Exit Polls: Pro-Abortion Health Care Reason for Big Pro-Life Election Wins

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 3, 2010   |   1:20PM   |   Washington, DC

Look no further than the health care reform bill that allows for taxpayer funding of abortions as the reason why so many pro-life candidates won elections to federal and state offices on Tuesday.

National exit polling results of 17,000 voters from some of the more competitive states nationwide showed 48 percent of Americans want the health care law repealed and even those who disagree supported Republican candidates anyway.

Some 86 percent of those who support repeal backed GOP candidates while 30 percent of those who want the law left in place did as well.

The votes left many pro-life Democrats who backed the pro-abortion health care bill on the outside looking in after the votes came to pass.

Pro-life voters across Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Pennsylvania sent their representatives home like Steve Driehaus, Kathy Dalhkemper, Jim Oberstar, and Brad Ellsworth.

“We can’t say they didn’t have fair warning,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List.

“On our “Abortion is NOT Health Care” tour earlier this year, we stood outside their district offices and encouraged them to stand with their pro-life constituents and to vote against any health care bill that contained taxpayer funding for abortion. We told them that we were prepared to defend them if they stood with us, but on the flip side, would defeat them if they caved,” she said.

“We couldn’t let these turncoat representatives get away with abandoning the pro-life movement after voting for the largest expansion of government-backed abortion since Roe,” she added.

The American Center for Law and Justice issued a statement LifeNews.com received calling on the Republican-controlled House to pass a bill to repeal pro-abortion ObamaCare.

“The outcome of this election underscores the fact that most Americans don’t believe this country is on the right track and want a change from President Obama’s failed policies of the past two years,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel.  “In addition to jobs and taxes, voters sent a powerful message about ObamaCare, the government-run, pro-abortion health care law forced on the American people.”

“Most Americans have said they want ObamaCare repealed.  And, now with a sweeping change in Congress, it’s time to do just that. The fact is with the outcome of this election – along with growing opposition to ObamaCare – this is the perfect time to act legislatively and repeal the health care law,” he added.

The exit polling data also found 54 percent of voters disapprove of the job pro-abortion President Barack Obama is doing while just 45 percent approve. Voters approving of Obama backed Democratic candidates while those who disapprove supported Republicans and they did so in about equal margins.

Some 37 percent of Americans said their vote was designed to express opposition to Obama and 52 percent said his policies would hurt the country.

“America sent a loud and clear message at the polls yesterday. Voters said that President Obama’s pro-abortion agenda—the most pro-abortion in history—is taking our nation in the wrong direction,” said Brad Mattes of the Life Issues Institute.

“This past Congress and the President forced pro-abortion ObamaCare down our throats and inflicted considerable damage on our nation. It’s heartening to see the voters fighting back. They have the final say,” he told LifeNews.com.