While the networks initially ignored the House passing a 20-week abortion ban, they’re now reporting on it because they can connect it to a “scandal rocking Washington.”
On Thursday morning, both CBS and NBC reported that Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) would not seek re-election following a report that the politician, a member of the House Pro-Life Caucus, encouraged his mistress to have an abortion. Those same networks ignored a 20-week abortion ban before Congress – until they could report it in relation to Rep. Murphy.
On Tuesday evening, the House of Representatives passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill banning abortion after 20 weeks, in a 237-189 vote. On Thursday morning, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced the bill in the Senate.
While it’s not certain the bill will pass in the Senate, President Trump has signaled his support for the legislation, should it reach his desk.
Known as “Micah’s Law,” the bill was sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ). Its namesake, Micah Pickering, was born prematurely at 20 weeks (22 weeks gestation), when pro-life organizations report babies can feel pain. Today, Micah is a healthy 5-year-old.
All three broadcast network news shows from ABC, CBS and NBC skipped over the bill. That changed when CBS and NBC began reporting on it Thursday morning, in regards to Rep. Murphy.
For CBS This Morning, Correspondent Nancy Cordes reported on Rep. Murphy’s involvement with the bill.
“The story unfolded just as the House approved legislation Tuesday that would make abortions after 20 weeks illegal,” she said. “Murphy, a member of the House Pro-Life Caucus, cosponsored and voted for the bill.”
Correspondent Kasie Hunt did similarly for NBC Today. “Just this week,” she echoed, “he voted for legislation that bans abortions after 20 weeks.”
NBC co-anchor Savannah Guthrie called the news a “scandal that is rocking Washington this morning.”
In a press release applauding the House vote on the pain-capable bill, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser stressed that “The United States is one of only seven nations [out of 198 countries] in the world that allow children in the womb to be killed for any reason up until the moment of birth, putting us in the company of China and North Korea.”
