Liberal media outlets bent over backwards to avoid describing the March for Life as pro-life, relying exhaustively on terms like “anti-abortion” or “abortion opponents” to describe the hundreds of thousands of pro-life marchers in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
Pro-life activists gather outside the Supreme Court for the National March for Life rally in Washington, DC, U.S. January 27, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein – RTSXPL6
“Anti-Abortion Groups Hold Triumphant Rally After Obama Years” was how the Associated Press titled its coverage of the march, later referring to the pro-life marchers as a “politically ascendant anti-abortion movement.”
“Vice President Mike Pence told the crowd at the March for Life that anti-abortion policies were a top priority of the new administration,” was how the AP story described Pence’s speech, which referred to “pro-life majorities” in the House and Senate. NPR described Pence’s reference to “pro-life majorities” as “emphasizing the electoral victories of anti-abortion candidates.”
The AP report, which was re-circulated by ABC News, contained zero instances of the phrase “pro-life.” The NPR story contained one reference to the march as “pro-life,” and it came in a quote.
White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway declared Friday a “new dawn for life” in her speech addressing pro-life marchers, but USA Today characterized her audience as “anti-abortion forces.” The New York Times similarly described March for Life participants as “anti-abortion marchers.”
Conservatives on Twitter criticized CNN’s reporting for what they said was a negative take on the March for Life, contrasting CNN’s coverage of Friday’s march with the network’s laudatory coverage of last week’s Women’s March, which explicitly shunned pro-life women from attending. (RELATED: Pro-Life Women Banned From ‘Inclusive’ Women’s March)
In contrast, @cnn just referred to march today as anti-abortion, not pro-life. https://t.co/aj3KMVl7t5
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) January 27, 2017
.@CNN calls today’s “March For Life” an “Anti Abortion Rally.” But didn’t call Saturday’s “Women’s March” an “Anti-Trump Rally” @jaketapper? pic.twitter.com/Dx3AwLQhtG
— Michael Medved (@MedvedSHOW) January 27, 2017
Why does CNN call prolife ppl anti-abortion and pro abortion ppl pro choice? Prolife ppl are for life of baby and mother. CNN shows bias.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) January 27, 2017