'Synchro Message' Forms as Democrats Seek to Paint GOP as Extremists with SOTU Guests

Reproductive rights appear to be the focus of a message Democrats will deliver in President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday.

Among those invited to attend by Democrats is Elizabeth Carr, the first person born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the US who will be invited by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia.

And First Lady Jill Biden had invited Kate Cox, who was denied an abortion in her home state of Texas.

“On Sunday, the President and First Lady spoke with Kate Cox, who was forced to go to court to seek permission for the care she needed for a life-threatening, unviable pregnancy,” the secretary announced White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in January. “They thanked her for her courage in sharing her story and speaking out about the impact of the extreme abortion ban in Texas.”

President Biden will deliver his annual State of the Union address this week. Several Democrats are expected to bring IVF-related guests, while some Republicans are likely to bring guests related to border security. @MacFarlaneNews reports pic.twitter.com/kcQERlTDPL

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 4, 2024

“President Biden and Democrats are putting abortion issues at the center of the 2024 presidential campaign,” CBS News reported. “They are painting Republicans as extremists on the issue and pointing to former President Donald Trump's appointment of three of the five conservative justices who ultimately voted to overturn Roe.

BREAKING: Kate Cox, who was forced to leave Texas to deal with the horror and heartbreak of an unviable pregnancy, has accepted First Lady Jill Biden's invitation to be a guest at the address of the State of the Union pic.twitter.com/y6tt1vh1mS

— Mr. Earl Stephens (@EarlOfEnough) January 24, 2024

“Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) invited Kayla Smith, a resident of central Washington, as one of her guests. According to Murray's office, Smith learned at 19 weeks pregnant that the fetus “had serious and fatal fetal abnormalities” while living in Idaho in 2022, The Hill. reported.

Smith couldn't get an abortion because of Idaho's ban and went to Seattle for the procedure.

“I am honored to have had the opportunity to sit next to Senator Murray at the State of the Union address and continue to share not only my story, but the stories of so many other women who have unfortunately been forced to flee their home state for abortion care,” Smith said.

And Carr, born through IVF in 1981, will be Kaine's guest.

Former IVF patients, fertility doctors and families who have grown up with IVF are increasingly being invited by congressional Democrats to Thursday's State of the Union address.

Forming a sync message

— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) March 4, 2024

We are very excited to share that our clients, Dr. Karsan and Dr. Dennard, will attend the State of the Union this Thursday, as guests of the congresswoman. @LizziePFletcher i @RepColinAllredrespectively.

— Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) March 4, 2024

“I am humbled and honored to be able to attend the State of the Union address with Senator Kaine as a representative of how far IVF technology has come in this country, and not just as the first IVF baby of this country, but also as someone who deeply understands how many people in vitro have helped build the family of their dreams,” he said in a statement.

Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has co-sponsored the Family Building Access Act, aimed at protecting access to IVF.

Delighted that my guest at POTUS' State of the Union address is Elizabeth Carr, the first person born via IVF in the US (right here in Norfolk, VA).

As IVF comes under threat from GOP extremists, Elizabeth's story is a beacon of hope; sharing it is essential.

— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) March 5, 2024

Meanwhile, Republicans will send their own message on important issues.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has invited Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, parents of reporter Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter imprisoned in Russia for nearly a year.

“Other members of Congress are bringing relatives of US hostages to Gaza,” the Daily Mail reported. “In all, 17 relatives of Americans imprisoned or killed by Hamas terrorist will be in the House chamber on Thursday night,” The Times of Israel reported.

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida, where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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