By Charles C. W. Cooke
Tuesday, July 05, 2022
This Harvard-Harris poll, which was conducted entirely after Roe v. Wade was
overturned, demonstrates nicely why the claim that Roe and Casey had
made a wise and enduring decision for the nation was always such bunk.
When asked, “Do you support or
oppose the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade, which
allows each state to decide its own standards for abortion instead of a set
right?” 55 percent of respondents said that they opposed the overturning, with
45 percent saying they supported it.
In and of itself, this isn’t exactly
resounding. Just 55 percent against? In this media environment? But when one
adds in the subsequent questions in the poll, the case for Roe as
a beneficial political settlement (which was made by Justice Breyer during oral
arguments, by the majority in Casey, and by anyone who was too
embarrassed to pretend Roe was law) falls apart. Out of the
options presented to them, 72 percent of respondents said that they supported
abortion up until 15 weeks — the exact issue at stake in Dobbs — while
49 percent went only to six weeks. Both of these views were
incompatible with Roe, which means that, whether they knew it or not,
many Americans said they supported Roe while opposing
what Roe actually did.
Nor do Americans seem to be too upset with
the Court, or with the GOP. The Democrats’ execrable “pack the Court” idea
remains as unpopular as ever: Sixty-three percent of Americans consider the
Court “legitimate,” and 59 believe the Democrats are wrong to say otherwise.
And, when asked whether the overturning of Roe would have an
effect on their vote in the midterm, the results are a wash. Thirty-six percent
said it would make them more likely to vote for a Democrat, 36 percent said it
would make them more likely to vote for a Republican, and 29 percent said it
would have no effect.
These are not the ingredients from which
backlashes are made.
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