A major network journalist exposing the double standard that exists when it comes to talking about conservatives and abortion? A right-leaning judicial expert as the sole talking head? Both those things happened on CBS This Morning, Friday, as reporter Jan Crawford discussed Donald Trump’s potential Supreme Court nominee. Crawford explained how Judge William Pryor might not be picked because he’s called Roe vs. Wade an “abomination.”
She then went to conservative Attorney Jay Sekulow. He declared, “If you stake out a pro-life position, many in Washington view that as an automatic disqualifier.” The chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice pointed out: “It doesn't work the other way around. If you take a pro-choice decision, no one says anything.”
Regarding disagreeing with the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on abortion, Crawford noted, “But for perspective nominees to this court, taking that position publicly at any point in their lives can be disqualifying.”
The CBS journalist then asked a key question: “For the [March for Life] protesters who are going to be coming here later today, a big question will be why if you've ever spoken out about abortion, you could automatically be knocked out of the running for the court?”
Even liberal host Gayle King agreed, “That is a very good question.”
Perhaps the real problem starts with the networks donating 129 times more coverage to last week’s Women’s March on Washington than they did the 2016 March for Life.
A transcript of the segment is below:
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CBS This Morning
1/27/17
7:11:40 to 7:14:37
2 minutes and 57 secondsNORAH O’DONNELL: And as we just mentioned, Kellyanne will speak at today’s March for Life anti-abortion rally in Washington. Vice President Mike Pence also expected to address the gathering. And President Trump is expected to call into the rally. Marchers will then walk a mile and a half to the Supreme Court. Jan Crawford is outside the Court on why this year's March carries extra significance. Jan, good morning.
JAN CRAWFORD: Well, good morning. So when the thousands of marchers arrive here later today, they're going to be protesting that 1973 Supreme Court decision that the Constitution guarantees a woman's right to abortion. But for perspective nominees to this court, taking that position publicly at any point in their lives can be disqualifying. Every year since Roe V. Wade, they've come to protest.
DONALD TRUMP: We will pick a truly great Supreme Court justice.
CRAWFORD: Now with President Trump filling a Supreme Court vacancy, anti-abortion advocates hope he will nominate a justice like the late Antonin Scalia who believed
Roe should be overturned.TRUMP: The justices that I’m going to appoint will be pro-life.
CRAWFORD: But for federal appeals court Judge William Pryor, outspoken opposition to abortion as Alabama’s attorney general has pushed him to the bottom of Mr. Trump’s short list.
CHUCK SCHUMER: Now, you’ve said on several occasions that Roe v. Wade is, quote, “the worst abomination of the history of constitutional law.” A, do you believe that as of right now?
WILLIAM PRYOR: I do.
CRAWFORD: Sources tell CBS News, Pryor's nomination is unlikely after senate Republicans warned about a repeat of his 2003 appeals court confirmation fight.
PRYOR: I believe that not only is the case unsupported by the text and structure of the Constitution, but it has led to a morally wrong result. It has led to the slaughter of millions of innocent unborn children. That's my personal belief.
CRAWFORD: For two years, Democrats blocked Pryor's confirmation.
JAY SEKULOW: If you stake out a pro-life position, many in Washington view that as an automatic disqualifier.
CRAWFORD: Attorney Jay Sekulow is an expert on religious liberty.
SEKULOW: It doesn't work the other way around. If you take a pro-choice decision, no one says anything.
CRAWFORD: Trump is now focused on another judge with a working class background, Thomas Hardiman. As a former attorney, Hardiman has been less vocal about his personal views.
THOMAS HARDIMAN: Our role as judges is to interpret the law.
CRAWFORD: Now, still on the very short list is Judge Neil Gorsuch. But with Justice Anthony Kennedy likely to retire soon, one possibility is that Gorsuch would be the nominee for that seat. But either way, I mean, for the protesters who are going to be coming here later today, a big question will be why if you’ve ever spoken out about abortion, you could automatically be knocked out of the running for the court. Gayle?
GAYLE KING: All right. That is a very good question.
