Videos Discuss Presidential Election, Fla. Ballot Measure, Human Trafficking

October 19, 2012 — Our weekly video roundup includes a unique assortment of Web videos hand-picked by our editors. This week, we spotlight segments about reproductive health issues in the election, including the presidential race and a ballot measure before Florida voters. We also feature a report on human trafficking in the Philippines.

Women's health advocate Sandra Fluke explained how Amendment 6, a ballot measure before Florida voters next month, could interfere with women's medical decisions and their access to health care services (Vote No on Amendment 6, 10/11).



Both presidential campaigns have stepped up their focus on female voters, whom they see as crucial to tilting the election in their favor. Investigative journalist Carl Bernstein and the Washington Post's Nia-Malika Henderson discussed the role of women's issues, including abortion and contraception, in the election (Jansing, "Jansing & Co.," MSNBC, 10/18).



Cecile Richards of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund responded to comments on women's health issues in the vice presidential debate last week, which she said helped bring the candidates' positions "out in the open" (O'Donnell, "The Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 10/11).



National Organization for Women President Terry O'Neill spoke with MSNBC's Ed Schultz about the vice presidential debate and the ways the election could affect women's reproductive rights (Schultz, "The Ed Show," MSNBC, 10/12).



On "The Posner Show" on Bloggingheads, Sarah Posner of Religion Dispatches spoke with Grant Gallicho of Commonweal about Catholics and the presidential election. They discussed the latest polls, whether a bloc of "Catholic voters" actually exists and remarks about abortion by the vice presidential candidates -- both Catholics -- in their recent debate (Posner, "The Posner Show," Bloggingheads, 10/15).



"NewsHour" special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro travelled to the Philippines to profile an organization, the Visayan Forum Foundation, that rescues girls from trafficking, provides psychotherapy and job training, and reunites them with their families when possible (De Sam Lazaro, "NewsHour," PBS, 10/17).