Florida’s Supreme Court rulings enabling both the heartbeat bill and the ballot question which would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution has triggered a wave of media wishcasting, centered around the hope that abortion will lift President Joe Biden to victory in November, retaking the state for the Democrats. ABC News, as usual, has distinguished itself among the corporate wishcasters.
Here’s how tonight’s campaign roundup opened, with hope of the state being “put in play” for 2024:
DAVID MUIR: We turn now to the race for the White House. Abortion rights front and center, and will it put the state of Florida in play? Tonight President Biden blasting Florida's new 6-week abortion ban, one of the strictest in the country, before many women know they’re pregnant. The president calling it outrageous. Former President Trump on the campaign trail today saying suburban housewives like Trump. Rachel Scott in Wisconsin.
RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, President Biden denouncing the Florida state Supreme Court's ruling clearing the way for the state to ban abortion at six weeks, before most women even know they're pregnant, calling it now outrageous. The president saying the law puts the health and lives of millions of women at risk. But Biden's campaign now seizing on the Court's other major decision, allowing Florida voters a chance to protect abortion rights on the November ballot. The campaign saying that now puts Florida in play for the presidential election.
As is often the case, especially at ABC News, news items are measured by their effect on the electoral prospects of Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Immigration bad! Abortion very good!
Abortion is so highly valued as a turnout driver and potential factor in flipping the state for Biden that the corporate media, and ABC here specifically, have failed to mention that there is another initiative hitting the November ballot: for recreational marijuana.
This report brings little value to viewers beyond echoing Biden campaign talking points, whether on the heartbeat bill, the ballot initiative, or on immigration- in keeping with ABC News’ role as chief Biden sycophants. Lacking anything in the way of facts, this story is driven by little more than hope.
Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024:
DAVID MUIR: We turn now to the race for the White House. Abortion rights front and center, and will it put the state of Florida in play? Tonight President Biden blasting Florida's new 6-week abortion ban, one of the strictest in the country, before many women know they’re pregnant. The president calling it outrageous. Former President Trump on the campaign trail today saying suburban housewives like Trump. Rachel Scott in Wisconsin.
RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, President Biden denouncing the Florida state Supreme Court's ruling clearing the way for the state to ban abortion at six weeks, before most women even know they're pregnant, calling it now outrageous. The president saying the law puts the health and lives of millions of women at risk. But Biden's campaign now seizing on the Court's other major decision, allowing Florida voters a chance to protect abortion rights on the November ballot. The campaign saying that now puts Florida in play for the presidential election. They're keenly aware abortion rights has won in all six states where it has been on the ballot, including in conservative states like Kansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. Donald Trump often boasts about appointing three of the justices who voted to overturn Roe versus Wade, but today, he didn't want to talk about the Florida court ruling.
DONALD TRUMP: We'll be making a statement next week on abortion.
SCOTT: Today, in battleground Michigan, Trump making his own appeal to women voters.
TRUMP: You know, the suburban housewives actually like Donald Trump. You know why? Because I'm the one who is going to keep them safe. They like to say, well, the suburban housewives, I don't know -- I think I do great with the suburban housewives, because they want to remain safe.
SCOTT: Trump trying to turn the focus to the border, and what he's now calling migrant crime.
TRUMP: Every state is now a border state. Every town is now a border town, because Joe Biden has brought the carnage and chaos and killing from all over the world and dumped it straight into our backyards.
SCOTT: But in fact, data shows undocumented immigrants are actually less likely to commit violent crimes than American citizens. The Biden campaign pointing out that Trump himself pressured congressional Republicans to block the toughest bipartisan border security bill in generations because he wanted to run on the issue in November. President Biden urging Republicans to support the measure.
JOE BIDEN: Look, folks, we have a simple choice. We can fight about fixing the border, or we can fix it. I'm ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now.
SCOTT: David, back to the issue of abortion rights. We know it will be on the ballot in Florida. Tonight, advocates say they have enough support to put it on the ballot in Arizona, as well. You could see the same thing could happen in nearly a dozen other states including battlegrounds like Nevada and Pennsylvania. David.
MUIR: So abortion rights could be on the ballot in Arizona this November. We can hear you barely over the campaign rally behind you. A sign of the times, Rachel. Thank you.
