All three networks on Wednesday worried that the “strong new conservative majority,” on the “solidly conservative” Supreme Court might actually overturn Roe vs. Wade in a pivotal case now being considered. Yet the same morning shows never identified who might be the “solid” or “strong” liberals on the Supreme Court.
Good Morning America journalists sounded the most alarmed as co-host Michael Strahan opened the show by warning viewers: “Roe vs. Wade on the line. The Supreme Court set to hear the biggest challenge to abortion rights in decades.”
Senior national correspondent Terry Moran fretted, “Mississippi has asked the justices point blank to overturn Roe vs. Wade and this comes before a court with a strong new conservative majority, including three justices appointed by former President Trump.”
In case you didn’t get the concern, Moran described the current Supreme Court as one “that many legal observers says is more sympathetic to abortion opponents than any court maybe ever.”
Over on the Today show, Pete Williams echoed the concern of the pro-abortion side: “It's the case that opponents of abortion have long been waiting for and women's groups have been dreading and it comes before a solidly conservative lineup of justices.”
He added, “Two consistent defenders of abortion rights, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are gone, replaced by Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Comey Barrett.” Notice that while the new justices are identified as “solidly conservative,” Kennedy and Ginsburg are not called liberal for their abortion extremism.
On CBS Mornings, Jan Crawford parroted the worry about the new Trump justices: “With three new conservative justices all appointed by former President Trump who supported overturning Roe, some see this case as their best chance.”
On ABC, Moran cited polls, saying, “But the majority of Americans, they want Roe vs. Wade to stand.” On CBS, Crawford at least noted some support for abortion restrictions: “A CBS News poll found a two to one majority supports keeping Roe V. Wade in place with some Americans saying that that would be a backwards step for women. But if Roe is overturned, most Americans say there should still be some restrictions on abortion.”
No mention, on any of the networks, just how out of step America is on abortion. Many European countries, including the generally liberal France, limit elective abortion to 12 weeks.
The concern for the pro-abortion side was sponsored on ABC by Value City Furniture, on CBS by Ensure and on NBC by Lexus. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Partial transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
Good Morning America
12/1/2021
7 AM teaseMICHAEL STRAHAN: Roe vs. Wade on the line. The Supreme Court set to hear the biggest challenge to abortion rights in decades.
7:09 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We turn now to the battle over abortion rights. Protesters have gathered at the Supreme Court which is set to hear oral arguments in the biggest challenge to Roe v. Wade in decades. Senior national correspondent Terry Moran is on the scene with the story. Good morning, Terry.
TERRY MORAN: Good morning, George. As you say, hundreds of protesters here already. Thousands expected today. The stakes could not be higher. For 50 years, a bitter struggle over abortion in America and today in this court, this could be the decisive battle because Roe vs. Wade is on the line. As the justices consider a law from Mississippi that would ban almost all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. No exceptions for rape or incest. Right now under Roe and other cases states can't ban abortions until about 24 weeks of pregnancy viability.
Mississippi has asked the justices point blank to overturn Roe vs. Wade and this comes before a court with a strong new conservative majority, including three justices appointed by former President Trump. A court that many legal observers says is more sympathetic to abortion opponents than any court maybe ever. But the majority of Americans, they want Roe vs. Wade to stand. A recent ABC News/The Washington Post poll found three in four said the decision to have an abortion should be left to a woman and her doctor. There’s no ruling till next summer, probably, but we will learn a lot this morning about these justices and about the future of reproductive rights in America, George?
Today
12/1/2021
7:11AM ETPETE WILLIAMS: This is the most important legal showdown over abortion rights in at least three decades. It's the case that opponents of abortion have long been waiting for and women's groups have been dreading and it comes before a solidly conservative lineup of justices. After consistently ruling that the constitution protects a woman's right to choose, the Court today takes up a challenge that says those decisions were all wrong.
...
WILLIAMS: Two consistent defenders of abortion rights, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are gone, replaced by Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Comey Barrett.
CBS Mornings
12/01/2021
7:09 AM ETJAN CRAWFORD: With three new conservative justices all appointed by former President Trump who supported overturning Roe, some see this case as their best chance.
WOMAN: I do hope that they outlaw Roe V. Wade.
CRAWFORD: And conservative-leaning states are ready. 21 states already passed laws to ban all or almost all abortions if Roe is overturned while more liberal states are taking steps to protect access to abortion.
...
CRAWFORD: Now the court of public opinion also is weighing in. A CBS news poll found a two to one majority supports keeping Roe V. Wade in place with some Americans saying that that would be a backwards step for women. But if Roe is overturned, most Americans say there should still be some restrictions on abortion. Vlad?
