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PHILADELPHIA, April 12, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – If the murder trial of Kermit Gosnell generated little media coverage, Friday's “tweetfest” inspired some of the most distinguished people in Washington, D.C. to speak out – including a Senator, two Congressmen, and a former governor of Florida with presidential aspirations.

“The major media have practiced what can only be called a blackout on this story,” said former U.S. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

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“How is it that a trial involving a man who has allegedly taken the lives of numerous innocent children—many of whom had been born into good health, and all of whom are entitled to the same blessings of this life as you and I—is being seen as a 'local news story' at best?” asked DeMint, who is now president of the Heritage Foundation.

He was referring to the response of reporter Sarah Kliff, who told critics earlier in the day, “I cover policy for The Washington Post, not local crime.”

“I agree with @kirstenpowers10. Media’s forgotten what belongs on page 1,” wrote Jeb Bush, the scion of Bush-41 and brother of Bush-43, linking her USA Today op-ed.

The former governor has hinted that he would like to be the third Bush to occupy the White House. Securing social conservatives on abortion would help him overcome his weakness on immigration and lingering “Bush fatigue.”

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Congressman Louis Gohmert, R-TX, gave a speech on the House floor, presenting the Gosnell story as though it were about the inhumane abortion of puppies to underscore the real story's barbarity and the media's incongruous response.

One of his former colleagues also weighed in.

“One of the most gruesome stories of human rights abuse in our country is being ignored by the mainstream media,” wrote former Congressman Allen West.

The newspapers of record such as The Washington Post and the New York Times opted not to cover the story despite details of “infant beheadings,” “severed baby feet in jars,” and a “child screaming after it was delivered alive” because “none of the facts surrounding this story fit the liberal narrative.”

West narrowly lost his Florida seat in an election he says may have been marked by voter fraud.

He concluded, “We the People still have the power to get the truth out there.”

Pro-life activists on Twitter seemed ready to take up West's charge.

Ryan Bomberger's Radiance Foundation tweeted that the Associated Press, New York Times, and other mainstream media outlets “have rendered themselves useless in their role to inform the public. We'll do their jobs.”

Bryan Kemper of Stand True Ministries took another approach, gently goading reluctant media to cover the trial.

“Hey @GeraldoRivera, @NancyGraceHLN, @larrykingoffici don't get scooped by @andersoncooper talk about #Gosnell,” he wrote.

They will have DeMint's support. “It’s time for us to take action,” he wrote. “I urge you to take to social media—take to whatever outlet at your disposal—to call attention to these horrific crimes and stand up for those who couldn’t defend themselves.”

“Thankfully, the mainstream media are not the only source of news anymore, and citizens can take to social media to raise awareness with their neighbors, family, and friends,” DeMint said.

Friday's “tweetfest” generated more than 100,000 messages in less than 12 hours.