Bias at Good Morning America the Media Research Center
In 17 Minutes of Blago Coverage, ABC Skips Fact He's a Democrat
On Monday's Good Morning America, the ABC morning show featured four segments on scandal-ridden Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich. And over the course of 17 minutes and 38 seconds, not one host or reporter mentioned his party affiliation. Co-host Diane Sawyer interviewed Blagojevich for two segments and simply referred to him as the Governor or Governor Blagojevich.
(Story Continues below)
Back in 2004 when Bush won his second election voter turn out grew by 20 million while this years election voter turnout only grew by 4 million (see Obama raised a record $452.8 million vs McCain at $204.4 million and some other interesting facts to put all in balanced perspective.) So keep that in mind as you read this article.
ABC vs. ABC: Excited Over Obama Inaugural; Not So Much With Bush
Proving that four years can make quite a difference, ABC's Good Morning America featured an excited, hyperbolic open for the show's special edition on the inauguration of Barack Obama. As the program began last Tuesday, an ABC announcer trumpeted: "This morning, a new dawn: Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. A new face from a new generation. Driven by an audacity to hope."
So, how did ABC begin Good Morning America on January 20, 2005, the day George W. Bush was sworn in for a second term? A voice simply announced: "This is a special edition of 'Good Morning America.' The second inauguration of George W. Bush." That's it. In contrast, the Obama open heaped generous praise on the new Democratic President: "The nation's capital, filled to capacity. A journey of millions, fueled by hope and the shared dreams of a renewed America," the unidentified person exclaimed.
[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Monday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]
Cutting in clips of Obama speeches, the announcer continued, "And a call to overcome challenges not seen in generations...Now, live, a special edition of 'Good Morning America' from Washington D.C., the inauguration of Barack Obama." The best thing that can be said about the brief 2005 open is this: GMA followed the old admonition that many mothers give their children. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
For more on the January 20 GMA open, see a January 21 CyberAlert posting, with video: www.mrc.org
A transcript of the two contrasting show opens follows:
January 20, 2005:
ABC ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of 'Good Morning America.' The second inauguration of George W. Bush. Live from the Library of Congress, in Washington D.C., Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and Peter Jennings.
January 20, 2009:
ABC ANNOUNCER: This morning, a new dawn: Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. A new face from a new generation. Driven by an audacity to hope. PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA: They said this day would never come.
ANNOUNCER: It has. It's here.
OBAMA: Change has come to America.
ANNOUNCER: The nation's capital, filled to capacity. A journey of millions, fueled by hope and the shared dreams of a renewed America.
OBAMA: Yes we can.
ANNOUNCER: And a call to overcome challenges not seen in generations.
OBAMA: I stand here as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure. That the dreams of our founders will live on in our time.
ANNOUNCER: Now, live, a special edition of "Good Morning America" from Washington D.C., the inauguration of Barack Obama."
ABC Spins New Empire State Senator as 'Conservative Democrat'
On Friday's Good Morning America, reporter John Berman spun U.S. Representative Kristen Gillibrand, the soon-to-be announced Senator from New York, as a "conservative Democrat." Although she is only beginning her second term in the House, Gillibrand has been endorsed by the aggressively pro-abortion group NARAL: www.prochoiceamerica.org
According to the New York Observer, she supports gay marriage.
Additionally, the American Conservative Union (ACU) ranked her voting record as a meager eight: www.acuratings.org
During the segment, Berman explained that the issue of gun rights prompted the label: "Now, the Gillibrand pick is not without controversy itself. She is a conservative Democrat, favoring gun rights. And the pick has upset some more liberal Democrats." Gillibrand also opposed the TARP bailout legislation.
Over on the Today show, reporter David Gregory used similar language: "She's demonstrated that she can win as a conservative Democrat, in more conservative part of the state." So, while a few issues may make Gillibrand a moderate Democrat for the state of New York, it seems like a stretch for Gregory, Berman or other reporters to label the new Senator a "conservative Democrat."
[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Friday on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]
A transcript of the January 23 GMA segment, which aired at 7:02am:
ROBERTS: But we begin with Caroline Kennedy. Before she sought the Senate seat, she was known as an extremely private, private citizen. This morning, she has returned to that role, declining to reveal the exact reason she withdrew her name. Our John Berman has the latest for us. Good morning, John.
JOHN BERMAN: Good morning, Robin. Well, we now know the identity of the next senator from New York. 42-year-old Kirsten Gillibrand. She's a congresswoman, the mother of two from upstate. What is still unknown, was she still Governor David Paterson's first choice? It's just one of the questions in the middle of the swirling, angry debate, over what really happened with Caroline Kennedy. What exactly would you call the behind the scenes, back and forth between the camps for Caroline Kennedy and New York governor, David Paterson?
FRED DICKER (NY Post): A debacle. And embarrassment, fiasco.
BERMAN: A fiasco, debacle or just plain ugly fight. Round one, Caroline Kennedy says she bowed out for personal reasons. What reasons? In the Paterson corner, sources are whispering financial concerns over taxes or nannies. There are also rumors of marital issues. Not so, says the Kennedy corner. Not taxes. Not nannies. Not marriage. But a very private family matter that came to light only this week, that made her decide to be at home, instead of in the Senate. Does that clear things up?
DICKER: Why she couldn't be more candid. If she had this personal problem, why did she get in to begin with? I mean, that's one of the questions to begin with. Why didn't the governor ask her about this a month ago?
BERMAN: Round two, was she Paterson's first choice? From Paterson's corner, whispers that he had no intention of picking her. That he was leaning in another direction and Kennedy knew it.
DICKER: It may be that she got nervous, fearing that she was going to be humiliated by being turned down. And then, rushed to a decision to get out.
BERMAN: But Kennedy's people say she was the first choice. One adviser says the two staffs were already planning the public announcement together. And that Paterson even called Kennedy Monday, to see if she was free Saturday for an announcement. You can feel the bruised feelings in this statement from a Kennedy aide. "Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name for consideration from the United States Senate for personal reasons. Any statements to the contrary are false. This kind of mud slinging damages the process and all those involved." Now, the Gillibrand pick is not without controversy itself. She is a conservative Democrat, favoring gun rights. And the pick has upset some more liberal Democrats. Even then, though, nothing could be as controversial as the six-week process to get here. Robin?"
