Despite claiming to still be pro-life, former RNC chairman Michael Steele did nothing but lob softballs to Abortion Access Front founder Lizz Winstead and comedian W. Kamau Bell to promote a video they recently created for Father's Day about how it important it is for men to support abortion when he guest hosted MSNBC’s Velshi on Saturday.
Steele began by asking Winstead, who also co-created The Daily Show, “why was it important for you important to produce this video and campaign for men to become more involved in the fight for abortion rights?”
Winstead must have brought her bingo card because what followed was an answer that used just about every left-wing buzzword possible:
[W]e have been doing a campaign because, truth be told, when you look at historically, how patriarchy and white supremacy has played a role, you know think about the fact that women couldn't have a credit card. You know, husbands could make medical decisions, could commit them, women to asylums, you know, and so for years I think we just rejected men weighing in.
What previous prohibitions on credit cards possession or asylums have to do with abortion was something Winstead never went into and Steele never asked about. Instead, Winstead continued, “And I think what this video does so beautifully is, A, uses humor to show dads and cis men how much they have benefited from both birth control and abortion, but also to change the narrative of control and intervention to a narrative of men having solidarity with us.”
Turning to Bell, Steele observed, “You know, Kamau, that--that-- raises a very interesting point for me. Because as somebody stands on the other side of this—of this-- conversation, I’ve always believed that the—the-- piece that was missing was men, you know. It always seems to put the weight, the burden, on either, whether on the pro-life side or on the pro-choice side, on women.”
If Steele really is still pro-life that could’ve led to some interesting conversations about how pro-choice men claim to be allies in the fight for women’s rights, but really just find abortion to be convenient.
But, MSNBC doesn’t do interesting conversations, as Steele continued, “was there ever a time when you thought this wasn't your fight, this wasn't your battle, and—and—what’s your message to other men now who may still have that apprehension about engaging in--in-- the subject.”
Bell began by questioning Steele’s premise, “I mean, I do think that the apprehension for men's normally on my side, as you say on your side I think men often do weigh in and tell women what to do with their bodies.”
As the supposedly pro-life Steele began cracking up, Bell added “So I would say that on—on-- this side of the aisle, men often feel like they don't need to get into conversation because—because-- they [sic] are activists, there are women doing the battle. And I learned a long time ago from my wife, from my mom, and friends of mine, I live in a place called the Bay Area of California, that we all have to battle for everybody's rights.”
NBC and MSNBC want you to celebrate Father’s Day by reminding men how great it is that they can avoid their responsibilities. All they have to do is support abortion.
This segment was sponsored by Wayfair.
Here is a transcript for the June 18 show:
MSNBC Velshi
6/18/2022
9:52 AM ET
MICHAEL STEELE: So Liz, let's start with you. Why—why-- was it important for you important to produce this video and campaign for men to become more involved in the fight for abortion rights?
LIZZ WINSTEAD: Well, I have to say, I have to give credit all around because, I was approached by an incredible producer and comedian, Josh Healey, and Adam Mansbach, and Kamau who actually wanted to do this video, but we have been doing a campaign because, truth be told, when you look at historically, how patriarchy and white supremacy has played a role, you know think about the fact that women couldn't have a credit card. You know, husbands could make medical decisions, could commit them, women to asylums, you know, and so for years I think we just rejected men weighing in.
And I think what this video does so beautifully is, A, uses humor to show dads and cis men, how much they have benefited from both birth control and abortion, but also to change the narrative of control and intervention to a narrative of men having solidarity with us. Men saying we're invested in your life and your full potential, and I just love that they want to do it and that they came to us without us having to ask. So, thank you Kamau and Josh and Adam.
STEELE: You know, Kamau, that--that-- raises a very interesting point for me. Because as somebody stands on the other side of this—of this-- conversation, I’ve always believed that the—the-- piece that was missing was men, you know. It always seems to put the weight, the burden, on either, whether on the pro-life side or on the pro-choice side, on women.
And so prior to working with Abortion Access Front and making this video, was there ever a time when you thought this wasn't your fight, this wasn't your battle, and—and—what’s your message to other men now who may still have that apprehension about engaging in--in-- the subject.
W. KAMAU BELL: I mean, I do think that the apprehension for men's normally on my side, as you say on your side I think men often do weigh in and tell women what to do with their bodies. So I would say that on—on-- this side of the aisle, men often feel like they don't need to get into conversation because—because-- they are activists, there are women doing the battle.
And I learned a long time ago from my wife, from my mom, and friends of mine, I live in a place called the Bay Area of California, that we all have to battle for everybody's rights.
That’s it not, we don't let one group battle for their rights and another group battle for their rights, that there's good work to be done, and we all have to get involved in that good trouble, as a very wise man once said.
