Good Morning America on Tuesday skipped the news that Peter Orszag, Barack
Obama's budget director, is resigning from the White House. Perhaps not
coincidentally, Orszag is also the fiance of GMA's weekend anchor Bianna
Golodryga. CBS's Early Show and NBC's Today both covered the subject.
Today reporter Savannah Guthrie explained, "It's a mix of the personal and
the political. Most budget directors stay about 18 months. If he had stayed much
longer, he'd probably have to get into the next budget cycle and be in for the
long haul. He's also getting married this fall."
The Early Show's Betty Nguyen pointed out, "Orszag would be the first high
profile member of the Obama administration to leave." GMA has
a history [1] of ignoring awkward details for Golodryga. In January, the show
skipped the fact that Orszag had a love child with his previous girlfriend
(after divorcing his first wife). NBC covered it.
On May 17, 2010, Orszag actually appeared on GMA to congratulate his
fiancee for being named the new weekend anchor. With former Democratic aide
turned host George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America, doesn't the program
have enough conflicts of interest?
Brief transcripts from The Early Show and Today can be found below:
The Early Show
06/22/10
BETTY NGUYEN: It's reported that President Obama's budget director is calling it quits. A Democratic official tells the Associated Press that Peter Orszag is expected to resign in the coming months. Orszag would be the first high profile member of the Obama administration to leave.
Today
6/22/10
MORALES: All right. Meantime, Savannah, there's also some news this morning about the budget director, Peter Orszag?
GURTHRIE: That's right. As long expected, Peter Orszag is actually leaving the administration, probably some time this summer. Why? It's a mix of the personal and the political. Most budget directors stay about 18 months. If he had stayed much longer, he'd probably have to get into the next budget cycle and be in for the long haul. He's also getting married this fall.
MORALES: All right. Savannah Guthrie with a lot there going on at the White House- thanks so much.
-Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here [2] to follow him on Twitter.