The article is really lazy and uses abortion rights (what use to be called choice) as a way to show disdain for Republicans and the virtuous nature of Democrats. Just take a look at some of the lines below and the overall tone of the article that is so clearly a service announcement for the Democratic party.
1. “Everybody in America t…
The article is really lazy and uses abortion rights (what use to be called choice) as a way to show disdain for Republicans and the virtuous nature of Democrats. Just take a look at some of the lines below and the overall tone of the article that is so clearly a service announcement for the Democratic party.
1. “Everybody in America thinks Kansas is so conservative, but Kansas is pretty staunchly anti-government,” Alie Scholes, an emergency medicine doctor, tells me. (Interpretation: Kansas isn't really conservative we're open minded because we believe in abortion. Do you think Alie is a registered Democrat? Hmmmm)
2. “My entire street is all registered Republicans, except for us, and they all had ‘Vote No’ signs out in their yards.” (Interpretation: See how virtuous I am, the lone oppressed Democrat standing up against tyranny.)
3. Back then, he was a “loyal Republican...I will not vote for any Republican that backs Trump or MAGA,” Mike says. (Interpretation: This is Nancy's real point, avoid Trump (and Republicans in general) no matter the cost. You too can switch your registration.)
4. She says she was an independent until the abortion vote, when she switched her registration to Democratic. “I’ve never had a sign in my front yard ever—we’re not the type to do that,” she says. “We did have a sign up for this.” They both voted no. (Interpretation: You too can become a Democrat and be part of the virtuous party.)
It could have been such a good piece but it didn't address the real questions, what was it about the bill that didn't sit right with those who voted no? What was it about the bill that sat right with people who voted yes?
The article doesn't cut the mustard for Common Sense; it's a veiled PSA.
Very well articulated. Bari, Nellie, please read this critique.
I have always defended Common Sense when it was criticized about author and article selection. I can’t defend this choice. The article was disrespectful of a critical issue by approaching it with such obvious bias. I wanted an objective take on what happened in Kansas because it is important and this piece was so far from objective that I am unable to mount a defense of it.
Patriot D, thanks! I really appreciate Bari's work and I'm even a paid subscriber. Sometimes I agree and sometimes I disagree with particular perspectives, but I rarely doubt the journalism. This piece from Nellie got away from them. Great teachable moment. Maybe there can be another article with a more robust perspective? Bring in another journalist?
You nailed what I had a vague sense of. This article wasn't informative or insightful - its only purpose is to model "correct" behavior of moving towards the Democratic Left Because Abortion.
I'm worried about a devastated economy, a world at war, an incompetent USA, assaults on our rights, federal power out of control, overt criminality among our leaders, and the totalitarian merging of all of our institutions into a single entity called Dei.
And they're going to vote in favor of all of that because abortion. That's it. Nothing more important in the world than abortion.
Or maybe I should say, "nothing in the world that tests better in Democrat polls than abortion."
They will applaud lockdowns and traumatize the children, but abortion rights are a hill they will die on, and the best they have to campaign on going into the midterms.
I don't think I can find any real common ground with this. It just disgusts me.
Anthony, I think millions of Americans feel the way you do. Your frustration is palpable. People will vote on pocketbook issues too, not abortion, especially those living paycheck to paycheck. Small businesses are moving to the right because of the dramatic impact Biden has had on their income. (These aren't businesses making millions; they are the types of businesses that make a community a community.) The left really does hate small, independent business owners and loves Amazon because it's centralized. People are getting sick of DIE (DEI) as well. Funny thing, I'm a registered democrat, and they've lost me. The Supreme Court made the correct decision and any real judge knows it. The dems fear states' rights. That is what the republicans need to run on. Have hope and vote red.
The article is really lazy and uses abortion rights (what use to be called choice) as a way to show disdain for Republicans and the virtuous nature of Democrats. Just take a look at some of the lines below and the overall tone of the article that is so clearly a service announcement for the Democratic party.
1. “Everybody in America thinks Kansas is so conservative, but Kansas is pretty staunchly anti-government,” Alie Scholes, an emergency medicine doctor, tells me. (Interpretation: Kansas isn't really conservative we're open minded because we believe in abortion. Do you think Alie is a registered Democrat? Hmmmm)
2. “My entire street is all registered Republicans, except for us, and they all had ‘Vote No’ signs out in their yards.” (Interpretation: See how virtuous I am, the lone oppressed Democrat standing up against tyranny.)
3. Back then, he was a “loyal Republican...I will not vote for any Republican that backs Trump or MAGA,” Mike says. (Interpretation: This is Nancy's real point, avoid Trump (and Republicans in general) no matter the cost. You too can switch your registration.)
4. She says she was an independent until the abortion vote, when she switched her registration to Democratic. “I’ve never had a sign in my front yard ever—we’re not the type to do that,” she says. “We did have a sign up for this.” They both voted no. (Interpretation: You too can become a Democrat and be part of the virtuous party.)
It could have been such a good piece but it didn't address the real questions, what was it about the bill that didn't sit right with those who voted no? What was it about the bill that sat right with people who voted yes?
The article doesn't cut the mustard for Common Sense; it's a veiled PSA.
Very well articulated. Bari, Nellie, please read this critique.
I have always defended Common Sense when it was criticized about author and article selection. I can’t defend this choice. The article was disrespectful of a critical issue by approaching it with such obvious bias. I wanted an objective take on what happened in Kansas because it is important and this piece was so far from objective that I am unable to mount a defense of it.
Sad sigh.
Patriot D, thanks! I really appreciate Bari's work and I'm even a paid subscriber. Sometimes I agree and sometimes I disagree with particular perspectives, but I rarely doubt the journalism. This piece from Nellie got away from them. Great teachable moment. Maybe there can be another article with a more robust perspective? Bring in another journalist?
You nailed what I had a vague sense of. This article wasn't informative or insightful - its only purpose is to model "correct" behavior of moving towards the Democratic Left Because Abortion.
I'm worried about a devastated economy, a world at war, an incompetent USA, assaults on our rights, federal power out of control, overt criminality among our leaders, and the totalitarian merging of all of our institutions into a single entity called Dei.
And they're going to vote in favor of all of that because abortion. That's it. Nothing more important in the world than abortion.
Or maybe I should say, "nothing in the world that tests better in Democrat polls than abortion."
They will applaud lockdowns and traumatize the children, but abortion rights are a hill they will die on, and the best they have to campaign on going into the midterms.
I don't think I can find any real common ground with this. It just disgusts me.
Anthony, I think millions of Americans feel the way you do. Your frustration is palpable. People will vote on pocketbook issues too, not abortion, especially those living paycheck to paycheck. Small businesses are moving to the right because of the dramatic impact Biden has had on their income. (These aren't businesses making millions; they are the types of businesses that make a community a community.) The left really does hate small, independent business owners and loves Amazon because it's centralized. People are getting sick of DIE (DEI) as well. Funny thing, I'm a registered democrat, and they've lost me. The Supreme Court made the correct decision and any real judge knows it. The dems fear states' rights. That is what the republicans need to run on. Have hope and vote red.
Thanks. I've been looking for a meaningful way to get involved that isn't just online comments boards.
Yes, or at very least confirmation bias.
Jen, great point. "Or at the very least confirmation bias."