In the wake of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s admission to having an affair, evening and morning newscasts on NBC, CBS, and ABC all immediately identified him as a Republican. In contrast, in March of last year, the networks rarely identified disgraced New York Governor Eliot Spitzer as a Democrat in the wake of his affair with a prostitute.
In a 2008 study of evening and morning network newscasts following the Spitzer scandal, NewsBusters’ Rich Noyes found that within the first week of news coverage Spitzer was only identified as a Democrat 20% of the time. However, within the first 24 hours of Sanford’s confession to having an affair, he was identified as a Republican 100% of the time, during coverage on all the networks.
On Wednesday, the NBC Nightly News, which failed to give Spitzer’s party affiliation for three days following his scandal, immediately focused on Sanford’s national role in the Republican Party as anchor Brian Williams declared: "In a Republican Party hungry for young stars, he was one of them: Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina...Tonight his political career is in tatters. His state, his party are in some turmoil. And Mark Sanford is no longer being mentioned as a possible GOP nominee for the White House."
On the CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric similarly exclaimed: "Tonight, a rising Republican star caught up in scandal. The missing Governor of South Carolina returns with a tearful tale of a foreign affair."
Anchor Charles Gibson on ABC’s World News was no exception, using almost the same language as Couric: "Governor Mark Sanford, a rising star in the Republican Party, considered a presidential candidate by some, came clean today about where he went and why."
The emphasis on Sanford’s Republican ties continued on the Thursday network morning shows, with NBC Today host Matt Lauer opening the show: "And this morning the political future of South Carolina's governor Mark Sanford, a once-rising star in the Republican Party, is very much in doubt." Later in the show, Lauer actually got reaction to the Sanford scandal from disgraced New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, whom he failed to identify as a Democrat.
On the CBS Early Show, correspondent Kelly Cobiella reported: "Sanford, a rising star in the Republican Party, also likely hurt his chances at higher office. Not only admitting to an affair but to misleading the public and his own staff about his disappearance."
ABC’s Diane Sawyer opened Good Morning America by declaring: "What was going on in the mind of South Carolina's governor? A onetime presidential hopeful for the Republican Party. Will he be forced to resign. And who is the mystery woman in Argentina who drove him to risk it all? We are live from South Carolina to Buenos Aires."
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
News Media
June 25, 2009 - 11:52 ET by JDWWhen was the last time you saw them so elated?
This guy was separated, forced fed by the government, and finally just said it's time to enjoy life.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny.
When government fears the people there is liberty.
Sorry To Disagree...
June 25, 2009 - 12:11 ET by ShanghaiRaybut I have zero sympathy for Sanford. Of course I don't agree with the MSM jumping on his case just because he has an R after his name but he made his bed and now he needs to sleep in it. I don't care if he wanted to take a vacation, had marriage problems or anything else, he wanted to be Governor Mr. Big Stuff and now he's decided to flake off and make excuses for his bad behavior. Ok, Mr. Governor, resign your sorry-ass position and move over for someone else to take over. Sanford's an idiot..plain and simple.
"Race doesn't matter..liberals are only one color - YELLOW"
Excuses
June 25, 2009 - 12:29 ET by JDWWhat excuses did he make?
Clinton left a stain and lied. Spitzer wrote checks. Even so, the news media was oblivious.
Sanford admitted all and it becomes front page news for how long?
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny.
When government fears the people there is liberty.
Well...
June 25, 2009 - 12:45 ET by ShanghaiRayone idiotic comment (excuse) that Sanford the Snake said comes to mind was something to the effect that he cried for 5 days in Argentina..yeah, I bet that's what he and his "two-beautiful things" Mistress were doing all that time. I repeat...he's an idiot. Do you honestly think he would have admitted anything if he hadn't got caught. His middle name is obviously PHONEY.
Btw, you better go back and read my past posts if you think I'd ever defend two yellow bellies like Clinton or Spitzer.
"Race doesn't matter..liberals are only one color - YELLOW"
Facts
June 25, 2009 - 13:17 ET by JDWSanford admitted all, apologized, and asked that his wife be left alone.
When will there be a Mark Sanford Library?
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny.
When government fears the people there is liberty.
Maybe Democrats should take more week-end sojourns--
June 25, 2009 - 12:10 ET by Roscoe MendagoI'll take a disgraced Republican politician in a heart beat over any Democrat pol...At most, an ill-advised trip to Argentina isn't going to destroy America with economic destroying policies...
So you are OK with...
June 25, 2009 - 13:03 ET by Cryos33Someone who rails against government spending, using government money to have an affair in another country? What?
Okay beyond all comprehension!!!!
June 25, 2009 - 13:16 ET by Roscoe MendagoYeah!!!!!
He shouldn't have done what he did, but nothing he could do will compare with corrupt Democrats, PERIOD!!!!!!!
OK
June 25, 2009 - 13:24 ET by Cryos33You do know that Corruption is not a partisan issue, both sides give in to it. After 8 years of Bush Co. corruption all of the sudden you want to point fingers? Come on be consistant
Ohhh, we got a real winner here----
June 25, 2009 - 13:48 ET by Roscoe MendagoDude, put a sock in it!!!
I don't need to prove consistency to you, the question is, and what the column is trying to point out is how inconsistent MSM coverage is of the parties involved. The Democrats get the ubiquitous pass, Republicans get the sock full of sand.
Another thing, who the flip'n hell do you think you're going to convince with your pseudo indignant accusations of inconsistency? Not me...But I guess you can keep wasting your time...
That is funny
June 25, 2009 - 13:56 ET by Cryos33That is what I think of most of the posts on this website, keep wasting your time.
To the point of taxpayer $, I did not read anywhere that he was on Vacation, so does that mean he got paid while he was with this woman?
I am not tring to change anyone's mind I just like to piss off the right, you do know that you guys are starting to sound alot like the left during the Bush years.
Puh-leeze. No one can
June 25, 2009 - 14:14 ET by Scuba DudePuh-leeze.
No one can hold a candle to the way you libtards whine, scream and yell when things don't go your way. And the way you keep on repeating a lie so it will be considered the truth is despicable, which is basically what you did during President Bush's Administration. What us Republican/Conservatives are doing to Obama is simply telling the truth.
The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER
True dat
June 25, 2009 - 14:21 ET by Cryos33Liberals are better at whining, we have had alot more chances with the last 4 Presidents. But the what the right is now doing with almost NO power in Washington is really funny to watch.
BTW
June 25, 2009 - 14:08 ET by Cryos33if the # of comments in each thread is any indicator... Then I would say not very many people come to this site, I am not really worried.
BTW
June 25, 2009 - 14:08 ET by Cryos33if the # of comments in each thread is any indicator... Then I would say not very many people come to this site, I am not really worried.
BREAKING: Cryos33 has facts no other media outlet has
June 25, 2009 - 13:34 ET by SickofLibsPlease, do your civic duty and alert the media that you have proof government funds were used, because nobody, not even Huffpo or Kos, has this vital information.
Just wait
June 25, 2009 - 13:44 ET by Cryos33You know it is going to come out it is just a matter of time.
Sing it loud!!!!
June 25, 2009 - 13:53 ET by Roscoe MendagoOkay, let me get this straight, "JUST WAIT" is what I'm up against here...
Dude Sounds Like A Schmuck: Sung to the tune of Dude Looks Like A Lady... Okay, everyone sing along!!!!
There you go
June 25, 2009 - 14:13 ET by Cryos33Name calling already
Look at that
June 25, 2009 - 15:51 ET by Cryos33Sanford has said that he will pay for a trip he took on offical business in which he met with this woman. That did not take very long.
I still don't get it
June 25, 2009 - 13:54 ET by UndercoverConservativewhat was this guy thinking with all the profile and the hostile media waiting to snap...is this guy that stupid, or is there something else going on here, where 'admitting" to an affair was better or safer than the truth?
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
Sadly, even my beloved FoxNews mislabeled Sanford as a (D)
June 25, 2009 - 14:53 ET by Rush Fanduring his news conference reports TVNEWSER.
As for Sanford, he's a bum. He may have been estranged from his wife (it's been reported that she threw him out), but to spend time with his mistress rather than his kids on Fathers Day tells me he has a huge character flaw. Not to mention that he lied to his staff regarding his whereabouts, and had no contingency plan in the event of a disaster in his state.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Union workers would be exempt from Dem health care tax
and on Fox
June 25, 2009 - 14:54 ET by 24enakduring the press conference Sanford was labeled a Democrat for a short while. http://mediamatters.org/blog/200906240026
They also did the same thing for Mark Foley a couple of years ago http://mediamatters.org/research/200610130010
Kate
June 25, 2009 - 16:26 ET by david999katie couric is looking like that women on Jon & Kate plus 8 show
Same hairstyle. She is grasping for ratings.