As the polls were set to close in the special election in Ohio to decide whether to raise the ballot initiative threshold to 60 percent in order to amend the state constitution, ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News each ran segments worrying that if the ballot initiative was successful, it would make it harder for abortion advocates to protect so-called “abortion rights.”
On ABC’s World News Tonight, fill-in anchor Mary Bruce hyped the “huge turnout in Ohio for a special election.” She then used the leftist lingo “abortion rights” and worried that they “could be at stake.”
Bruce turned to correspondent Alex Presha who regurgitated the same line: “Tonight, a massive turnout at the polls in Ohio for a special election that could determine the fate of abortion rights in the state.”
“Before polls even opened, nearly 700,000 voters had cast their ballots in what's being seen as the latest referendum on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade,” Presha breathlessly reported.
Hedging his bets that the measure would fail, Presha made sure to set the narrative ahead of time: “What happens here in Ohio, Mary, could be a sign as to how abortion plays in the 2024 election. There are several conservative states that are expected to have similar abortion rights amendments on their ballots.”
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, the highly partisan Ali Vitali was given the assignment to report from Ohio. Much like Bruce and Presha, Vitali was just as obnoxious: “High turnout for a highly charged special election that could determine the fate of abortion rights here.”
“It's all against the national backdrop of Republicans in red states losing referendums on abortion in the past year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade,” Vitali proclaimed.
She then ended her report similarly to the way Presha did by setting the media narrative early that if the ballot question failed, it meant the pro-life cause was in trouble nationally: “Results in this typically red state will provide a road map for other states, either for future efforts to stymie abortion access or to paint Republicans as out of step on this issue.”
Democrat activists in the media like Vitali would do everything in their power to make sure that happened.
This biased coverage was made possible by SimpliSafe on ABC and Ensure on NBC. Their information is linked.
To read the transcripts click “expand”:
ABC’s World News Tonight
8/8/2023
6:43:31 p.m. Eastern
1 minute 49 secondsMARY BRUCE: Now, to the huge turnout in Ohio for a special election and abortion rights could be at stake. On the ballot, a measure to make it harder to amend the state's constitution. That measure rushed before voters ahead of a November ballot to change the constitution to protect the right to an abortion. ABC's Alex Presha is in Columbus.
ALEX PRESHA: Tonight, a massive turnout at the polls in Ohio for a special election that could determine the fate of abortion rights in the state.
OHIO VOTER: The Constitution is under attack. And we want to protect the constitution in Ohio.
PRESHA: On the ballot, a Republican-led measure that would make it harder to change the state's constitution come November when voters consider an amendment to protect abortion rights. Right now, a simple majority is needed to change the Constitution. But if the proposal called Issue 1 passes, any change would need a 60 percent supermajority.
OHIO VOTER: It was important to protect my rights, especially as a woman and you know, the abortion protection. So, I wanted to vote no today.
PRESHA: Before polls even opened, nearly 700,000 voters had cast their ballots in what's being seen as the latest referendum on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Ohio's ban on abortion after six weeks has been put on hold by a judge. For months, both sides have held rallies, door knocked, and spent millions on ads to get voters to the polls.
CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN VIRTUE AD: Vote yes on Tuesday, August 8, to protect parents' rights, unborn children, and the Ohio constitution.
WOMAN IN AD: This is our decision. Not yours. Get out of our bedroom.
POLITICIAN IN AD: I won the last election. I'm not going anywhere.
PRESHA: What happens here in Ohio, Mary, could be a sign as to how abortion plays in the 2024 election. There are several conservative states that are expected to have similar abortion rights amendments on their ballots. Mary?
BRUCE: The whole country keeping a close eye on this tonight. Alex, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
8/8/2023
6:37:28 p.m. Eastern
1 minute 42 secondsLESTER HOLT: In Ohio, voters are turning out in force for a rare August special election. The reason, it could have huge implications on abortion rights in the state. Ali Vitali is there for us.
ALI VITALI: Tonight in Ohio, high turnout for a highly charged special election that could determine the fate of abortion rights here. Voters weighing whether to require a 60 percent threshold to amend the state's constitution, rather than just a majority. Top Republicans backing the change, known as Issue 1 on the ballot.
LT. GOV JON HUSTED: If you want to change the law, change the law. You can do that with a simple majority. But in the constitution, we should have a higher standard.
VITALI: But opponents say Issue 1 is only designed to make it harder to enshrine abortion rights protections in the state's constitution, which Ohioans will vote on in November. The GOP Secretary of State recently saying Issue 1 is 100 percent about blocking abortion protections.
Issue 1 opponents sensing energy on the ground.
COLE WOJDACZ (PRO-CHOICE OHIO FIELD MANAGER): Folks are energized. Folks are angry and they're seeing this as their opportunity to really have their voice heard.
VITALI: It's all against the national backdrop of Republicans in red states losing referendums on abortion in the past year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Some Republicans here second-guessing their party’s move.
What's the lesson for your party if come Tuesday night or Wednesday morning the ballot initiative fails?
REP. JAMIE CALLENDER: Maybe we should spend more time thinking through things before taking the step.
VITALI: But a top Republican disagreed. Any regrets about the approach?
FRANK LAROSE (OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE): No, it's better to fight and lose than never fight at all. I can tell you this. I think it will succeed.
VITALI: Results in this typically red state will provide a road map for other states, either for future efforts to stymie abortion access or to paint Republicans as out of step on this issue. Lester?
