The liberal media want it both ways. While they laugh at those who call Democrats the “abortion party,” they, at the same time, insist that the party unabashedly support abortion – no matter the cost.
On Monday, the New York Times published an op-ed with the headline “To Win Again, Democrats Must Stop Being the Abortion Party.” Written by Thomas Groome, professor of theology and religious education at Boston College, the piece argued that Democrats should change their tone on abortion to win back the Catholic vote. For his efforts, media from Vice to CNN lashed out – and others even joked about hosting abortion parties.
“[F]or many traditional Catholic voters,” Groome argued, “Mrs. Clinton’s unqualified support for abortion rights — and Mr. Trump’s opposition (and promise to nominate anti-abortion Supreme Court justices) — were tipping points.”
For Democrats to “reclaim their Catholic base,” Groome concluded that their party must “treat abortion as a moral issue, work for its continued reduction and articulate a more nuanced message than, ‘We support Roe v. Wade.’”
But his proposal sparked a visceral backlash from the liberal media on Twitter – exposing how obsessed many in the media are with abortion.
For Vice, senior politics writer Eve Peyser tweeted in reaction, “please join me in screaming 'NO NONONONONOONOOOOOO' at the top of your goddamn lungs.” Sports writer Sean Newell slammed the piece and insisted that the Democrats instead represented the “party of liberty” fighting “maniacs.”
hey twitter, please join me in screaming "NO NONONONONOONOOOOOO" at the top of your goddamn lungs https://t.co/v9LvQiz9up
— eve peyser (@evepeyser) March 27, 2017
Totally misreads what is happening. Democrats are the party of liberty, continually playing defense against maniacs. https://t.co/jGT5sYrMMw
— Sean Newell (@dontforgetmac) March 27, 2017
“Oh, fuck off,” Rewire senior legal analyst Imani Gandy retorted before later reacting, “No one cares,” to the piece’s opening line. (Although, she herself cared enough to tweet about it.)
Oh fuck off. | To Win Again, Democrats Must Stop Being the Abortion Party - The New York Times https://t.co/eMqkiaL4Wo
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) March 27, 2017
"When I came to this country from Ireland some 45 years ago...."
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) March 27, 2017
zzzzzzz
No one cares. https://t.co/eMqkiaL4Wo
For CNN, political commentator Keith Boykin called the piece “baloney” while reporter Eugene Scott complained that “that piece assumes that abortion is a key reason people voted for Trump.”
This is baloney. I'm pro-choce, and I'm not going to change my views to win an election. Nor should the Democrats. https://t.co/wmYc0xxEnh
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) March 27, 2017
@keithboykin that piece assumes that abortion is a key reason people voted for Trump. Haven't seen data support that ...
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) March 27, 2017
He apparently hadn’t researched exit polls revealing about one in five voters considered Supreme Court appointments “the most important factor” last November. Those voters “overwhelmingly” favored Donald Trump, who promised a pro-life judge. Scott’s own network, CNN, reported similar numbers.
“I beg your goddamn pardon?” asked Mic senior arts critic Kevin O’Keeffe, while feminist writer and author S.E. Smith invited Groome to “fuck right off.”
I beg your goddamn pardon? https://t.co/ljAxGxeMXP
— Kevin O'Keeffe (@kevinpokeeffe) March 27, 2017
I would like to cordially invite Thomas Groome and his unsolicited opinion on other people’s bodies to fuck right off. https://t.co/mcNM3lXCAP
— s.e. smith (@realsesmith) March 27, 2017
Upworthy senior editor Rebecca Eisenberg suggested, “Maybe the GOP could stop being the anti-abortion party.” Another Upworthy writer, Parker Molloy, simply tweeted, “no,” along with Huffington Post editorial director of parents Emily McCombs.
Maybe the GOP could stop being the anti-abortion party. But until then…this matters A LOT. https://t.co/obeWeRp0tQ
— Rebecca Eisenberg (@ryeisenberg) March 27, 2017
Also for the Huffington Post, executive women’s editor Emma Gray insisted the piece meant, “Democrats should ignore the needs and lives of women who vote for them.” And contributor Charles Clymer added, “STOP. PANDERING. TO. ASSHOLE. WHITE. CONSERVATIVES.”
"To win, Democrats should ignore the needs and lives of women who vote for them" -this NYTimes column, basically https://t.co/1yiWrSPsxu
— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) March 27, 2017
STOP. PANDERING. TO. ASSHOLE. WHITE. CONSERVATIVES.
— Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) March 27, 2017
Just stop. It's not gonna work. Be PROUD of your pro-choice views. pic.twitter.com/BUdDapR2xA
New Republic social media editor Sarah Jones translated, “let's fight an administration full of wannabe fascists by becoming more like them!!!" while Texas Monthly senior editor Erica Grieder offered a new headline: “To Win Again, White Men Must Stop Opining And Listen To Those of Us Who Warned Them About Lolnald Trump.”
"let's fight an administration full of wannabe fascists by becoming more like them!!!" yes this is a winning strategy, continue
— Sarah Jones (@onesarahjones) March 27, 2017
To Win Again, White Men Must Stop Opining And Listen To Those of Us Who Warned Them About Lolnald Trump https://t.co/x6BLO6WbNg
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 27, 2017
Broadly and Vice writer Callie Beusman, who proudly wears an “abortion” dress in her Twitter picture, ironically added, “‘the abortion party’ is an accurate way to describe any gathering of me + more than two other people.”
"the abortion party" is an accurate way to describe any gathering of me + more than two other people pic.twitter.com/c6KU6mA6FI
— Callie Beusman (@cal_beu) March 27, 2017
“I would rather read about patchy beards for the rest of my life,” claimed Emily Q. Hazzard, the senior editor at Think Progress.
I would rather read about patchy beards for the rest of my life than one more piece like this https://t.co/g9ATF64udU
— Emily Q. Hazzard (@eqhazzard) March 27, 2017
Other media and comedy figures made fun of the piece – and abortion.
“But I can't cancel my abortion party, I already sent out the invitations!” Gabrielle Moss, a Bustle associate editor, (presumably) joked.
But I can't cancel my abortion party, I already sent out the invitations! pic.twitter.com/AEBXNsaMdp
— Gabrielle Moss (@Gaby_Moss) March 27, 2017
For the Huffington Post again, senior front page editor Chloe Angyal said of the “abortion party” story: “1) This is a bad idea. 2) This is a great band name.”
1) This is a bad idea.
— Chloe Angyal (@ChloeAngyal) March 27, 2017
2) This is a great band name. https://t.co/bTB6fPnGNG
Comedy Central writer Tim Duffy agreed, “The Abortion Party is my favorite post-punk band.” Also in comedy, HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver writer Jill Twiss, added, “Honestly an abortion-party sounds pretty fun!”
The Abortion Party is my favorite post-punk band.
— Tim Duffy™ (@TimDuffy) March 27, 2017
@cmclymer @JenAshleyWright Honestly an abortion-party sounds pretty fun!
— Jill Twiss (@jilltwiss) March 27, 2017