In what’s become commonplace, the “big three” networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC partnered with Spanish-language networks Telemundo and Univision to censor from their evening newscasts on Wednesday arguably the most disturbing video yet in the Planned Parenthood baby parts scandal that included a description of an abortion worker harvesting an aborted baby while their heart was still beating.
While the networks have shown scant interest in the videos (with coverage only on the first, second, and fourth videos), the Fox News Channel’s Special Report has repeatedly covered them and did so again for this seventh video from the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) in the form of a full story by chief legal correspondent Shannon Bream.
Host Bret Baier explained in the lead-in that this installment “may be the most explicit video so far alleging practices at Planned Parenthood abortion facilities that many would consider inhuman.”
Bream began her segment by giving a brief summary of the video:
It features the woman identified as Holly O'Donnell who said she works for Stem Express, a tissue procurement company assigned to work inside a Planned Parenthood clinic in California. She describes an incident in which she alleges her supervisor brought a late term fetus into the on-site pathology lab following an abortion, tapped its heart and it began beating again.
That description was then followed by a graphic soundbite from O’Donnell on what she witnessed: “She said, “okay well this is a really good fetus. We can procure a lot from it. We're going to procure brains.” So, the moment I heard that, that means we're going have to cut his head open.”
While Senate Democrats blocked a vote on defunding Planned Parenthood, Bream alluded to the success the pro-life movement has had thus far in creating change at the state level: “To date, four states have revoked contracts with Planned Parenthood that are tied to state Medicaid dollars. A fifth, New Hampshire, rejected roughly $650,000 in state taxpayer funding from going to the abortion provider.”
After highlighting how many liberal cities have doubled down on their support of the abortion provider, Bream concluded the two-minute-and-40-second story with an update on Stem Express’ relationship with Planned Parenthood: “Stem Express has ended its relationship with the abortion provider, saying due to questions that have arisen in recent weeks quote, ‘we feel it prudent to terminate activities with Planned Parenthood.’”
Instead of doing their due diligence and sharing this horrifying video with their viewers, ABC’s World News Tonight had a full report on divers finding millions of dollars in treasure in four feet of water off the coast of Vero Beach, Florida.
The relevant portions of the transcript from FNC’s Special Report with Bret Baier on August 19 are transcribed below.
FNC’s Special Report with Bret Baier
August 19, 2015
6:17 p.m. Eastern
BRET BAIER: Now to what may be the most explicit video so far alleging practices at Planned Parenthood abortion facilities that many would consider inhuman. Chief legal correspondent Shannon Bream examines the latest images and how all of these videos have changed the conversation about Planned Parenthood in America. A word of caution here, you may find the subject matter disturbing.
SHANNON BREAM: Today's video release is the seventh from the Center for Medical Progress. It features the woman identified as Holly O'Donnell who said she works for Stem Express, a tissue procurement company assigned to work inside a Planned Parenthood clinic in California. She describes an incident in which she alleges her supervisor brought a late term fetus into the on-site pathology lab following an abortion, tapped its heart and it began beating again.
HOLLY O’DONNELL [IN CMP VIDEO]: She said, “okay well this is a really good fetus. We can procure a lot from it. We're going to procure brains.” So, the moment I heard that, that means we're going have to cut his head open.
BREAM: Controversial. But are the videos affecting the political discourse? Numerous congressional committees are looking into allegations that Planned Parenthood violated the law by selling fetal remains. Manipulating abortions in order to maximize the harvest of fetal tissue and organs and worse. Yet, Democrats successfully blocked the first effort following release of the videos, a defunding vote in the Senate. So, is the current battle over Planned Parenthood any different than in years past?
(....)
BREAM: To date, four states have revoked contracts with Planned Parenthood that are tied to state Medicaid dollars. A fifth, New Hampshire, rejected roughly $650,000 in state taxpayer funding from going to the abortion provider. That stand in contrast to localities like Los Angeles where the city council voted unanimously to oppose any defunding efforts.
DEMOCRATIC LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MIKE BONIN: We have conservative activists who have launched a war on health care. They have launched a war on women. And they have launched a war on poor people.
BREAM: And in New York, where all four city-wide elected officials have pledged their support.
(....)
BREAM: Stem Express has ended its relationship with the abortion provider, saying due to questions that have arisen in recent weeks quote, “we feel it prudent to terminate activities with Planned Parenthood.”
