ABC Ignores Democratic Affiliation of San Diego Mayor Accused of Sexual Harrassment
For the third time in a week, ABC's Good Morning America
failed to identify a politician involved in sex scandal as a Democrat.
Amy Robach reported on Friday that "accusations of sexual harassment
have been swirling around Mayor Bob Filner for weeks" and that the San
Diego politician "apologized for what he called inappropriate behavior",
but didn't include his party ID.
By contrast, Gayle King explicitly mentioned Filner's political affiliation on Friday's CBS This Morning: "The Democrat spent ten terms in Congress before becoming mayor less than a year ago. "
Robach
also noted during her news brief that "the mayor of San Diego now says
he needs help after admitting he's been disrespectful to women who work
for him and even intimidating them. But he's not stepping down." She
didn't include clips of Filner's statement where he acknowledged his
misconduct, something that CBS This Morning also included in their coverage.
The ABC morning show previously avoided mentioning former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's Democratic affiliation as they reported on his run for New York City comptroller on Monday. More egregiously, correspondent Claire Shipman didn't include this detail on Tuesday's Good Morning America
as she reported on Spitzer's possible return to political office, but
identified South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford as a Republican.
Earlier in 2013, the MRC's Geoff Dickens documented the Big Three's
overall double standard on clearly identifying Republicans caught in
political scandals, but failing to do the same for Democrats.
[Update, Friday, 4:30 pm Eastern: An on-screen graphic during ABC's news brief incorrectly displayed a picture of former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, a Republican, instead of current Mayor Filner (see graphic at right).]
The transcripts for Amy Robach's news brief from Friday's Good Morning
America on ABC and Gayle King's news brief from Friday's CBS This
Morning:
07/12/2013
07:13 am EDT
ABC – Good Morning America
[ABC News Graphic: "Mayor: 'I Need Help' Admits 'Inappropriate' Behavior"]
AMY ROBACH: Well, the mayor of San Diego now says he needs help after
admitting he's been disrespectful to women who work for him and even
intimidating them. But he's not stepping down. Accusations of sexual
harassment have been swirling around Mayor Bob Filner for weeks. He's
apologized for what he called inappropriate behavior. Just this week,
Filner's fiancee broke off their engagement.
07/12/2013
08:04 am EDT
CBS This Morning
GAYLE KING: The mayor of San Diego is rejecting calls to step down amid
allegations of sexual harassment. On Thursday, Bob Filner admits (sic)
he failed to respect women in the past, but he did not speak directly to
the accusations.
[CBS News Graphic: "Mayor's Apology: Filner Says He Didn't Respect Women And Needs Help"]
BOB FILNER, SAN DIEGO MAYOR: I begin today by apologizing to you. I
have diminished the office to which you elected me. And I've reached
into my heart and soul, and realized I must and will change my behavior.
I am also humble to admit that I need help. I have begun to work with
professionals to make changes in my behavior and approach.
KING: The Democrat spent ten terms in Congress before becoming mayor less than a year ago.
