No majority of Americans is united on the question of abortion, and Planned Parenthood is getting concerned.
According to a recent poll by Heritage Action for America, 46% of Americans consider themselves “pro-life,” and 48% consider themselves “pro-choice.”
Only 18% believe abortion should be permitted in all cases, while just 22% believe it should be permitted in some cases. On the other side, only 9% believe it should be illegal in all cases, and almost half, 45%, believe abortion should be illegal in most cases with some exceptions.
The two sides converge slightly on the subject of botched abortions, though, as 76% of people agree that doctors should be required to provide medical care to infants who survive abortion.
Overall, Americans are not radical at all when it comes to abortion, and the mantra of “safe, legal, and rare” is much more accepted in the general public than by Democratic politicians and the abortion lobby, which have demanded that people give abortion no less than enthusiastic support.
The survey, which polled 1,200 likely voters on political and social issues at a margin of error of +/- 2.8%, may help explain the expulsion of former Planned Parenthood CEO Leana Wen, as well as the new direction of Planned Parenthood.
Wen was ousted at a secret board meeting this month, for reasons that appear to involve her status as a former practicing physician. When Wen was hired, she was touted as an example of Planned Parenthood’s emphasis on women’s healthcare.
Who better to help women, not just with abortions, but with all forms of healthcare than a doctor? But that also appears to be the reason for her undoing. Per the New York Times:
But four people familiar with the matter said the group’s board of directors felt it needed a more aggressive political leader to combat the current efforts to roll back access to abortions.
In short, Wen was too healthcare-focused and not politically radical enough for the organization. This means Americans’ opinions regarding abortion are bad news for Planned Parenthood. When the company’s success is predicated on a demand for abortion access, an abortion approval rating of less than 50% just won’t cut it.
It’s impossible to say what Wen thought of Miley Cyrus’ abortion cake or Planned Parenthood’s “Bans Off My Body” campaign, which features a series of naked women stating “my truth.” Wen, an author and former professor, doesn’t seem like the type to embrace these stunts, but Planned Parenthood may see its brand of feminist activism as essential to its future.
Wen also appeared to be interested in an appeal to unity, a path soundly rejected by her organization. According to BuzzFeed News:
While Wen may have tried to reach out to women who were on the fence about abortion, her ouster shows that Planned Parenthood is not interested in having any conversations. The abortion group wants to shame dissenters into submission and bulldoze them with pro-abortion policy.
Planned Parenthood will seek supporters from the 40% who believe abortion should be legal in all or some cases, and it will continue to marginalize the rest, perpetuating the narrative that opposing “abortion rights” puts you on the wrong side of history.
If that’s the case, Wen’s removal could be a good thing for the anti-abortion movement. As Planned Parenthood becomes more explicitly radical, more people may wake up to what it actually wants: not to unite Americans around its cause, but to divide them.
