A new ABCNEWS.com poll finds most support President Bush's decision to provide limited federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.
(ABCNEWS.com)
Stem-Cell Division
Research Opponents Don't Like Bush's Decision
Analysis By Gary Langer
Aug. 14
—
Most Americans favor George W. Bush's limited federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. But while supporters of less-restricted research are satisfied with their half-loaf, the president's action is overwhelmingly unpopular among stem-cell research opponents.
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Overall, 56 percent of Americans favor Bush's decision, according to a new ABCNEWS poll. Among those who would have preferred broader funding, 79 percent are satisfied with the limited funding he's allowed. But among those who oppose any funding, approval plummets to just 17 percent.
Bush's Decision
Approve
Disapprove
All
56%
32
Preferred
broader funding
79
16
Preferred
no funding
17
75
While Bush's action gets overall majority approval, that's not the same as majority preference. The public fragments on its preferred approach: A third would have preferred broader funding; 30 percent prefer the limited funding Bush is providing; and 26 percent would have preferred no federal funding at all for stem-cell research.
Preference on Federal
Funding
Broader federal funding
33%
Bush's limited funding
30
No federal funding
26
People who oppose legal abortion are most critical of Bush's decision, but there's a diversity of opinion even in this group. Indeed among those who oppose abortion in "most cases," but not in all cases, more approve than disapprove of Bush's action.
Opposition peaks among those who oppose legal abortion "in all cases" (about a fifth of the population). In this group 57 percent disapprove of Bush's decision; a third approve, despite their strong view on the abortion issue.
Bush's Decision
Approve
Disapprove
Oppose abortion in all cases
34%
57
Oppose abortion in most cases
46
38
Support abortion, all or most cases
73
21
Six in 10 Americans feel they have a good basic understanding of the stem-cell issue, and knowledge may be working on Bush's side. Among people who feel reasonably informed on the subject, 63 percent approve of his action; among those who don't feel informed, approval falls to 46 percent, and many more are undecided.
In concert with knowledge, approval of Bush's action is also higher among better-educated adults.
Bush's Decision
Approve
Disapprove
No opin.
Basically understand the issue
63%
33
4
Don't feel they understand it
46
31
23
People who feel they understand the issue also are more apt to favor broader, less-restricted federal funding for stem-cell research. Among those who report "a good basic understanding," 42 percent prefer broader funding; among those with less knowledge, this falls to 22 percent.
Despite the opposition of church leaders, white Catholics approve of Bush's action by 59-34 percent. White evangelical Protestants approve by a somewhat narrower 51-37 percent. Non-evangelical white Protestants approve most broadly, by 69-22 percent.
Majority approval also crosses political lines. Sixty-six percent of Republicans approve of Bush's decision on the issue, as do about 55 percent of independents and Democrats alike.
Methodology
This ABCNEWS poll was conducted by telephone Aug. 10-12 among a random national sample of 1,040 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Field work was done by by ICR-International Communications Research of Media, Pa.
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