Posted on 02/15/2003 6:32:05 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
It's not often that the nation's capital witnesses two major rallies within four days of each other. On Jan. 18, opponents of a U.S. war against Iraq drew tens of thousands to the national mall to protest. Four days later, another crowd of tens of thousands congregated for the annual March for Life to mourn the 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand.
The "peace" rally was mostly angry, with podium speakers lamenting the supposedly destructive impact of the United States on the world, lacerating TeamBush with terms like "greedy imperialist murderers." Former attorney general Ramsey Clark, the leader of the rally organizers, announced they would campaign for President Bush to be impeached. The Jan. 22 pro-life rally struggled to reach "the top of the mountain of repentance," as Sen. Sam Brownback told the crowd. He prayed for everyone to love their opponents, to love the women who made mortal choices. President Bush phoned in from St. Louis to congratulate the throng for "perseverance and your devotion to the cause of life."
Media coverage of these two events was starkly different, both in tone and space. The hometown Washington Post started promoting the anti-war rally five days before it occurred. The day after the rally, the Post had three anti-war stories on the front page, and two broadsheet pages inside stuffed with rally news and photographs. (The paper gave another half page to anti-war protests in San Francisco.)
On Monday, anti-war protesters were still being displayed in front-page photos. By contrast, the March for Life wasn't mentioned until the day of the rallyin passing, on a page stuffed with the concerns of abortion advocates. On Jan. 23, the Post's front page carried pictures of abortion protestersfrom Planned Parenthood's mid-day rally, with a crowd estimated by Reuters at 150. The tens of thousands of pro-lifers were represented on the front page of the Metro section with an angry protester testily pointing a mitten as he told off two college students in front of the Supreme Court building.
Many media outlets blurred the population of the abortion protests, so that the public couldn't tell which rally attracts tens of thousands, and which attracts tens. Associated Press' morning headline was "Abortion Critics, Supporters Set to March." NBC's Lester Holt began the day by reporting "Rallies are scheduled in many places including Buffalo, New York." NBC then ignored the assembling crowd in Washington, instead highlighting the "Army of God" protest in Buffaloabout a dozen strongapplauding the murder of abortionist Barnett Slepian five years ago.
CBS reporter Jim Axelrod picked up the networks' sudden attention to Buffalo on Jan. 22, calling the Slepian shooting "an example of how abortion is redder than any other red-meat social issue in America."
As Republicans promise to use their majority status to ban human cloning and partial-birth abortion, they know from harsh experience that one of their major obstacles is a national media that regularly underlines in every article, caption, and inflection that the survival of Roe v. Wade is a passionate, "red meat" issue to them.
Tim Graham is director of media analysis at the Media Research Center
One Hawaiian editor said thank you. The Village Voice guy sent me Chomsky-DNC propaganda...in caps. (^:
"Dueling rallies for war, peace", The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), Feb.14.
Thanks to all the Freepers who are standing up to these meanspirited mobs, and for America and our troops today!
Anti-terrorist rallies today, press coverage largely courtesy of FR:
"Give War a Chance" rally, Huntsville, Alabama - sponsored by local radio station, WVNN. For more info: www.wvnn.com
2/15, High Noon, Fresno, California: Counter-protest Tower District anti-war "Peace March" rally
Pro Troops Rally in Tacoma Washington Saturday
Bakersfield Freedom rally (Pro-troop,Anti-Saddam)at 4 pm today
Show of Support (Pro America Rally in N. Texas), actual newspaper article from the Star Telegram, go, Texas!
Spokane, WA Support the Troops Rally, February 15th
Iraqi-Americans to Hold "Philadelphia Freedom Rally", Feb. 15, 2003, 12:00 pm-4:00 pm in Phil. Pa., Hello! Peaceniks!
Rally for the Troops at the U. N. in NYC at 12 noon on 2/15/03 Thread III
Steve Malzberg just mentioned patriots Rally on 77WABC, DC, radio.
"War backers to 'rally for America'" (Colorado), Rocky Mountain News
NC FREEPERS: Patriot Rally, Feb 15th, Support Our Troops, Raleigh.
Abortion is the "reddest" of the "red-meat" issues in America because it is the most bloody.
Today is peace march day. Around the world, and especially across Europe, perhaps millions will march in solidarity with Saddam Hussein; while the people of Iraq continue to live under one of this world's most murderous and vicious dictatorships, glumly anticipating American liberation, but fearing they'll be let down once again.
Chic exponents of abortion on demand will accuse President George W. Bush of wanting to kill Iraqi babies; socialist proponents of public theft will accuse him of trying to steal Iraqi oil; and people whose safety and freedom have been guaranteed by U.S. military protection all their lives, will chant that "Amerika" is a fascist country.
It is a scene of human depravity, worthy of description by the Hebrew prophets.
Baby's heartbeat at 6 1/2 weeks
Baby at twelve weeks - Image 1
Baby at twelve weeks - Image 2
Baby at twelve weeks - Image 3
Baby at twelve weeks - Image 4
Baby at three and a half months - Image 1
Baby at three and a half months - Image 2
Baby at three and a half months - Image 3
Baby at three and a half months - Image 4
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.