The first New York Times news coverage of the Supreme Court’s historical overruling of the abortion ruling Roe v. Wade He was quite sedate.
Adam Liptak is now the SCOTUS scribe. Evidently, they felt that it was safer to accept the 1973 original decision which established a constitutional right for abortion. “was widely criticized, including by people who supported access to abortion as a policy matter. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a strong supporter of abortion rights who died in 2020, expressed qualms about Roe over the years.”
But former Supreme Court correspondent Linda Greenhouse was seething with anger in a Sunday op-ed, “A Requiem for the Supreme Court.” Can the secular New York TimesUse “requiem” in Mass or as a chant to the dead. Is the court dead? That reaction isn’t extreme?
They did it because that was what they had to do.
It was so easy.
….
The court’s Friday ruling is a demand for abortion rights. As Chief Justice John Roberts, who declined to join Justice Alito’s opinion, may well suspect, it is also a requiem for the Supreme Court.
Greenhouse didn’t try to correct Alito’s supposedly faulty reasoning. Noting Justice Alito’s quote “The turmoil wrought by Roe CaseyShe warned that the wait would be long.”
There will be turmoil now, for sure, as the country’s highways fill with women desperate to regain control over their lives and running out of time, perhaps followed by vigilantes across state lines. The only thing that caused the turmoil was Roe CaseyActivists, politicians and Republican-appointed judge refused to recognize the legitimacy of precedents. Justice Alito’s reference to “turmoil” reminded me of nothing so much as Donald Trump’s invocation of “carnage” in his inaugural address. Although there wasn’t any carnage in that moment, there would be more.
As if abortions don’t create “carnage”? Greenhouse reacted angrily.
No, justices, your work isn’t done. You have now obtained the legitimacy of this court, which will be your home for the remainder of your life.
The overturning Roe was a dark day for both gay pride and Title IX, which supposedly guarantees girls equal opportunity in education, including sports. Sports writer Kurt Streeter sobbed:
You can use an ax to Roe v. WadeNearly 50 years after the Supreme Court made the landmark ruling that guaranteed women the right for abortion, it has destroyed a sign of freedom in fighting for gender equality. Freedom that allowed female athletes to attain glory and is now taken for granted by many.
In Monday’s Business section, an article suggested that Europe was more restrictive than America in allowing abortions. This is misleading because abortion is allowed in many European countries up to 12-14 week of pregnancy. It is not permitted in the majority American states (20-27).
Under the subhead “A signal to the rest of the world,” the TimesThe leaders of Belgium and the United Kingdom offered disapproving remarks. That’s ironic, considering UK laws are roughly equivalent to those in the majority of U.S. states, and Belgian law is actually more restrictive than most states (12 weeks after pregnancy).
The TimesThe actual facts about European abortion were kept fuzzy.
….Most European countries in recent years have allowed abortion to be performed in a more relaxed manner.
But what about the real numbers? The story ended with a plea from readers to pressure companies to take a pro-choice stand: “What do you think? Companies can’t remain silent about abortion. Let us know.”
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