# How come conservatives are against abortion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 9, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063 "2014-05-09T16:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/1 "2014-05-09T16:43:17Z")
While in reality, conservatives value freedom and it’s the liberals that want to put restrictions on everything. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/2 "2014-05-09T16:51:15Z")
Because Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/3 "2014-05-09T16:52:19Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > While in reality, conservatives value freedom and it’s the liberals that want to put restrictions on everything. This is not reality. But as to your OP question, I think there are a few answers (which are not mutually exclusive, and can apply to anyone who opposes abortion): some oppose abortion because they actually think the fertilized egg/embryo/fetus is a human life, and that this life’s right to exist trumps the rights of the woman to choose what/who goes or stays inside her body; some oppose abortion because they believe sex should have consequences, especially for women; and some oppose abortion because their religion says it is wrong. There are probably other reasons, but I think these three broadly cover most people’s opposition to abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/4 "2014-05-09T16:54:40Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > While in reality _coughsputterwheeze_ ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/5 "2014-05-09T16:55:31Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > While in reality, conservatives value freedom and it’s the liberals that want to put restrictions on everything. No, conservatives value _their_ short list of freedoms. It’s those damned bleeding heart hippie liberal freedoms that they hate so much. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/6 "2014-05-09T16:56:06Z")
Cynically, I think it’s mostly used as a convenient rallying cry to set “real” Christians apart from the rest, and to spur voting. Before Der Trihs gets here, I’ll go ahead and say that to some extent, conservatives and evalgelicals (unfortunately, including conservative and evangelical women) simply aren’t comfortable with empowering women. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/7 "2014-05-09T16:57:59Z")
I’m a pro choice conservative/small “l” libertarian. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/8 "2014-05-09T17:00:03Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m a pro choice conservative/small “l” libertarian. Mod, or Rocker? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/9 "2014-05-09T17:16:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Mod, or Rocker? Not sure what you’re asking there. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/10 "2014-05-09T17:28:32Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > No, conservatives value _their_ short list of freedoms. It’s those damned bleeding heart hippie liberal freedoms that they hate so much. This. Conservative is a word to describe a fairly big tent electorally. Traditional US Conservative being a mixture of economic libertarian and social conservatism. Just as liberals have often described themselves as libertarians. However, liberals are only libertarian on certain issues. On other issues they are as paternalist as a 17th century New England Puritan. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/11 "2014-05-09T17:29:20Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > No, conservatives value _their_ short list of freedoms. It’s those damned bleeding heart hippie liberal freedoms that they hate so much. Conservatives want people to behave. Liberals want people to misbehave. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/12 "2014-05-09T17:29:39Z")
Ask a conservative who is against abortion. Not all conservatives are against abortion. I would imagine if Bricker were to make an appearance in the column, he would, as a conservative Catholic, tell you that life begins at conception and abortion is the deeply immoral destruction of a human life. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/13 "2014-05-09T17:39:46Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Conservatives want people to behave. Liberals want people to misbehave. Conservatives think their behavior is the only correct one. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/14 "2014-05-09T17:43:22Z")
Not all conservatives, and even the blowhards in Congress are often lying to get the votes they need. Looking at Gallup: > **[Abortion](https://news.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx)** > > With respect to the abortion issue, would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life? Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances? For all Americans: 20% are fully opposed to abortion - should be illegal in all circumstances 52% abortion should be legal only in certain circumstances (probably those who are pro choice, but don’t like 3rd trimester abortions) 26% think abortion should be legal in all circumstances. Now lets look at the stereotype of Liberal vs Conservative: > **[Americans Misjudge U.S. Abortion Views](https://news.gallup.com/poll/162548/americans-misjudge-abortion-views.aspx)** > > About half of U.S. adults, 51%, believe most Americans are "pro-choice" on abortion; 35% say "pro-life." The perception that the pro-choice viewpoint prevails contrasts with the nearly even division of Americans' actual abortion views. % who are Pro Life: Liberal: 23% Democrat: 31% Conservative: 66% Republican: 68% So the right side of the spectrum leans Pro-Life, but a measurable amount of the left hand side is also Pro Life. As for reasonings - religion, misogyny, a general degree of discomfort when it comes sexual matters all together probably fit in. It would be interesting to find out why on the Left, vs. the why on the Right IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/15 "2014-05-09T17:43:26Z")
Basically, it’s because the Southern Baptist Convention went from being pro-choice to being pro-life (between 1970 and 1980 or so) and the GOP was forced to follow suit. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Conservatives want people to behave. Except bankers. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/16 "2014-05-09T17:49:18Z")
Because in most cases it’s unjustified homicide. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/17 "2014-05-09T17:54:35Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > How come conservatives are against abortion? > > While in reality, conservatives value freedom and it’s the liberals that want to put restrictions on everything. Because abortion is murder. Simple as that. Many people will gladly tell you “what the other side believes” about this issue. I believe those people are just justifying their own belief/feelings/opinion when they do that. The issue is still contentious but the SCOTUS has reached a compromise. Early term abortion/murder is allowable. Late term abortion/murder is not. (FYI - You might want to consider that “your reality” might not be the same as “someone else’s reality”.) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/18 "2014-05-09T17:54:45Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Because in most cases it’s unjustified homicide. > [@doorhinge](#): > > Because abortion is murder. Only if, as **iiandyiii** noted above, you happen to be one of those who “actually think the fertilized egg/embryo/fetus is a human life, and that this life’s right to exist trumps the rights of the woman to choose what/who goes or stays inside her body”. There are many people who believe that, and it’s their right to believe that, but it’s a belief not shared by most Americans or implemented in the US legal system. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/19 "2014-05-09T17:57:34Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Only if, as **iiandyiii** noted above, you happen to be one of those who “actually think the fertilized egg/embryo/fetus is a human life, and that this life’s right to exist trumps the rights of the woman to choose what/who goes or stays inside her body”. > > There are many people who believe that, and it’s their right to believe that, but it’s a belief not shared by most Americans or implemented in the US legal system. And? The OP question was: “How come conservatives are against abortion?”. It wasn’t “What do most Americans believe about abortion and how is it implemented in the US legal system?” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063/20 "2014-05-09T17:57:45Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Because in most cases it’s unjustified homicide. the question isn’t _what_ they/you believe, it’s _why_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-conservatives-are-against-abortion/688063.md?page=2)