The ABC Poll. Who gains?

Captain's Quarters has good questions, as always about the ABC poll, purportedly showing strong support for removing the feeding tube. Plus this but of disingenuity:

That legislative action is distinctly unpopular: Not only do 60 percent oppose it, more -- 70 percent -- call it inappropriate for Congress to get involved in this way. And by a lopsided 67 percent-19 percent, most think the elected officials trying to keep Schiavo alive are doing so more for political advantage than out of concern for her or for the principles involved.

Captain Ed shows us question 2: 2. Schiavo suffered brain damage and has been on life support for 15 years. Doctors say she has no consciousness and her condition is irreversible. Her husband and her parents disagree about whether she would have wanted to be kept alive. Florida courts have sided with the husband and her feeding tube was removed on Friday.

As he points out, "Terri has never been on life support". And he concludes: "Either ABC is completely incompetent in conducting research, or they have attempted to fool their viewers and readership with false polling that essentially lies about the case in question. Since when does ABC conduct push polling for euthanasia?

They are neither. What is going on here? I think it's a smear. I think ABC is trying to undermine the majority on the vote. Despite the 46 Democrats who also voted yes, news outlets have described a conservative win, or a Pro-life win. Of the statements I've read and heard from the opposing side, none came right out and said, in words blunt or otherwise, let her die. That may have been their true feelings, but they wouldn't say it. Hence the blather from Barney Frank, John Lewis et. al. I also think there will be definite political gains for the Republicans and conservatives, but agree with Bill Frist, that it was first, the right thing to do. For all the squawking about federal authority, and threats to Democracy, why didn't any of these people say something like, "I'm concerned about authority issues, but dammit, let's find a way to make this work?" That would have been believable and genuine. The rest is just dogs and ponies.

Better writing update: What's expressed clumsily above needed improvement. ABC's poll is a self-serving and blatant political move to shore up their audience. "Well, I don't know what to think, but ABC says everyone else believe this..." Da da, da-da, da-da, da-da...