Friday, March 29, AD 2024 7:29am

Ross Douthat’s Readers Prove his Point

I can easily imagine from their comments how much it galls the typical readers of the New York Times to read opinion pieces by Ross Douthat.  Today he explains to his reader the extreme media bias on the issue of abortion.

Conservative complaints about media bias are sometimes overdrawn. But on the abortion issue, the press’s prejudices are often absolute, its biases blatant and its blinders impenetrable. In many newsrooms and television studios across the country, Planned Parenthood is regarded as the equivalent of, well, the Komen foundation: an apolitical, high-minded and humanitarian institution whose work no rational person — and certainly no self-respecting woman — could possibly question or oppose.  

Go here to read the rest.    To pro-lifers this is very old news.  It is hysterically funny however to read the comments to his piece:

 Mr Douthat, many peope believe that they are “anti-choice” until a friend, spouse or dauhter is confronted by a crisis in their lives. Planned Parenthood had prevented abortions in large numbers by providing access to contraception for thousands of women.And as to people “having no moral qualms” about abortion procedures-how dare you! You cannot see into another persons soul. A woman does not wake up and think, “Gosh, what shall I do today , manicure or termination”.Women have sought abortions since the beginning of recorded history-it should be safe and legal.

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I strongly object to your mis-use of the term “pro life.” To imply that it is somehow anti-life to support a woman’s right to make decisions about her body is just as biased as the news reporting you condemn. If you do wish to be viewed as a reporter that attempts to report in an unbiased way, try to be more careful of the pejorative effect of your choice of labels.

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To those who oppose abortion I say this: Don’t have one.

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In this essay, Douthat refers to Charlotte Allen as a “plausible” source that a large portion of Planned Parenthood’s revenue comes from abortions. No credible journalist would ever refer to this woman as a source of anything – least of all data. In the past Allen has literally argued that “The theory that women are the dumber sex… is amply supported by neurological and standardized testing evidence.” Her innane contention was soundly refuted by NIH Director Elias Zerhouni.

If you believe that one, you’ll believe anything Charlotte has to say. And Douthat.

The truth is that Planned Parenthood prevents hundreds of thousands of abortions a year, through affordable and accessible contraception.

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Mr. Douthat, sir,

Will you please supply the source for your statement about the number of abortions that Planned Parenthood performed? I would like a source, please, that is readily available for fact checking.

Thank you for reading my question.

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Since when did the US become a theocracy? If you are “pro-life,” fine. You absolutely never have to have an abortion. But can you not fathom the idea that other people might feel differently than you and chose to make a different choice? Even if you believe you have a direct line to God’s ear, you do not have the right to impose that view on someone else. I do not believe that life begins at conception, so why should I have to obey your religious views with my body?

And aside from issues of free choice, if you are pro-life, what do you honestly think happens to children that are born to mothers who are emotionally/ financially/ psychologically unable to care for them (perhaps because they never had a supportive family themselves)? Seriously – where do you think these children end up? Do you think that simply by giving birth someone develops the parenting skills, resources or desire to care for a child? If so, come and work with the children and families I have worked with for over 30 years. And more to the point, if you believe all pregnancies should be carried to term, you have a moral obligation to adopt those unwanted babies yourself (especially ones with neurodevelopmental disabilities). When each pro-lifer adopts one baby then come talk to me about what you believe other people should be doing with their bodies and lives.

Note that they do not even attempt to make an argument that Douthat is incorrect.  The subject does not interest them.  All they are interested in is that their eyes have been offended by reading a pro-life view and that they must retaliate with the usual tired pro-abort bromides that all right-thinking people agree with who inhabit their section of the herd of independent thinkers.  It is from this mindset that the bias that Douthat noted comes from and Douthat should thank his readers for their practical demonstration of the pro-abort groupthink in action.

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Paul Primavera
Sunday, February 5, AD 2012 1:23pm

“Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.” Matthew 7:6

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Sunday, February 5, AD 2012 1:27pm

The US has a large surplus of horrid human beings.

Cthemfly25
Cthemfly25
Sunday, February 5, AD 2012 6:26pm

Douthat is given empirical proof.

TNF
TNF
Sunday, February 5, AD 2012 11:05pm

Is it worth noting (much less complaining) that the substance of the quoted comments has yet to be addressed, much less refuted/rebutted?

Of course it’s easy to preach to the choir–and doubtless, the “choir” here regards (or “knows”?) them as “usual tired…bromides”–but what about those outside the “choir”?
What about everyone else?

bearing
Monday, February 6, AD 2012 8:26am

I’m not really sure what’s supposed to be wrong with the person whose comment politely asked for the source of a piece of information.

trackback
Monday, February 6, AD 2012 9:36am

[…] Ross Douthat’s Readers Prove his Point – Donald R. McClarey, The American Catholic […]

Mike Andrews
Mike Andrews
Monday, February 6, AD 2012 12:21pm

Having read many of the comments to Mr. Douthat’s commentary, I strongly sensed a coordinated campaign behind them.

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