choice

The Knights of Columbus have a poll out (I know I know but go with me on this) that says that nearly 6 in 10 Millennials is anti-choice.

When I saw it I rolled my eyes a little because... how credible is a poll from the Knights of Columbus, right? I mean, we're not talking Newsweek Magazine or the CNN poll here. But a few different people have picked it up believing it is a credible scientific poll.

According to the details

"Data were collected from December 23, 2009 through January 4, 2010 using an online, probability-based panel..."

Imagine if we put up a poll on our website and asked you all to take it. That's about as scientific as this poll is.

Here is some real scientific data. From the Guttmacher Institute nearly a third of all unwanted pregnancies end in abortion.

• However, for the first time since the early 1990s, overall teen pregnancy rates increased in 2006, rising 3%. It is too soon to tell whether this reversal is simply a short-term fluctuation or the beginning of a long-term increase.
• Black and Hispanic women have the highest teen pregnancy rates (126 and 127 per 1,000 women aged 15–19, respectively); non-Hispanic whites have the lowest rate (44 per 1,000).
• The pregnancy rate among black teens decreased 45% between 1990 and 2005, more than the overall U.S. teen pregnancy rate declined during the same period (41%).
• Eighty-two percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned; they account for about one-fifth of all unintended pregnancies annually.
• Two-thirds of all teen pregnancies occur among 18–19-year-olds.
• The reasons teens give most frequently for having an abortion are concern about how having a baby would change their lives, inability to afford a baby now and feeling insufficiently mature to raise a child.
• Six in 10 minors who have abortions do so with at least one parent's knowledge. The great majority of parents support their daughter's decision to have an abortion.

Just some quick facts that are a little more realistic about where young people stand on abortion. While this poll wants people to believe that young people are against it, what it doesn't clarify is if young people are pro-choice. You can be against abortion AND pro-choice in fact... everyone I know who is pro-choice is against abortion. Secondly, the poll doesn't clarify if these same young people believe that abortion should be illegal or not. Many people are against abortion but recognize the right of other people to make their own choices about their health, but again the poll doesn't address that either.

Perhaps next time they could be a little more scientific, rather than attempting to manifest data to support their own political ideology.

Really great retell of a situation Jackie Borchardt from Politics West recalls of her first evening of DNC08

""We need more young people like you," a California delegate said to me while I slurped a lemonade outside the convention hall.

I set the record straight: I'm not here for Democratic Party business. I'm a journalist here to learn about the relationship between the news media and politics.

Still, he said, the world needs more aware young people.
Message to other 23 year olds who might be walking around the Pepsi Center this week: you are carrying a lot of weight. Whether or not the "youth vote" exists, people are paying attention to the presence of youth in this convention."

She's right. There seems to be a powerful lip-service in the air, like all the politicians got the memo and talking points. Tonight's Gavel to Gavel featured a lot of conversation about things like college affordability and veterans - two big issues to young people care deeply about.

I wish someone would have passed the memo onto Hollywood because they were reluctant to discuss young voters further than to say they hoped young people voted. This was a direct contrast from the unbelievable appearencees today by Kerry Washington and Will.i.Am who both attended the DNC Youth Council's press avail to talk about service and outreach to young people.

Tonight, however than being with my "people" at a nice political youthy event, I braved the dark tedious night of standing outside the Rolling Stone/Trojan event geared toward conveying the importance of safe sex.

First to roll in was former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, who quite honestly, was the most on topic, well versed person I've seen address the issue of safe sex and comprehensive sex education. No surprise. She related the importance of safe sex to young people and answered my questions about the youth vote.

An hour later..... very few people who came through the door, and possibly two politicians total, Bill Mahr showed up. His interviews were all pre-set and he had no interests answering any questions about young voters or the youth movement. Given his prominence as a liberal media voice, you would think young voters would be something he would be considerably well versed on and eager to talk about. We should send him the memo.

Another hour a steady stream of celebs rolled through following an event for the Creative Coalition a truly unbelievable organization that helps better educate members of the creative community about issues that matter to their community.

Spike Lee was eager to tell young voters to VOTE, Alan Cummings waved a Michelle sign around, Susan Sarandon reminded us all that she has two young voters at home, but it was surprising the last two people who came by me who I'm sure you'll recognize who genuinely articulated their urgency for better health care.

I'll have the video uploaded soon, so you can hear more then. I did get some good video of the Trojan guy talking about the event as well as the Rolling Stone guy all who were well versed on topics about young people and safe sex practices.