission - a significant number will choose it.
For example, 34 percent to 40 percent have told New York Times/CBS News polls that abortion should be "generally available," and only 20 percent to 25 percent say it should "not be permitted." The remainder, 34 percent to 40 percent, choose the middle position: Abortion should be available but "under stricter limits than now."
Some have tried to use such findings as evidence that a majority of Americans want at least stricter limits on abortion. But in fact, a clear majority of Americans oppose using the criminal justice system (the only way to enforce such limits) to prevent abortions.
So why don't most Americans say that a woman should have a right to an abortion, the way President Obama does?
About 6 in 10 Americans say that they feel abortion is wrong. Many Americans do not really want to say that such an act is a right or that the government should actively permit it. But that does not mean that they think the government should impose criminal penalties.
