Networks Ignore Crushing of Marriage Vote in Massachusetts
On a pivotal social issue, the people will have no voice in the People's Republic of
The Massachusetts Legislature, meeting as a Constitutional Convention, permitted no debate yesterday and then quickly voted to deny the public the right to decide whether same-sex couples should be permitted to “marry” in the state.
What should have been a national news story was ignored last night by CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News, and this morning by Good Morning America, the Early Show and the Today Show. Only ABC World News Tonight (25 seconds) covered this story.
Cable coverage was better: Fox News Channel devoted 24 seconds on Special Report with Brit Hume. CNN spent 25 seconds on Lou Dobbs Tonight, 42 seconds on The Situation Room, and 15 seconds on Anderson Cooper 360.
Among the print media, The New York Times ran 17 paragraphs on page A-13 to lead the National Report section, the Los Angeles Times ran a long, balanced piece, and the local
More than 170,000
The amendment, which was opposed by
A candidate for the
Gay Marriage Safe in Massachusetts: Vote to Redefine Marriage as a
Likewise, a New York Times article by Pam Belluck quoted only one pro-family spokesman about political strategy, but offered vivid, values-laden quotes from two legislators who voted against the amendment, from Gov. Patrick, and a gay rights activist.
Here's an excerpt from the Times:
“Senator Gale D. Candaras, a Democrat, voted against the amendment Thursday, although she had supported it as a state representative in January. Ms. Candaras said her vote reflected constituent views in her larger, more progressive Senate district and her fear of a vicious referendum campaign. Most moving, she said, were older constituents who had changed their views after meeting gay men and lesbians. One woman had 'asked me to put it on the ballot for a vote, but since then a lovely couple moved in,' Ms. Candaras said. 'She said, “They help me with my lawn, and if there can't be marriage in
Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute, the prime force behind the proposed amendment, was quoted only about his questioning of the means by which the Governor managed to change enough votes to defeat the measure.
The quotes fit an ongoing pattern of media coverage, in which liberal, pro-homosexual activists often are allowed to express heartfelt sentiments while conservative spokespeople get to comment only on strategy or technical details.
Robert Knight is director of the Culture and Media Institute, a division of the
