CNN is known for often failing to challenge Democrat politicians in any significant way, and Dana Bash’s interview with Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on State of the Union was no different.
In the wake of nationwide protests over the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade on Saturday, Bash asked Pelosi “what can you do to help women who will be seeking abortions but live in states where it's banned?” Further proving she’s an activist and not a journalist, she even offered a solution to Pelosi: “would you encourage private companies to provide travel for abortions as a health benefit?”
Pelosi didn’t seem interested, instead, she attacked the Supreme Court and their attack on freedom, whining that “this is the first time the court has taken back a freedom that was defined by precedent and respect for privacy” and urged Bash and her fellow Democrats watching at home to “stay focused on who we are as a country”
Bash jumped back in and showed her true colors again by remarking to Pelosi that “many Democrats are angry” and “a lot of people in the grassroots are despondent over this draft ruling.” One reason she believed pro-abortion Democrats are “angry” and “despondent” is because “conservatives have played the long game.”
Continuing her whining to Pelosi, Bash bemoaned that “they [conservatives] have said over and over for decades that this was their goal, to overturn Roe v. Wade, and that Democratic leaders should have seen this coming.”
Yet, Pelosi wasn’t having it, instead seeking to blame former President Trump for keeping his promise to nominate pro-life judges: “who would have ever suspected a creature like Donald Trump would become President of the United States. Waiving a list of judges that he would appoint, therefore, getting the support of the far right. And appointing those anti-freedom justices to the court.”
She also called the current Supreme Court “dangerous to the freedoms of our country” dredged up a frequent and repeatedly debunked talking point that conservatives will seek to ban gay marriage or contraception if Roe v. Wade is overturned:
Beware in terms of marriage equality, beware in terms of other aspects of it. And so, it is -- let's not waste our time on that. The fact is, this is a dangerous court to families, to freedom in our country.
Dana Bash’s only response to Pelosi’s avalanche of outright lies and disinformation was: “what impact will this have on the midterms?” Because CNN’s first concern is always for the wellbeing of the Democrat Party, not the country, and definitely not the truth.
This softball interview by Dana Bash was made possible by Roman and Simplisafe. Their information is linked.
To read the relevant transcript click “expand”:
CNN’s State of the Union
5/15/2022
9:10:53 a.m. EasternDANA BASH: Let's turn to Roe versus Wade. You protested for abortion rights this week on the Capitol steps, but as you know, Roe is still likely to be overturned. And the bill you passed in the House to legalize abortion is not gonna become law any time soon. So, what can you do to help women who will be seeking abortions but live in states where it's banned? For example, would you encourage private companies to provide travel for abortions as a health benefit?
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI: Well, of course that, but the fact is we as a country -- let's just put this in perspective. What we want women and families and everyone to focus on is the nature of this decision. This is the -- our country, the genius of our founders was to have a constitution that enabled freedom to expand. And it did with marriage equality, it did with Roe v. Wade. In many ways defining freedom more fully. This is the first time the court has taken back a freedom that was defined by precedent and respect for privacy.
So, let's stay focused on who we are as a country and not turn into something where we have to depend on the -- I think that's all good. It's helpful to the women and that's important. But it's also important to know that this is not right. This is not the path of freedom for our country. So, they're putting freedom on the ballot and our democracy has been on the ballot because of what -- what they are doing to elections. But this is a place where freedom and the kitchen table issues of America’s families come together. What are the decisions a family makes, what about the contraception for young people. You know, It's just beyond a particular situation. It's massive in terms of contraception, in vitro fertilization, again, a woman's right to decide. And it’s ok, we want to mitigate for the damage but we have to get rid of the damage.
BASH: Many Democrats are angry. You’re–I know you're one of them. A lot of people in the grassroots are despondent over this draft ruling. And one reason why they're upset is because conservatives have played the long game here. You know this. They have said over and over for decades that this was their goal, to overturn Roe v. Wade, and that Democratic leaders should have seen this coming. I'm sure you've heard this, too.
PELOSI: The point is, who would have ever suspected a creature like Donald Trump would become President of the United States. Waiving a list of judges that he would appoint, therefore, getting the support of the far right. And appointing those anti-freedom justices to the court. So, this is not about long game. We played a long game. We won Roe v. Wade a long time ago. We voted to protect it over time. We have elected a Democratic House of Representatives that is pro choice. Again, you have 60 vote thing in the Senate and lack of clarity on part of some of the Republicans who say they’re pro choice and then vote against a woman's right to choose. But it isn’t–let's not take our eye off the ball. The ball is this court, which is dangerous to the freedoms of our country. Beware in terms of marriage equality, beware in terms of other aspects of it. And so, it is -- let's not waste our time on that. The fact is, this is a dangerous court to families, to freedom in our country. And that is why people have to mobilize. My saying is, we don't agonize, we organize.
BASH: What impact?
PELOSI: We go out there and make sure people know that if they -- actually elections have consequences.
BASH: So, what impact will this have on the midterms?
PELOSI: Well, I would hope that we could have some resolution of it before. We'd rather have it resolved rather than an issue for a campaign because we're talking about a woman's decision-making, her family, her God, her doctor, her own decision-making. So, we have to fight the fight on the issue now.
I think that it would have an impact on the elections, but right now I want everyone to just focus, just focus on what this does and what this means to you. When I say this as a practicing devout Catholic, five children in six years in one week, I don't disrespect people's views and how they want to live their lives but I don't think that it's up to the Donald Trump appointees on the court or any politicians to make that decision for women. And I just -- I'll say what I've been saying for decades. Understand this. This is not just about terminating a pregnancy. This is about contraception, family planning. They have been against it. They've told me, some of my Republican colleagues, we're not for any family planning, domestically or internationally when we've tried to get rid of the gag --
[crosstalk]
BASH: Well, speaking --
