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Blackout: The Gosnell Grand Jury Report the Media Does Not Want You to Read
This publication the antidote to the persistent media avoidance of both the Grand Jury report and the trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell. When Jonah Goldberg says that "this [Grand Jury] report struck me as equal to some of the greatest reportorial journalism I have ever seen written," he is not only complimenting District Attorney R. Seth Williams and his team, he is also condemning those in the mainstream media who choose to avoid reporting to the American people what was happening at 3801-05 Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia. Goldberg praises the DA for putting "forward a truly compelling and thoroughly horrifying narrative about how a figurative butcher charged his patients the way a literal butcher would: by the pound."
- GenresNonfictionTrue Crime
203 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2013
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82 people want to read
About the author
Jonah Goldberg
23 books362 followersJonah Jacob Goldberg is an American conservative syndicated columnist and author. Goldberg is known for his contributions on politics and culture to National Review Online, where he is the editor-at-large. He is the author of Liberal Fascism, which reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 31, 2018
Pretty Horrifying
This is simply the Grand Jury's report on their findings in the hideous case of Kermit Gosnell, with an introduction by Jonah Goldberg suggesting he did not understand at all what he read in it. While I'm positive my hair got a little whiter reading this report, I didn't come away with the impression Goldberg seemed to have formed, that Gosnell is the reason abortion is fundamentally wrong and that large swathes of the American public, the people he contemptuously dismisses as "the feminists" and "the liberals" are to blame for this nightmare. He may not realize that Gosnell and his untrained abortion providers are serious outliers in the current-day medical field. He may not realize that women and viable babies used to die every day in this country, under conditions like those found at Gosnell's clinic, because competent MDs working within the law were not allowed to do abortions. He also makes zero mention of the fact that some of the patients injured by Gosnell & Co. went to his filthy, dangerous clinic because they were scared off by the pro-life protesters harassing patients at the clean, safe Planned Parenthood clinics around the state. The question here is how this particular doctor went so far out of bounds and why nobody -- not even the pro-life types -- even tried to stop him despite numerous complaints over the years. So many questions still to answer here. I found the Grand Jury's report in itself bracingly realistic, and their recommendations pretty sensible, although I would have made a few more suggestions to deal with the systemic breakdown that led to this debacle. Read this one if you dare. It's not for the weak of stomach but a very important lesson in where and how things break down.
This is simply the Grand Jury's report on their findings in the hideous case of Kermit Gosnell, with an introduction by Jonah Goldberg suggesting he did not understand at all what he read in it. While I'm positive my hair got a little whiter reading this report, I didn't come away with the impression Goldberg seemed to have formed, that Gosnell is the reason abortion is fundamentally wrong and that large swathes of the American public, the people he contemptuously dismisses as "the feminists" and "the liberals" are to blame for this nightmare. He may not realize that Gosnell and his untrained abortion providers are serious outliers in the current-day medical field. He may not realize that women and viable babies used to die every day in this country, under conditions like those found at Gosnell's clinic, because competent MDs working within the law were not allowed to do abortions. He also makes zero mention of the fact that some of the patients injured by Gosnell & Co. went to his filthy, dangerous clinic because they were scared off by the pro-life protesters harassing patients at the clean, safe Planned Parenthood clinics around the state. The question here is how this particular doctor went so far out of bounds and why nobody -- not even the pro-life types -- even tried to stop him despite numerous complaints over the years. So many questions still to answer here. I found the Grand Jury's report in itself bracingly realistic, and their recommendations pretty sensible, although I would have made a few more suggestions to deal with the systemic breakdown that led to this debacle. Read this one if you dare. It's not for the weak of stomach but a very important lesson in where and how things break down.
June 24, 2017
This isn't a book I necessarily wanted to read, but one that I felt I ~ and every other adult citizen of this country ~ should read. It's our duty as citizens to be informed about events in our country, and most especially about the manner and reasons by which a house of horrors, such as was operated by Kermit Gosnell, did so for several decades.
It's also important for us to learn of abuses of our fellow citizens by anyone, be they ordinary fellow citizens, citizens posing as professional, licenced healthcare personnel, or those in authority over said "posers."
It is also our duty as citizens to study the laws of our land, and the manner in which they're employed; such as, in this case, a law that was used by the state of Pennsylvania's Department of Health for both action and inaction, depending upon their current mood (or rather their current level of concern regarding prosecution/persecution).
It's our duty to learn of such things, so that we might make corrections.
For these purposes, I found this volume most illuminating.
It's also important for us to learn of abuses of our fellow citizens by anyone, be they ordinary fellow citizens, citizens posing as professional, licenced healthcare personnel, or those in authority over said "posers."
It is also our duty as citizens to study the laws of our land, and the manner in which they're employed; such as, in this case, a law that was used by the state of Pennsylvania's Department of Health for both action and inaction, depending upon their current mood (or rather their current level of concern regarding prosecution/persecution).
It's our duty to learn of such things, so that we might make corrections.
For these purposes, I found this volume most illuminating.
October 26, 2018
Frightening true story of neglect of duty and deliberate crimes
The calm and relentless cruel treatment of poor innocent women by a lazy, greedy man over decades is exposed in plain horrible detail. This is the embodiment of Hannah Arendt's famous quote "the banality of evil." Depending on the inaction by the city's health department, the medical licensing boards and even other hospitals, Cornell preyed on the vulnerable to enrich himself. He knowingly murdered babies and maimed women in a farce of a "clinic" for decades. That few stepped forward over the years to accuse him and report his conditions means the city and state government s need to take stock of procedures and punish those responsible. Even though nine years have passed, the impact of reading this report is immense. This story must be told and the discussion about how to prevent such atrocity from happening again needs to take place. A must read for anyone who respects the truth.
The calm and relentless cruel treatment of poor innocent women by a lazy, greedy man over decades is exposed in plain horrible detail. This is the embodiment of Hannah Arendt's famous quote "the banality of evil." Depending on the inaction by the city's health department, the medical licensing boards and even other hospitals, Cornell preyed on the vulnerable to enrich himself. He knowingly murdered babies and maimed women in a farce of a "clinic" for decades. That few stepped forward over the years to accuse him and report his conditions means the city and state government s need to take stock of procedures and punish those responsible. Even though nine years have passed, the impact of reading this report is immense. This story must be told and the discussion about how to prevent such atrocity from happening again needs to take place. A must read for anyone who respects the truth.
May 26, 2019
Grand Jury Report Well Written
Heavy, heavy reading. So much heartbreaking, emotionally difficult to read descriptions. Very readable, though. I appreciate the Grand Jury Report. Shocking, life-changing.
Those poor women who were permanently scarred, maimed, or killed suffered so needlessly. And the truly innocent of all-- those poor babies that were born only to be tortured and brutally murdered...I have no words.
Women might have the legal right to kill their babies, but they will never have the moral right.
At least, the millions and millions of murdered babies are home with the Lord. And He is faithful and just to forgive those who come to Him and confess. Jesus Christ is our High Priest. Won't you trust Him today?
Heavy, heavy reading. So much heartbreaking, emotionally difficult to read descriptions. Very readable, though. I appreciate the Grand Jury Report. Shocking, life-changing.
Those poor women who were permanently scarred, maimed, or killed suffered so needlessly. And the truly innocent of all-- those poor babies that were born only to be tortured and brutally murdered...I have no words.
Women might have the legal right to kill their babies, but they will never have the moral right.
At least, the millions and millions of murdered babies are home with the Lord. And He is faithful and just to forgive those who come to Him and confess. Jesus Christ is our High Priest. Won't you trust Him today?
October 27, 2018
Informative
This is a detailed account of the Grand Jury’s report on the misdeeds of Kermit Gosnell. An important read. Heart wrenching.
This is a detailed account of the Grand Jury’s report on the misdeeds of Kermit Gosnell. An important read. Heart wrenching.
November 22, 2020
It is one of the most difficult books I have read. Five stars for brutal honesty.
February 12, 2019
Well-written book. Horrible crimes by the doctor and the bureaucracy that taxpayers expect to monitor doctors.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews