‘Seismic Shift’: Nets Hope Abortion Will Save Dems in Midterms

May 4th, 2022 6:35 PM

On Wednesday, the network morning shows went all in pushing left-wing spin that the issue of abortion would rescue failing Democrats from massive midterm losses in November. Reporters proclaimed a “seismic shift” was in the works following a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade and ghoulishly cheered Democrats raising “millions of dollars” by fearmongering on the topic.

“All of it could upend the midterms, with Democrats fighting to hold on to their majorities and Republicans looking to take back control of Congress,” NBC’s chief White House correspondent Kristen Welker enthused early on the Today show. She then parroted talking points straight from the President: “Democrats now aiming to energize voters....President Biden warning Republicans could try to take away other rights that were granted by the high court, from contraception to same sex marriage.”

 

 

During the 3rd Hour Today show in the 9:00 a.m. ET hour, Welker gushed that “this could be a seismic shift in the midterm elections. That’s how significant this is, okay?” She touted how “Democrats will now make this a key issue as they fight to hold on to their majorities” and again hyped that Biden “gave Democrats a playbook heading into the midterms, trying to make the case that Republicans will now try to strip people of other rights that have been granted by the high court, from contraception to same sex marriage.”

Welker made it clear that she and her media colleagues would be happy to help: “Bottom line, though, this is going to be a central issue through November. We knew we’d be covering things like inflation, migrants at the border. But now, guys, this really moves to potentially one of the top issues.”

On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Mary Bruce hailed:

...the President is using his megaphone, using the power of the presidency to look ahead to November and the midterms, urging all Americans to get out and back candidates who support abortion rights. The President noting that if Roe is overturned and this issue goes back to the states, well then it will be up to the nation’s elected officials to protect a woman’s right to an abortion.         

Like Welker, she emphasized: “And the President is also warning that if this decision does, in fact, happen, that the ramifications will go far beyond just the issue of abortion and could limit and curb other freedoms as well.”

“Even the possibility that Roe vs. Wade’s going to be overturned has poured millions of dollars into the campaigns of Democrats and their related causes, scrambling already contentious midterm elections,” heralded correspondent Ed O’Keefe on CBS Mornings.

Later in the report, he continued to giddily brag about all the cash Democrats were raking in by exploiting the life-and-death issue:

And Democrats also see political opportunity. Just minutes after the news leaked, some campaigns started emailing and texting supporters for money. Act Blue, which funnels donations to Democratic candidates and causes, has processed at least $10 million in donations and counting since Monday night.

He went on to cite: “A Biden adviser tells CBS News they believe, if the ruling ultimately stands, this is going to help mobilize what they call harder to engage voters, maybe younger people, or those that only show up every four years to vote for President, believing they’ll now understand that a real fundamental right is at risk.”

O’Keefe especially pointed out how the anonymous White House political hack relied on polls from liberal media outlets like CBS to plot campaign strategy: “The adviser cited polling that CBS News and other outlets have done that shows a majority of Americans want to sustain abortion rights. And they argue that, quote, ‘every single swing race will be impacted by this decision.’”

No matter what the issue, the leftist media always seem to ask the same question: How can this help Democrats?  

NBC’s wish-casting that abortion would rescue Democrats from electoral defeat was brought to viewers by Kohl’s, it was brought to ABC viewers by Macy’s, and brought to CBS viewers by Crest. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.

Here are transcripts of excerpts from the May 4 coverage:

Today
7:03 AM ET

(...)

KRISTEN WELKER: All of it could upend the midterms, with Democrats fighting to hold on to their majorities and Republicans looking to take back control of Congress.

(...)

7:05 AM ET

WELKER: Democrats now aiming to energize voters around their message: Roe V. Wade should be codified into law by Congress. But currently there’s not enough support in Congress for such a move. President Biden warning Republicans could try to take away other rights that were granted by the high court, from contraception to same sex marriage.

JOE BIDEN: It would mean that every other decision relating to the notion of privacy is thrown into question.

WELKER: Senator Elizabeth Warren joining a protest yesterday.

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN [D-MA]: I am angry because of who will pay the price for this!

(...)

8:03 AM ET

WELKER: Democrats are now aiming to energize voters around their message that Roe v. Wade should be codified into law by Congress. Vice President Harris with a fiery response overnight.

KAMALA HARRIS: Those Republican leaders who are trying to weaponize the use of law against women. Well, we say, how dare they?! How dare they tell a woman what she can do and cannot do with her own body!

(...)


3rd Hour Today
9:03 AM ET

(...)
                                        
VICKY NGUYEN: Kristen, the President released a statement yesterday saying, quote, “It will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this is November.” No doubt this is going to be a huge issue in the midterms. Where does the political battle go from here?

KRISTEN WELKER: Well Vicky, this could be a seismic shift in the midterm elections. That’s how significant this is, okay? Democrats will now make this a key issue as they fight to hold on to their majorities. And in fact, we heard from Vice President Harris overnight, who blasted Republicans for pushing to overturn Roe v. Wade for decades, saying and repeating over and over again, quote, “How dare they?”

President Biden, we heard from him yesterday as well, and he kind of gave Democrats a playbook heading into the midterms, trying to make the case that Republicans will now try to strip people of other rights that have been granted by the high court, from contraception to same sex marriage.

Now, we also heard from a number of Republicans yesterday, who cheered the idea that Roe could be overturned, but they blasted the leak itself and they are saying they do want to get to the bottom of who exactly leaked this document to Politico. The GOP is looking, of course, to take back control of Congress as Democrats try to hold on to their majorities.

Bottom line, though, this is going to be a central issue through November. We knew we’d be covering things like inflation, migrants at the border. But now, guys, this really moves to potentially one of the top issues.

CRAIG MELVIN: Could be a – quite the galvanizing issue come the midterms. Thank you, Kristen. Our chief White House correspondent Kristen Welker there.

(...)


Good Morning America
7:04 AM ET

(...)

TERRY MORAN: Democrats are focusing on the real prospect that a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion –  

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN [D-MA]: The Republicans have been working toward this day for decades.

MORAN: Overnight, Vice President Kamala Harris told the abortion rights advocacy group Emily’s List that Republicans are trying to weaponize the law against women.

KAMALA HARRIS: How dare they tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her own body!

(...)

7:07 AM ET

MARY BRUCE: Well, President Biden is describing this as a radical decision, saying if this holds, it goes, quote, “way overboard.” But the reality here this morning is that the President’s options are very limited. There simply is little that he can do to counter this, if this decision does go through. And the White House is well aware of that. Now, the President is calling for Congress to pass legislation guaranteeing the right to an abortion but he just doesn’t have the votes right now to get this done. A point that the President himself seemed to acknowledge yesterday.

So, Robin, instead, the President is using his megaphone, using the power of the presidency to look ahead to November and the midterms, urging all Americans to get out and back candidates who support abortion rights. The President noting that if Roe is overturned and this issue goes back to the states, well then it will be up to the nation’s elected officials to protect a woman’s right to an abortion.

And the President is also warning that if this decision does, in fact, happen, that the ramifications will go far beyond just the issue of abortion and could limit and curb other freedoms as well, George.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay, Mary, thanks very much.

Let’s get more from our congressional correspondent Rachel Scott. So we know this will go back to the states if Roe v. Wade is overturned. A lot of states are prepared to severely restrict or ban abortion.
RACHEL SCOTT: Yeah, George, this would be a seismic shift, women in this country would be waking up to a whole new reality.

(...)


CBS Mornings
7:04 AM ET

(...)

ED O’KEEFE: Here at the White House, President Biden believes that if the draft opinion stands it’s going to put other rights at risk and he says it’s now up to lawmakers to protect abortion rights. Even the possibility that Roe vs. Wade’s going to be overturned has poured millions of dollars into the campaigns of Democrats and their related causes, scrambling already contentious midterm elections.

(...)

7:05 AM ET

KAMALA HARRIS: We are not going back.

ED O’KEEFE: On Tuesday night, Vice President Harris joined the fight.

HARRIS: How dare they tell a woman what she can do and cannot do with her own body!

JOE BIDEN: It’s really quite a radical decision.

O’KEEFE: Earlier in the day, President Biden blasted the draft opinion, warning the decision could threaten other rights, like same-sex marriage.

BIDEN: It would mean that every other decision related to the notion of privacy is thrown to question.

(...)

7:06 AM ET

O’KEEFE: And Democrats also see political opportunity. Just minutes after the news leaked, some campaigns started emailing and texting supporters for money. Act Blue, which funnels donations to Democratic candidates and causes, has processed at least $10 million in donations and counting since Monday night.

But Republicans doubt abortion rights will be a top issue by November.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM [R-SC]: I think this election’s going to be decided based on the quality of the economy and safety.

O’KEEFE: So a little more on the potential politics of this. A Biden adviser tells CBS News they believe, if the ruling ultimately stands, this is going to help mobilize what they call harder to engage voters, maybe younger people, or those that only show up every four years to vote for President, believing they’ll now understand that a real fundamental right is at risk.

The adviser cited polling that CBS News and other outlets have done that shows a majority of Americans want to sustain abortion rights. And they argue that, quote, “every single swing race will be impacted by this decision.”

(...)