A profound thought occurred to a journalist at ABC News: The high profile sex scandals involving Democrats Anthony Weiner, Eliot Spitzer and San Diego Mayor Bob Filner have taken "a toll" on the liberal war on women message. Too bad the story only appeared on ABCNews.com.
Writer Abby D. Phillip warned, "Turnabout is fair play according to Republicans who are now turning the 'war on women' back on Democrats." She added, "With the help of a few local Democratic politicians with sordid pasts, Republicans have gained new ammunition to counter the narrative pushed by Democrats in the last two elections that Republican policies and politicians have an anti-woman agenda." That sentiment has not shown up on World News, Good Morning America or Nightline.
Good Morning America repeatedly worried about the impact Weiner's scandal could have on Hillary Clinton, but the journalists there didn't question whether the "war on women" cliche has lost its clout
The same program went so far as to ask if Weiner's sexting is "really" cheating?
On ABCNews.com, Phillips related:
"The Democrats started this war on women to try to mislead women for political reasons," Republican National Committee spokesperson Kirsten Kukowski told ABC News. "They should have looked at their own elected officials and candidates before hypocritically trying to take the moral high ground."
Yet, even an online version that deviated from Democratic points still gave more space to liberal talking heads. Phillips included four Democrats and only two GOP voices:
"That's a decision for Anthony Weiner to make," said DNC Chairman Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz Wednesday on MSNBC when asked why she hasn't called for Weiner to resign. "Anthony Wiener is not a public office holder. He's running for office and every candidate has to make their own decisions when it comes to the controversy swirling around Anthony."
Phillip referred to Todd Akin's "now infamous" comments about legitimate rape. Were Filner, Spitzer or Weiner's actions infamous? The ABC News journalist didn't say.
