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Transcript/ScriptS SUPREME COURT ABORTION TV
HEADLINE: Biden Blasts US Supreme Court’s Draft Opinion on Abortion
TEASER: High court may overturn Roe v. Wade, landmark ruling that legalized abortion in US, and leave decision to state legislators
PUBLISHED AT: 05/03/2022 at 1012p
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
CONTRIBUTOR: Katherine Gypson
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Saqib Ul Islam
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP, AP, Reuters,
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:11
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES: Radio track included.))
((INTRO: ))
[[ U.S. President Joe Biden blasted a draft opinion indicating the Supreme Court is in favor of striking down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The issue is set to galvanize voters ahead of the November congressional elections. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report. ]]
((NARRATOR))
Nothing has been decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, but already President Joe Biden is calling it “radical.”
((President Joe Biden))
"It concerns me a great deal that we're going to, after 50 years, decide a woman does not have a right to choose.// cut to// It would mean that every other decision relating to the notion of privacy is thrown into question."
((NARRATOR))
According to a leaked draft opinion reported first by Politico, the Supreme Court may in a few months overturn Roe v. Wade — a ruling that has legalized abortion for almost 50 years — and leave the decision to state legislators.
((Radio track: Jessica Waters, a professor specializing in reproductive rights law at American University, via Skype))
((Jessica Waters, American University)) ((Skype))
“Whether you can obtain an abortion as a woman in your home state will depend completely on where you live. We estimate that at the time this decision goes into effect, roughly 26 to 28 states will be prepared to ban abortion almost immediately.”
The U.S. is one of about 65 countries that have legalized or decriminalized abortion on request.
((NARRATOR))
Advocates say access to reproductive health care, including abortion, is key to women participating fully in society. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, more than 36 million women may be impacted.
((Radio track: Laura Meyers, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, via Skype))
((Laura Meyers, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington)) ((Skype))
“It will disproportionately affect poor women. Women with resources will find a way to get on a plane to go somewhere else. It is poor women who will bear the brunt of this cruelty.”
((NARRATOR))
Striking down abortion’s legal protection has been a longtime goal for conservatives. But Republican leaders are decrying the leak of the justices' highly secretive deliberation process.
((Mitch McConnell, Republican Senate Minority Leader))
“Now we have within the court itself someone else threatening the independence of the court."
((NARRATOR))
News of the leak has galvanized both sides and is set to motivate voters in the November midterm elections.
[[Radio track: Abortion rights supporters and opponents rallied at the Supreme Court.]]
((Caroline Smith, Abortion Rights Opponent))
“There's nothing in the Constitution that should permit for killing of unborn or born children.”
((Sophia Wolf, Abortion Rights Supporter))
“If Roe v. Wade is overturned, I think that many women will die.”
((NARRATOR))
Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans favor abortions being legal in most or all cases.
((Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, Washington.))
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