Kirsten Powers’ USA Today column today highlights a horrific story that is, coincidentally, garnering very little attention from the mainstream media:
“Infant beheadings. Severed baby feet in jars. A child screaming after it was delivered alive during an abortion procedure. Haven’t heard about these sickening accusations?
It’s not your fault. Since the murder trial of Pennsylvania abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell began March 18, there has been precious little coverage of the case that should be on every news show and front page.”
The old adage, “if it bleeds, it leads,” seems not to apply here. “These are the kinds of details,” writes HotAir’s Ed Morrissey, “that most media would find fascinating in any other criminal trial.”
Meanwhile, David Freddoso compares the lack of attention this trial is getting to the attention coming out of Newtown. “Some will find the comparison inappropriate, he concedes, “but from a political perspective, [Kermit] Gosnell’s trial is to abortion what Sandy Hook is to gun ownership.”
Pro-Life activists and opinion leaders, of course, are quick to point out the media’s apparent hypocrisy. For example, consider these tweets from Mollie Z. Hemingway:
If you are a reporter who covered, say, Komen defunding @ppact but not the Gosnell trial, can you explain news decision there?
— Mollie Z. Hemingway (@MZHemingway) April 11, 2013
If you are a reporter who covered, say, Akin being an idiot but not the Gosnell trial, can you explain news decision there?
— Mollie Z. Hemingway (@MZHemingway) April 11, 2013
It’s hard to argue that this case doesn’t deserve more attention from the media. So where’s the outrage?