The Abortion Issue - Essay Example

The paper will use Rank Persuasion Model to analyze the different positions taken by the two media. According to Rank’s Persuasion Mode, the persuaders on the two-position take the schemas of intensifying and downplay. (Hitchcock, David, and Bart, 15) In the January 20, 2014 article written by Jeremy W. Peters, though the headline of the paper suggests that “Both sides of the abortion issue expressed their views at the last year’s March for Life in Washington”, the emphasis has been laid on Pro-Life. The expression presented is that “there will be a demonstration of the annual anti-abortion, and should the demonstrators need a lift after the demonstration, then they may hope on the free shuttle that would be provided by the republican. From these preceding connotations my The New York Times columnist, clearly, it would be said that the writer is using intensify. Emphasis is created on how supporters of abortion are not just getting support from significant parties like Republicans, but also with the benefits presented.

In the subsequent paragraph, the writer makes statements that create an intensity in the weaknesses of the position presented by Jill Cowan of the Los Angeles Times. According to the commentary by Jill Cowan, the column is presented with the Headline: “State allows Hoag Hospital to refuse elective abortion”. Jill notes that Hoag Hospital had successfully managed to impose the ban on abortion considering that they had made a partnership with the Catholic healthcare providers, and considering that they must also appreciate the demands of the State, they will have no option but to refer their clients to other places where they can get abortion services. In relation to what was presented by The New York Times, it sounds clear that the Los Angeles Times is presenting some issue that evidently does not appreciate the health of the mother. New York Times has tried to intensify the weakness of the position taken by the Los Angeles Times in this case. According to the theory of Rank’s Model, the persuader premises their ideas on intensifying their strong position, and at the same time, intensifying the weak side of the other party. (Rutledge, Kay Ellen, 17) In this case, the point of reference is the New York Times, which has taken a pro-life position and as such, demystifies the position of the Los Angeles Times, whose position is pro-choice.

Rank Model presents that there is a need to downplay the weaknesses of the individual has. (Rutledge, Kay Ellen, 18) In the next paragraph presented by Jeremy in New York Times, Reine Priebus, the chairman of the Republican party is quoted saying that they thought that their ideas were fitting their party member. At this point, the writer has tried to downplay the weakness and flow that the argument of the Republican Chairman presents. The paper does not present the evident weakness which the Democratic party stands for, such as the disregard for women’s health. This weak position taken by the New York Times is a strong position that The Los Angeles Times has taken and yet it is downplayed. According to Jill of Los Angeles Times, in one of his paragraphs, he points that the attorney general’s office found out that the Hospital was sincere about their partnership with the catholic health providers, and as such would promise to refer women to other places when they needed an abortion. According to the writings of Jill, the Los Angeles, strongest position in this matter is the fact that the Hospital recognizes that abortion is the right of the mothers who have chosen to take that direction and therefore the Hospital will help them with refer, the partnership with Catholic health providers notwithstanding.

Rank Model further suggests that individuals making persuasion needs to downplay the strongest position of the opponent. (Hitchcock, David, and Bart, 15) This cycle continues over and over. The two media have taken divergent positions on the matter of abortion. Though these positions are not pronounced, that should be expected of the News writers. Amidst their commentary, one is able to pick their positions. Further readings of The New York Times reveal that the subject of abortion is made an election issue and the Republicans would want to use it to dislodge the Democrats, and yet the fact that the Democrats view abortion as a health issue upon which election should not be based.