Thank you for repeatedly framing the issue as "Abortion access" instead of something more inflammatory. It is a shame that we are saddled with the "Pro-life"/"Pro-Choice" branding that muddles the issue.
I lost faith in the "pro-life" term long ago, as there seemed to be only a push for no abortion, but little interest in life after birth.
One of the biggest drops in abortion was after passage as the ACA, giving women better access to healthcare. Unfortunately, that seems to be of little interest to the "pro-life" side.
Thanks, I appreciate the clarification as the vast majority of so called "pro-life" are not. I live in Texas((with my adopted children) and see very little care once there is birth.
While I have been skeptical of over-indexing on the influence of partisanship on religion in other areas, this post contains some very clear and irrefutable examples.
Regarding the asymmetry between parties making inroads on the other side, Trump is an interesting indicator for the openness of the Republican party to pro-choice views. Publicly he has identified as pro-life ever since reentering politics in the Obama era, but some have observed that he uses dog whistles to signal that he is more moderate on the issue, and his VP picks have historically been socially conservative to round out the ticket and eliminate that doubt among conservative voters. I recall there was even reporting during his recent campaign that Melania is secretly pro choice.
Good thoughts, as always. I would suggest that you avoid the expression "Democrat Party", a construction preferred by Republicans for polemical reasons.
Just one small correction. Former US Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) may have begun his political career as "pro-life," but by 2022, two years before he lost reelection to current Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), he changed his mind. In the 2021-2022 session of Congress, Planned Parenthood Action gave Senator Bob Casey a 75% pro-choice rating. For the subsequent and most recent session, he received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Action. https://kellyjohnston.substack.com/p/betraying-his-bargain?utm_source=publication-search
Bummer-( to that last line in your essay) Thanks for taking the time to do this study. I know people use it in many ways, however I do think the topic is much more multi-layered than appears.
Does the data suggest that the Democrats decision to center the 2024 campaign on abortion may have cost them votes, versus the Republicans relative moderation on the subject?
Great article on the topic and good timing. I work to raise awareness of the interrelationships among Christianity, Citizenship, and Quality Management. I recently posted an article on the Abortion topic (just updated with information from your post).
Former President Clinton proposed a common vision on the topic that abortions be "Safe, Legal, Rare." The issue is as polarizing as always. Abortions are Safe and Legal, but not Rare. To meet the "Rare" goal would require the reduction of the causes that lead women to get an abortion. Support groups for pregnant women and improvements in medical procedures support this aim.
A Quality Management Perspective on the Abortion Battle
Interesting article. Abortions are now not legal in many states, including my own. Along with support groups, etc., affordable housing, living wage, access to medical care for either birth control or pregnancy support would likely help.
Abortion bans and other restrictions imposed or enforced after Dobbs have led to a surge in people traveling from states where abortion is banned or heavily restricted to seek care in states where abortion is available.
Travel across state lines for abortion care peaked in 2023, when more than 169,000 US abortion patients traveled to other states to obtain care, representing 16% of all abortions in the United States. Half as many (81,000) did so in 2020.7
Since 2023, the incidence of travel across state lines for care has been declining, though it remains historically high. In 2025, approximately 142,000 people crossed state lines to access abortion care, representing an 8% decline from 2024 when 154,000 people traveled out of state, and a 16% decline from the peak in 2023.
Nationally, 13% of all abortion patients in 2025 traveled out of state to obtain care.
I am interested in the rationale for abortion among all believers. Many years ago in trying to come to grips with this, I asked when is the soul “in fused”. Never could answer the question. I decided that if it could not be determined then we should not be aborting at any stage of pregnancy.
Thank you for repeatedly framing the issue as "Abortion access" instead of something more inflammatory. It is a shame that we are saddled with the "Pro-life"/"Pro-Choice" branding that muddles the issue.
I try to just be as neutral as possible on this stuff, but when it comes to abortion it's basically impossible!
It's maddening.
I agree with that too.
I lost faith in the "pro-life" term long ago, as there seemed to be only a push for no abortion, but little interest in life after birth.
One of the biggest drops in abortion was after passage as the ACA, giving women better access to healthcare. Unfortunately, that seems to be of little interest to the "pro-life" side.
One of my objections is calling abortion healthcare. Certainly not for the baby. As for the mother I am pretty sure having a baby is not a disease
My objection to your c
I am not sure your point here. If there are better ways to abort then that makes abortion a good thing and OK
I think my comment is clear. Are you pro life or pro birth?
Ok. We have 2 adopted girls and now 4 grandchildren. We are both pro life and pro birth. I hope that is clear enough.
Thanks, I appreciate the clarification as the vast majority of so called "pro-life" are not. I live in Texas((with my adopted children) and see very little care once there is birth.
While I have been skeptical of over-indexing on the influence of partisanship on religion in other areas, this post contains some very clear and irrefutable examples.
Regarding the asymmetry between parties making inroads on the other side, Trump is an interesting indicator for the openness of the Republican party to pro-choice views. Publicly he has identified as pro-life ever since reentering politics in the Obama era, but some have observed that he uses dog whistles to signal that he is more moderate on the issue, and his VP picks have historically been socially conservative to round out the ticket and eliminate that doubt among conservative voters. I recall there was even reporting during his recent campaign that Melania is secretly pro choice.
Good thoughts, as always. I would suggest that you avoid the expression "Democrat Party", a construction preferred by Republicans for polemical reasons.
And here I thought people were gonna get the most upset with my pro-life/pro-choice framing!
Dodged one bullet to only get him by another one...
It's always something!
Just one small correction. Former US Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) may have begun his political career as "pro-life," but by 2022, two years before he lost reelection to current Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), he changed his mind. In the 2021-2022 session of Congress, Planned Parenthood Action gave Senator Bob Casey a 75% pro-choice rating. For the subsequent and most recent session, he received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Action. https://kellyjohnston.substack.com/p/betraying-his-bargain?utm_source=publication-search
Bummer-( to that last line in your essay) Thanks for taking the time to do this study. I know people use it in many ways, however I do think the topic is much more multi-layered than appears.
Does the data suggest that the Democrats decision to center the 2024 campaign on abortion may have cost them votes, versus the Republicans relative moderation on the subject?
I'm pretty convinced that the Democrats were just playing behind no matter what they messaged about in 2024.
Inflation was high. The incumbent gets blamed for that.
Fair. Lots of factors against them in 2024.
Great article on the topic and good timing. I work to raise awareness of the interrelationships among Christianity, Citizenship, and Quality Management. I recently posted an article on the Abortion topic (just updated with information from your post).
Former President Clinton proposed a common vision on the topic that abortions be "Safe, Legal, Rare." The issue is as polarizing as always. Abortions are Safe and Legal, but not Rare. To meet the "Rare" goal would require the reduction of the causes that lead women to get an abortion. Support groups for pregnant women and improvements in medical procedures support this aim.
A Quality Management Perspective on the Abortion Battle
https://timjclark.substack.com/p/a-quality-management-perspective
Interesting article. Abortions are now not legal in many states, including my own. Along with support groups, etc., affordable housing, living wage, access to medical care for either birth control or pregnancy support would likely help.
"Out-of-State Travel:" https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states
Excerpts:
Abortion bans and other restrictions imposed or enforced after Dobbs have led to a surge in people traveling from states where abortion is banned or heavily restricted to seek care in states where abortion is available.
Travel across state lines for abortion care peaked in 2023, when more than 169,000 US abortion patients traveled to other states to obtain care, representing 16% of all abortions in the United States. Half as many (81,000) did so in 2020.7
Since 2023, the incidence of travel across state lines for care has been declining, though it remains historically high. In 2025, approximately 142,000 people crossed state lines to access abortion care, representing an 8% decline from 2024 when 154,000 people traveled out of state, and a 16% decline from the peak in 2023.
Nationally, 13% of all abortion patients in 2025 traveled out of state to obtain care.
I am interested in the rationale for abortion among all believers. Many years ago in trying to come to grips with this, I asked when is the soul “in fused”. Never could answer the question. I decided that if it could not be determined then we should not be aborting at any stage of pregnancy.