On Thursday evening, uniquely among the broadcast network evening newscasts, ABC’s World News featured a report on GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann’s recent revelation that her pro-life views were influenced by a miscarriage she once endured. ABC correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi also informed viewers of the Minnesota Congresswoman’s history of giving care to foster children with her husband.
Substitute anchor George Stephanopoulos set up the report:
And one of the reasons Michele Bachmann comes across as a real person is because she's willing to share so much about her personal life. Last night, she opened up about suffering a miscarriage, a first for a presidential candidate. ABC’s Sharyn Alfonsi has more on the candidate who’s putting her family's struggles and joys at the center of her campaign.
After playing clips from Bachmann’s speech in South Carolina and recounting the miscarriage, Alfonsi added: "Bachmann said the experience changed us forever, leading her and her husband to help raise 23 foster children along with five biological children, shaping her anti-abortion view."
Below is a compete transcript of the report from the Thursday, June 30, World News on ABC:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, IN OPENING TEASER: Personal revelation: Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann shares the story of her miscarriage, how it changed her, what it means for her rising campaign.
...
STEPHANOPOULOS: And one of the reasons Michele Bachmann comes across as a real person is because she's willing to share so much about her personal life. Last night, she opened up about suffering a miscarriage, a first for a presidential candidate. ABC’s Sharyn Alfonsi has more on the candidate who’s putting her family's struggles and joys at the center of her campaign.
SHARYN ALFONSI: It happened at a packed town hall meeting in South Carolina.
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN: After our second child was born, we became pregnant with a third baby, and it was an unexpected baby, but, of course, we were delighted to have this child. And the child was coming along, and we ended up losing that child.
ALFONSI: The crowd stood still at attention.
BACHMANN: And it was devastating for both of us, as you can imagine, if any of you have lost a child.
ALFONSI: Bachmann said the experience changed us forever, leading her and her husband to help raise 23 foster children along with five biological children, shaping her anti-abortion view.
BACHMANN: We made a commitment that no matter how many children were brought into our life, we would receive them because we're committed to life.
ALFONSI: Bachmann getting personal about a topic rarely discussed publicly in politics. George W. Bush wrote about his mother's miscarriage in his memoir and how it shaped his political views, but not until after he left office. On the other side of the aisle, Congresswoman Jackie Speier revealed she had an abortion-
REP. JACKIE SPEIER (D-CA): That procedure that you just talked about was a procedure that I endured.
ALFONSI: -to a hushed chamber during a debate over Planned Parenthood funding. It's the type of revelation that voters take notice.
COKIE ROBERTS, ABC NEWS: We're always trying to get to who this person really is, instead of all of the media slickness.
ALFONSI: Still, Bachmann's revelation is a first for presidential politics.
ROBERTS: Look, when you're running for President, everything has a political component, but that doesn't mean it's's not genuine.
ALFONSI: Today, Bachmann is receiving praise for her candor.
DEBORAH TANNEN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Breaking a barrier of silence is almost always good for everybody, for women, as well as for men who have gone through the same things with them.
ALFONSI: By talking about the pain so many women often suffer silently. Sharyn Alfonsi, ABC News, New York.
