Don't you love the way mainstream media is jumping on the Wendy Davis bandwagon now after they completely ignored the groundswell of support and attention that drove her filibuster to dominance on social media? Were they asleep at the wheel or did they intentionally ignore the story until they were forced to say something? What a collective editorial failure that was.
Now, of course, they're falling all over themselves to get interviews with her, and ABC's Jeff Zeleny was one of the lucky ones who scored and got a few minutes with her. Zeleny zeroed in on Governor Perry's nasty personal attack on her earlier this week, and Davis hit it for a home run:
ZELENY: The front page of the "Ft. Worth Star-Telegram" is featuring the back-and-forth with Governor Perry and you. He has made this very personal against you.
GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: She was the daughter of a single woman. She was a teenage mother herself. It's just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example.
ZELENY: Is that offensive?
DAVIS: You know, what's offensive to me is that he's made this very personal to Texans overall. He's awfully fond of talking the talk of small government, but this is big government intrusion, and it's very unfortunate and sad that people's personal health and safety are at risk for his political purposes.
She nailed that right on the head. In fact, 80 percent of Texans opposed any abortion legislation during the special session and 63 percent think Texas has enough legislation about abortion on the books. For a state that's is a dark red shade at the moment, those are astounding numbers.
True conservatives should oppose more legislation. One cannot be for small government and support very big government on this issue, and many Texans polled felt that lawmakers should not get between a woman and her doctor. Indeed, Davis is right. Rick Perry's remarks should offend any Texan, whether Republican or Democrat, who objects to government making medical decisions on behalf of women.
If you were watching This Week, you at least had a taste of the counterargument to the Old White Men in Texas Legislating Ladies' Lady Parts. But if you were watching Fox News, you won't know that the poll I just cited even exists, much less what it says, because Fox completely ignored its existence while tossing out some red meat for the base to gnaw on.
Governor Perry has called another special session to begin on July 1st. SB 5 will be placed back on the agenda, and it's likely it will pass and the governor will sign it into law. But no one will forget Wendy Davis and how she stood for women last week, especially when it's time to vote.
