ABC Labels 'Pro'-Rights Liberals, Tags 'Anti,' Negative Conservatives

Liberals are "pro" and bestow rights on people. Conservatives are "anti" and negative. That's the impressions that viewers would get from watching ABC. On Tuesday, Good Morning America's Bianna Golodryga mentioned the possible presidential candidacy of George Pataki, noting the former New York governor is "pro-choice, pro-union and pro-gay rights."

Yet, on June 30, 2011, World News reporter Sharyn Afonsi highlighted Michele Bachmann's "anti-abortion view." On June 07, 2011, GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos suggested to Ann Coulter, "You seem to express some kind of understanding for anti-abortion protesters who use violence.'

Using slightly different wording, reporter Aaron Katersky provided a negative spin on the American Family Association, a group who sponsored a prayer event that Texas Governor Rick Perry spoke at. According to Katersky, the AFA is "opposed to abortion, gay rights and religious freedom for non-Christians."

The American Family Association is oppposed to religious freedom for non-Christians?

ABC analyst Matt Dowd on the May 22, 2011 This Week proclaimed that Rick Perry is very "anti-federal government."

On February 17, 2011, then-GMA news anchor Juju Chang spun, "Well, a bill seen as the most aggressive anti-union proposal in the country goes up for a vote in Wisconsin today, and it appears lawmakers will pass it."

Examples of the "pro" and "anti" contrast can be found below:

GMA
08/23/11
8:03

BIANNA GOLODRYGA: And the Republican race for president may get more crowded. Former New York Governor George Pataki is considering entering the race. He'll visit Iowa Saturday. Now, Pataki is pro-choice, pro-union and pro-gay rights.

This Week
06/19/11

AMY WALTER: Well, I think that clearly the Tea Party element - whatever we're going to call this - does have an influence in the, in the primary process. And the reality - I think this is where Rick Perry fits in, which is he speaks very well to that audience, which is true. He can do the rabble-rousing. He can do the anti-Washington thing.

This Week
05/22/11

MATT DOWD: I actually think that Governor Perry in Texas is probably going to reconsider. It seems it will be a good moment for a guy that's very popular among Tea Party, he's very states-righty, very anti-federal government, can raise a ton of money.


World News
06/30/11

6:38

SHARYN ALFNONSI: Bachmann said the experience changed us forever, leading her and her husband to help raise 23 foster children along with five biological children, shaping her anti-abortion view.

GMA
08/07/11

AARON KATERSKY: Protesters question whether Perry is fit to lead Americans outside his prayer circle. The rally was funded by the American Family Association, a group opposed to abortion, gay rights and religious freedom for non-Christians.

GMA
06/07/11

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You seem to express some kind of understanding for anti-abortion protesters who use violence.

GMA
02/17/11

JUJU CHANG: Well, a bill seen as the most aggressive anti-union proposal in the country goes up for a vote in Wisconsin today, and it appears lawmakers will pass it.

— Scott Whitlock is the senior news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here [1] to follow him on Twitter.