Associated Press political writer Bob Lewis wrote in an article titled “Democrat Northam, Republican Jackson Draw Sharp Contrasts in Va. Lieutenant Governor Debate” that “lieutenant governor candidates … clashed Tuesday [Sept. 24] over health care, how to care for the dangerously mentally ill and women’s access to reproductive health services.”
Alveda King, director of African-American Outreach for Priests for Life, says the AP should print corrections, as the report includes fallacies.
“If media members print distortions, half-truths or lies, they are duty-bound to print corrections. Associated Press reporter Bob Lewis has printed a lie,” she explains.
A brief Google search would reveal that the personhood bill’s summary declares any rights granted to an unborn child are “subject only to the laws and Constitutions of Virginia and the United States, precedents of the United States Supreme Court, and provisions to the contrary in the statutes of the Commonwealth.”
Therefore, the bill is restricted by Roe v. Wade and every subsequent abortion decision by the Supreme Court. In other words, it would prohibit no abortions. Missouri has had almost identical language in its state code for years—language that has been upheld in court and has barred zero abortions.
“Obviously Mr. Lewis and perhaps millions of Americans don’t understand the concept of ‘personhood’ that upholds the constitutional mantra that all men [people] are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” King argues. “Now that the door is open on the discussion of unalienable [civil] rights, let’s demand the basic and intrinsic civil right of life for all persons, born and preborn.
“On the wings of 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act enacted July 2, 1964, are the cries of the aborted babies. While the landmark legislation outlawed major forms of racial, ethnic, national, religious, minority and female discrimination, people in the womb were left out.”
King concludes, “Mr. Lewis’ misleading story must be corrected immediately—anything less would mean that the Associated Press no longer values the truth.”
