Poll: Foster’s Abortions Shouldn’t Matter

Americans overwhelmingly reject the notion that Dr. Henry Foster is unfit to be surgeon general because he performed abortions and gave different accounts of how many, an Associated Press poll finds.

Seventy percent of the 1,008 adults in the poll think the abortions themselves should not disqualify the Tennessee obstetrician from serving as the nation’s chief advocate for public health. Twenty-two percent say the abortions should disqualify him; 8 percent aren’t sure.

One-third say the different accounts show a lack of truthfulness on Dr. Foster’s part. But more respondents, 43 percent, believe these were innocent misstatements.

While 36 percent support the nomination and 22 percent are opposed, a substantial 41 percent won’t offer an opinion. The undecided include 29 percent who say they don’t have enough information; the others may feel informed but are still uncertain.

The poll was taken Friday through Tuesday by ICR Survey Research Group of Media, Pa., part of AUS Consultants.