ABC was the last of the “big three” networks to break in Monday morning with the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down a pro-life Texas law, but they didn’t hold back their approval as the assembled cast of smiling correspondents hailed the “fairly sweeping decision” and expressed glee at the “party right here” by abortion activists “lining up since 4:00 am. to witness this moment.”
Chief anchor and Clinton Foundation donor George Stephanopoulos broke in at 10:20 a.m. Eastern to announce “breaking news from the Supreme Court closing at its term with what could be the most important abortion case in 25 years” that “strikes down a state bill that seeks to place restrictions on abortion providers and facilities, a 5-3 decision, Justice Kennedy joining the Court's liberals.”
Speaking from London, chief foreign correspondent and longtime Supreme Court reporter Terry Moran noted that Whole Women’s Health vs. Hellerstedt was both “a big decision” and “[t]he biggest abortion decision in a quarter century.”
“Justice Stephen Breyer taking those laws one at a time saying that the public health interest that Texas claimed that they're trying to protect women's health wasn't enough, that this simply prevented women from choosing constitutionally right — their constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy,” he added.
Going forward, Moran predicted “that the conservative effort in state after state to limit abortions through things like a woman must get a sonogram or a woman must have a conversation with a doctor about abortion before she chooses to have an abortion, that those are now under threat and the campaign to limit abortions through public health issues, that has been dealt a serious blow in this case.”
Stephanopoulos then tossed to Capitol Hill correspondent Mary Bruce at the Court and, as a faithful Clinton supporter, characterized the two sides as “[a]nti-abortion activists and pro-choice activists both joining — both on the steps this morning.”
Bruce began by declaring that “[t]his ruling underscores what is at stake in the presidential election” and touted a tweet from Hillary Clinton praising the far-left decision.
Just as Moran lost it after the gay marriage ruling on June 26, 2015 over the “deep cheer” “like a spark of fire” from gay activists, Bruce was smiling from ear to ear as she proclaimed [emphasis mine]:
Meanwhile, George, the consequence of this decision is being felt in all of the emotion here this morning. Abortion rights advocates are celebrating. It's a party right here. Many of these people have been lining up since 4:00 am. to witness this moment in person. But George, for all the jubilation, there is also profound disappointment from supporters of this law who felt that this was necessary — these restrictions were necessary to protect women's health. High emotions on both sides here at the Court this morning.
The relevant portion of the ABC News Special Report from June 27 can be found below.
ABC News Special
June 27, 2016
10:20 a.m. Eastern
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We are back on the air now with breaking news from the Supreme Court closing at its term with what could be the most important abortion case in 25 years. It comes from Texas. Whole Women’s Health vs. Hellerstedt and the decision strikes down a state bill that seeks to place restrictions on abortion providers and facilities, a 5-3 decision, Justice Kennedy joining the court's liberals. Let’s go to ABC’s Terry Moran, our Supreme Court expert and Terry, a fairly sweeping decision.
TERRY MORAN: It's a big decision, George. You’re absolutely right. The biggest abortion decision in a quarter century. Previously, it was known from constitutional law from the Supreme Court a woman has a right to choose to terminate a pregnancy and the state has a right to protect the life of the fetus up to a certain point as long as it doesn't put an undue burden on the woman's right to choose. What does that mean? An undue burden? Texas tested that. They had those two requirements, an abortion doctor must have admitting privileges at nearby hospital and that wherever you perform an abortion, it must have the same facilities as a mini hospital, as an ambulatory surgical center. That closed about half — or more than half of the abortion providers in Texas and today the Supreme Court said that went too far. Texas put an undue burden on a woman's right to choose. Justice Stephen Breyer taking those laws one at a time saying that the public health interest that Texas claimed that they're trying to protect women's health wasn't enough, that this simply prevented women from choosing constitutionally right — their constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. In dissent, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justice Samuel Alito of course said this was a 5-3 decision. Justice Antonin Scalia, who was a fervent opponent of abortion, not in this case. This is a major victory for pro-choice advocates. It means that the conservative effort in state after state to limit abortions through things like a woman must get a sonogram or a woman must have a conversation with a doctor about abortion before she chooses to have an abortion, that those are now under threat and the campaign to limit abortions through public health issues, that has been dealt a serious blow in this case.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay. Terry Moran, thanks. ABC's Mary Bruce is at the Supreme Court right now. Anti-abortion activists and pro-choice activists both joining — both on the steps this morning and Mary, this is certain to go right into the heart of the presidential campaign. We've already heard from former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
MARY BRUCE: Absolutely. This ruling underscores what is at stake in the presidential election. Remember, this is the first major case to be heard since the death of Justice Scalia, and as lawmakers continue to show no signs of being willing to hear or consider the president's replacement for that vacancy, it will be up to the next presidency to fill that slot. Hillary Clinton already reacting this morning on Twitter. She says that this fight isn't over. The next president has to protect women's health. Meanwhile, George, the consequence of this decision is being felt in all of the emotion here this morning. Abortion rights advocates are celebrating. It's a party right here. Many of these people have been lining up since 4:00 am. to witness this moment in person. But George, for all the jubilation, there is also profound disappointment from supporters of this law who felt that this was necessary — these restrictions were necessary to protect women's health. High emotions on both sides here at the Court this morning.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And I’m sure we'll be hearing from Donald Trump as well soon.
