There was another victory for the pro-life movement on Wednesday when the Louisiana legislature passed their own heartbeat law, which banned abortions after the unborn child’s heartbeat was first detected. But during ABC’s World News Tonight not long after, correspondent Steve Osunsami seemed to question if that was really a heartbeat being heard.
After anchor David Muir described the law as “the latest in a wave of challenges across this country,” Osunsami decried Louisiana for defying protesters and “join[ing] a chorus of states voting to outlaw abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, when supporters of the law believe that a fetal heartbeat can be detected.”
So according to Osunsami, pro-lifers only “believe” that the heartbeat was being detected. And the left claims the right is “anti-science.”
“Opponents tried to make exceptions for women who are victims of rape or incest,” he touted before lamenting, “they failed.” He elevated a soundbite of an unnamed Louisiana lawmaker opposing the bill, who bitterly suggested: “You're interested in pro-birth. But you're not interested in what happens to that child.”
From there, Osunsami shared liberal fears for the last abortion clinic in Missouri. The clinic was on the brink of shutting down because they refused to have their doctors answer questions from the state, but Osunsami refused to mention that part.
But he did promote an unnamed and alarmist medical professional who claimed the laws could get women killed:
When women don't think there's an option for a safe, legal, and accessible abortion in their state or near them, they're going to seek whatever care they can find. [Transition] And many women are going to be hurt or injured or potentially lose their life.
There was absolutely no identification, on-screen or otherwise, to tell viewers exactly who the man was. ABC was basically talking to a man wearing scrubs in a nondescript hallway somewhere.
“The governor is promising to sign it. He's a Democrat. In a way, though, it's already being challenged. The way this law was written in the legislature, its fate is tied to a similar law in Mississippi that is already being challenged in federal court,” Osunsami boasted as he wrapped up the segment.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
May 29, 2019
6:41:26 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: And we're also following a breaking headline out of Louisiana at this hour. Lawmakers there have just passed a strict ban on abortion, as early as six weeks, with no exception for rape or incest. The latest in a wave of challenges across this country. And here's ABC's Steve Osunsami tonight.
[Cuts to video]
STEVE OSUNSAMI: With protesters marching outside for days, lawmakers in Louisiana joined a chorus of states voting to outlaw abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, when supporters of the law believe that a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE LOUISIANA LAWMAKER 1: When a person's heart stops beating, you know their life has ended. And when you can hear a baby's heartbeat, that is proof that life is present.
OSUNSAMI: Opponents tried to make exceptions for women who are victims of rape or incest.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE LOUISIANA LAWMAKER 2: You're interested in pro-birth. But you're not interested in what happens to that child.
OSUNSAMI: But they failed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE LOUISIANA LAWMAKER: 79 yeas, 23 nays. The bill is finally passed.
OSUNSAMI: In Missouri, where lawmakers have already approved their own new restrictions, the state is threatening to close this clinic, the last in Missouri, by Friday. Tomorrow morning, the St. Louis clinic is asking a federal judge to step in.
UNIDENTIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL: When women don't think there's an option for a safe, legal, and accessible abortion in their state or near them, they're going to seek whatever care they can find. [Transition] And many women are going to be hurt or injured or potentially lose their life.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: So, let's get back to Steve Osunsami on this story again tonight. And Steve, opponents of this new Louisiana law are vowing to challenge it immediately?
OSUNSAMI: That's right, David. The governor is promising to sign it. He's a Democrat. In a way, though, it's already being challenged. The way this law was written in the legislature, its fate is tied to a similar law in Mississippi that is already being challenged in federal court. David?
MUIR: All right, Steve, thank you.
