Andrea Mitchell on Thursday ignored the fact that Democrat-led Louisiana is passing an abortion ban and pretended that it was only “Republican governors” who were passing such bills. Talking to the President of Planned Parenthood, she wondered, “Are you concerned that Missouri is just the beginning, the leading edge of this effort to, bit by bit chip away at abortion services in state after state where there are Republican governors and legislatures?”
In reality, Louisiana’s abortion law will be signed by Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards, who said of the legislation: “I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.”
The bill in Louisiana was also sponsored by a Democrat. More than a dozen Democrats supported it in the state supported it, according to the Washington Post. Of course, Mitchell mentioned none of this and didn’t talk about Louisiana at all during the show on Thursday.
Instead, she offered these softballs to Planned Parenthood President Dr. Leana Wen:
“It's great to have you here in person. So, tell me more about what's at stake in this court case and the implications for the rest of the country.”
“Explain in a broader sense the health care that's so critical. Will other Planned Parenthood facilities be opened to provide non-reproductive services or non-abortion services in the state?”
Not exactly a grilling. On Wednesday, CBS cheerleaded for Wen, touting, “Donations are going up” for Planned Parenthood.
A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more.
Andrea Mitchell Reports
5/30/19
12:34ANDREA MITCHELL: A courtroom showdown today in Missouri could decide whether the state's last remaining abortion clinic gets the stay open. Planned Parenthood is suing the Missouri health department, alleging the agency was unlawfully holding up renewal of the St. Louis abortion clinic’s license until the department completes an investigation into a patient complaint. The clinic’s license is set to expire tomorrow and planned parenthood is requesting a restraining order against the state in hopes of keeping the doors open and avoiding service disruption. If the license is not renewed, Missouri would become the first state without access to a single abortion service since 1974, of course, the year after the Court’s landmark decision on Roe v. Wade. And joining me now is Dr. Lena Wen, president of Planned Parenthood. It's great to have you here in person. So, tell me more about what's at stake in this court case and the implications for the rest of the country.
..
MITCHELL: Explain in a broader sense the health care that's so critical. Will other Planned Parenthood facilities be opened to provide non-reproductive services or non-abortion services in the state?
...
MITCHELL: We had an interview that Dr. John Torres, our medical doctor, had done with Doctor David Eisenberg in Missouri. I wanted to play a little bit. He's the director of this clinic.
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MITCHELL: Are you concerned that Missouri is just the beginning, the leading edge of this effort to, bit by bit chip away at abortion services in state after state where there are Republican governors and legislatures?
DR. LEANA WEN: Yes. I'm deeply concerned.
