If there’s one thing CNN journalists love, it’s implying that Republicans are racist. On Monday’s Don’t forget Lemon tonightThe host slammed GOP Senator Bill Cassidy (LA), for not caring about the topic of African American maternal mortality rates. Cassidy spoke on maternal mortality rates in Louisiana. He acknowledged that Black women are more common than white women. Statistics indicate four Black women for every one woman. Stating he knew the rates were different but did not know the cause, he continued that if Louisiana could “correct their population,” the state would not be considered that far out from other states’ statics.
He decided to remove the majority of the ratepayers, or the ones that could make the state look outlier.
Facing backlash and hate from this comment and others, the Senator himself hopped on Twitter to defend himself stating that individuals and the media themselves are “cutting off and misquoting” the statements he had said, while “highlighting minority health disparities to create a malicious and fake narrative.”
Lemon himself suggests implicitly that the Senator is a racist, while other sources all around the nation are claiming that Cassidy doesn’t believe that black women and babies matter. Lemon summoned Dr. Richina Bize McCain, Baylor University, to criticize Cassidy for not being sensitive to racism.
MCCAIN: [Louisiana’s]Mississippi is the neighbor by geography and also contains a high percentage of black residents. According to U.S. Census they are home to some of the highest proportions of black Americans, but their maternal mortality rate exceeds that of Louisiana. Black women aren’t the problem. Systemic racism and implicit bias that black women experience when receiving care are the root of the problem. That’s the problem Senator Cassidy must address.
Research and studies, and even the CURE Document written by Congress, show there is “such a high frequency of abortion within the black community that inevitably creates far-reaching consequences,” for both women and the community; drawing a conclusion that this could be a contributor for higher mortality rates. On the other hand, one can’t completely ignore the differences in healthcare that seem to be brought up in every area of this issue of racism.
Some sources claim that this Senator misunderstood key details. Left-leaning sources suggest that the Senator left out systemic racism and imperial bias. They also have the notion that the maternal mortality rate could be considered racist.
While Senator Cassidy was wrong to use the words “rising rates”, the idea was still there. People might have pleaded for lower numbers, even if white women were the exception in the same situation. Lemon and McCain speak into the minds of the left, seeking to further divide America. He was actually completely dismissing any notion of race in the scenario. Instead, the average of all the states was higher, with better rates across the board, taking out the outlier.
Colgate Cadillac sponsored the segment. You can find their contact information here.
Below is a transcript. Click “expand” to read more.
CNN’s Don’t forget Lemon tonight
05/23/2022
10:27:59 p.m.(…)
DON LEMON: He is both a senator and a doctor. But when it comes down to the reason his state experiences high maternal deaths rates, he speaks in black-and-white.
SEN. Bill Cassidy (R-LA),: Around a third is African American. African Americans are more likely to die from maternal causes. If you adjust the population for race, it’s not nearly as extreme as we might think.
(….)
10:33:06 p.m.
4 minutes, 6 seconds
LEMON: Senator Bill Cassidy, from Louisiana, is facing backlash for comments about high maternal mortality rates among African-American women. Number one is maternal mortality. It’s the number of mothers who are still pregnant that die. Cassidy is both a Republican as well as a physician. That’s what he stated.
CASSIDY. About 33% of America’s population is African-American. African Americans are more likely to die from maternal causes. If you adjust our population to reflect race, it’s not so extreme as we might think. This is not meant to minimize the problem, but rather to highlight the issues and where they would go. People of color are more likely to die from maternal causes than those of other races.
LEMON: OK. LEMON: OK. It’s good to be back, Doctor. Many thanks for being here.
RICHINA BICETTE McAIN, MEDICAL DIRETOR, BAYLOR COLEGE OF MEDICINE : Hello, Don.
LEMON: Now, what are we talking about? Let’s get to the facts. That statement by the senator “correcting the population” was a bit controversial. Louisiana has one of the highest maternal deaths rates in the nation. There are also four mothers who die for each white mother. [sic]. Could you talk to Senator Sullivan’s phrase there and, more important, discuss this disparity?
MCCAIN : Just wow. It was unbelievable to me what I was hearing. Let’s compare Louisiana to other states in the United States. Mississippi is the state’s closest neighbor geographically. It also has an extremely high percentage of black residents. According to U.S. Census they are home to some of the highest proportions of black Americans in America, but their maternal mortality rate exceeds that of Louisiana. Black women aren’t the problem. Systemic racism and implicit bias that black women experience when receiving care are the root of the problem. That’s the problem Senator Cassidy must address.
LEMON: The CDC says that the U.S. has one of the lowest maternal deaths rates in developed countries. This has been on the rise since 1980. You see, it is just one part of an even larger problem. Please explain this to our viewers.
MCCAIN – I find it perplexing, looking at these numbers, that we, an industrialized nation are seeing a rise in maternal deaths. The CDC clearly shows that maternal mortality rates have increased significantly for all age groups but particularly for black women since 2018. Black women are three times more likely than other group to be killed by pregnancy complications or death from the result of pregnancy. [sic]. It has to do the lack of access or increased cost to healthcare. Rural residents may not be able to find licensed practitioners to give birth to their babies or seek prenatal care. Insurance issues and socioeconomic issues are also issues.
LEMON: We would love to have Senator on. He was invited to speak on this topic, but he couldn’t make it on tonight’s broadcast. However, he is responding to the question via social media. He basically said that it was only one of many comments he made during a lengthy interview about his efforts to combat racial bias in health care. The Connected Mother Act would enable women to monitor their blood sugar and blood pressure remotely. Doctor, would that be of any help?
MCCAIN. This is only one of the steps, but it’s what he ought to have started with. Don, again, that was a hint. But we must remember, though, that the main reason there is such disparity in health care and maternal death as it pertains to black women in comparison to Hispanic and white women has to do implicit racism and systemic racism. This is a topic that many people dance about and pretend like they are bad terms. But if we do not acknowledge the issue, and our past and history, then we cannot move forward to address the problem.
LEMON: To call a thing “a thing”, you must name it as such. Doctor, thank you. I appreciate it. It’s a pleasure to have you back in the programme.
MCCAIN: Don, thank you so much for your time.
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