Abortion was put to a vote by the Prodigy computer service and 31,000 members responded. Eighty-two percent backed legal abortion in some form; 48 percent (54 per-cent of women and 45 percent of men) backed legal abortion under any circumstances. Another 34 percent wanted legal abortion with certain restrictions.
Only 18 percent wanted abor-tion outlawed. Sixty-five percent said the constitutional right to privacy certainly does apply to abortion; 61 percent would favor a national law guaranteeing a basic right of abortion.
This is a big sample, enough to show that the right-to-lifers, including President Bush, are way out of step with the public. They remind me of the little-tugboat-with-the-great-big-whistle story. They should now slink home and keep their whistle silent.
