Yes, Let’s Talk About Kermit Gosnell

[cbayer]

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/sarahposner/7027/yes__let_s_talk_about_kermit_gosnell/

April 12, 2013 2:09pm
Post by SARAH POSNER

Kermit Gosnell is on trial in Philadelphia, charged with eight counts of murder at his grisly abortion clinic. The Associated Press covered the opening proceedings of a trial expected to last eight weeks. A New York Times reporter was also present when the trial opened. His story appeared on page A17, which apparently wasn’t prominent enough for conservatives who are complaining that the media is under-covering the story because, as Charles Krauthammer put it, it places the issue of late-term abortion “starkly into relief.”

Gosnell is charged with illegally performing third trimester abortions, and slitting the spines of the babies, acts that were loudly condemned by pro-choice advocates. It doesn’t bring the issue of late-term abortion “starkly into relief”; it’s the story of a monster completely flouting the law and medical standards. When the story came to light more than two years ago, legitimate providers made that perfectly clear.

Is Gosnell’s trial getting the same level of coverage on cable as, say, the Jodi Arias trial? No. But that’s a question about the media’s priorities in general, rather than some sort of ideologically-driven fear that the pro-choice position would be exposed. Proponents of safe, legal abortion do not fear any light shed on this awful episode. To the contrary, they were some of the first to condemn Gosnell when the details of a grand jury report were made public in January 2011 and Gosnell was first charged.

As Irin Carmon shows, there is no media cover-up of Gosnell. If you’ve missed the story, “It’s probably because you failed to pay attention to the copious coverage among pro-choice and feminist journalists, as well as the big news organizations, when the news first broke in 2011.” Among it: Tara Murtha’s extensive coverage in the Philadalphia Weekly.

more at link

[goldent]

1. This is a shocking story

and this is the first I've heard about it, which is surprising to me as I read quite a bit of news. Interestingly, I do distinctly remember hearing from multiple sources about the re-opening of the abortion clinic where Dr. George Tiller (who was murdered) worked. For me it may be just a coincidence that I never heard about Gosnell.

In any case, this is a horrific story if true. There are a fair number of stories of doctors who are believed to "help along" the death process for terminally ill patients, and I can understand their motives, even when they cross the line. But this one (Kermit Gosnell) is beyond belief.

[cbayer]

3. It is the first I have heard of it as well.

Her analysis of why this has escaped major media attention is very interesting. In short, the pro-choice community has stood firmly in opposition to this man. The reasons he was able to do what he did appear to be due to lack of services and scare tactics used by the anti-choicers against women trying to access legitimate clinics.

[goldent]

6. I'm not sure I understand...

The pro-choice and pro-life advocates might have had reasons for not publicizing this case, although I can't quite see why the pro-life advocates would not be shouting about it.

But beyond that, this is a sensational story with lots of blood and horror and it seems atypical for this not to be big news. I checked CNN, NY Times, and Fox News and they all have stories going back to Jan 2011, so it clearly was reported. A murder of 7+ people would normally be huge, but as mentioned in the article, the infants who were killed did not have names or any life history, so it makes it less compelling.

[cbayer]

7. Me neither. This seems like it would have been red meat for the MSM.

There were reporters covering it, but it just never got picked up the way one would have expected.

At any rate, I think Posner makes a good case that the reason for this is not media pro-choice bias...not by a long shot.

[rug]

2. Did you see the Grand Jury Report?

http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/pdfs/grandjurywomensmedical.pdf

[cbayer]

4. Wow! Had you heard of this previously?

[rug]

13. No, I saw the GD thread and pulled this up.

This issue is not abstract. The Appellant in this case is someone very close to me, decided right on the cusp of Roe.

http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2768685091028964878&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr

[cbayer]

15. Is an Appellant an attorney who is representing others or the injured party?

I'm not sure how these two cases are related.

[rug]

18. No, it's the woman it happened to.

Those events happened in the weks before Roe became law. Her case was dismissed on the ground that she could not sue for dameages because she was a participant in a crime. New York's highst court agreed.

[cbayer]

19. Thanks for the explanation. I recall similar things but much of it has faded for me.

I hope we shall never return to anything close to it.

[goldent]

5. As a side topic....

who would have written this report? It is very lengthy and quite detailed. Maybe the District Attorney?

[rug]

14. Yes, it was wriiten by the presenting DA.

Pennsylvania has abolished the Grand Jury for all practical purposes except investigations.

After the presentment, the Grand Jury votes to accept and issue the Report or not. I've never heard of a Grand Jury rejecting one.

[okasha]

20. It's proverbial that a federal (or any other)

grand jury will indict a ham sandwich if asked.

My own experience bears this out. I was on a grand jury for a year, twice the usual term because the feds and DA didn't want to have to restart a major Medicare corruption case with a new bunch. IIRC, the jury declined to indict in only a single case.

[rug]

21. That's certainly true. The difference here is that it's an investigating Grand Jury.

Since Pennsylvania replaced Grand Juries for criminal offenses with preliminary hearings, its function is now primarily investigative. It recommends that the DA file a Criminal Information rather than indict itself.

When I worked for Legal Aid in NYC we developed a modest Grand Jury practice. In appropriate cases we'd tell the Defendant to testify there. We had a fair number of No True Bills. My favorite was this old man who was fighting with his landlord. He got mad one day and slipped the rent bill under the office door and lit the end that was sticking out. They arrested him for Arson! He testified and in the middle pulled out his vial of blood pressure pills and said the landlord was going to give him a heart attack. The DA started to yell at him to put the pills away and the old man was yelling back at him. It was spectacular. This particular Grand Jury was able to put the whole matter in perspective and declined to indict.

[No Vested Interest]

25. Maybe Ken Starr - He's good at detail.

Sorry for the snark.
I consider the whole subject of Gosnell so disagreeable that I don't pursue much of the detail.
Just like I don't read/hear about murders, robberies, etc., though this much worse.

[Heddi]

8. I am familiar with this, seeing that I live in philadelphia

I just read that whole report. I have never read anything as horrible as that in my entire life. It's one of those "once you see/read something you can't unsee/unread it".

Horrible horrible man preying on very vulnerable people. His clinic was located in a very poor part of town. Not only did he do horrible things to these women and their fetuses/viable infants, but he did it for profit. And he charged them ridiculous amounts of money...not that it makes it worse, but it's like, it'd be bad if he did this accidentally. It'd be worse if he did these things purposefully but at low or no cost to help poor women. But he was charging thousands of dollars AND causing permanent damage AND death AND giving them STD's AND committing infanticide....

I don't personally believe in Hell....and I don't personally believe in the death penalty....but gosh, this man and his staff really really push the boundaries for both of them.

[cbayer]

9. Three rows of seats reserved for the media completely empty? Really?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022673366

[musical_soul]

23. I read that a while back.

Scary.

[UTUSN]

10. this is an alleged serial killer.not a doctor.not about pro.choice nt

[cbayer]

11. Totally agree with you. It's not about abortion rights at all.

But why has the media ignored it for the most part?

So nice to see you UTUSN. I hope you have been well and happy.

[UTUSN]

12. i stick to gd.lounge. lovely to c.u.too. wingnuts have been calling it.abortion.nt

[locks]

16. Pennsylvania politics of abortion

Reports were made to the PA Board of health as early as 1989. Philadelphia Enquirer reporters have made an incredible movie, 3801.com, on the repeated failures for all these years of PA pols to follow up on this sad issue. April 12 Anderson Cooper did a long story on the horrific grand jury report with Jeffrey Toobin and the Enquirer reporters. They say there were many reasons the MSM has not covered this story, one being it's a business decision. Mostly these were women of color, all very poor, who had no one to speak for them; there were not even records of their names. Most were late-term abortions; they could not even find out how many women died. And abortion activitists on both sides were apparently afraid it would hurt their cause. How can this happen in the 21st century in the richest country in the world? Perhaps it's because we did not think it could happen to our children, just like Sandy Hook.

[cbayer]

17. This is an amazingly shocking story and still not getting the press I thought it would today.

Here is an article speculating on all the theories about why the press is ignoring this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022676499

[MADem]

26. We all knew who Elizabeth Smart was when she was abducted from her home. We all knew within

days her entire life story, her family details, and were treated to video of her playing her harp.

Funny how Laura Estrada hasn't gotten the "Smart" treatment:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/05/05/teen-girl-missing-from-bridgeport/

A teenage girl has been missing for more than a week from her South Side Bridgeport neighborhood home.

Laura Estrada, 16, was last seen April 26 in the 900 block of West 34th Place, according to a community alert from Area Central detectives.

She is described as Hispanic with a medium complexion, 5-feet-5, 220 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, the alert said.

Laura was last seen wearing a pink sweater and blue gym shoes, the alert said.

And those three young ladies who were found in that hell hole in Cleveland? I never heard about them in the ten years they suffered--the first I heard their story is when they were found.

What's up with that? Maybe this?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/11/cleveland-kidnapping-adbucted-missing-girls/2151859/

...Across the country, missing people from diverse backgrounds and lower socioeconomic statuses are more likely to get less resources and attention than affluent white victims, according to Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of African and African-American studies at Duke University.

Authorities also at times assume people of color and lower incomes naturally are exposed to more violence, Neal said. The assumption might lead authorities to miss chances to save people from dangerous situations....

When crime happens in poor neighborhoods, it often isn't covered with the same verve as crime in rich neighborhoods. It's often regarded, wrongly, as the 'cost' of living at a particular address.

That said, your link touches on many salient points that are valid theories as well.

[cbayer]

27. Exactly. The Mother's Day shootings in New Orleans got about 1 hour of press.

Black, poor, gang-related. The public could care less.

[musical_soul]

24. I understand that the women were poor....

and if he was their only way to save their life, then that's really tragic. He clearly didn't care about women at all.

However, if we're talking about birth defects or abortion on demand, then that's just cruel. We need to consider the baby too.

[musical_soul]

22. Let's put it this way.

Juan Martinez: Did you cry when you killed Travis Alexander?

Jodi: (crying) I don't know. You make my brain scramble.



Now, suppose the DA asked Kermit that.

DA: Did you cry when you killed the infant?

What Kermit's response would have been: No, it was work.

This guy is a monster. He should have gotten more coverage than he did. Now, I might be all for putting people away and never letting them be heard of in the media again after the initial exposure, but I'd want that for all monsters.