ABC Turns Obama Gaffe into Slam on Romney

On Friday’s Good Morning America, reporter David Wright (pictured at right) turned a story about Senator Barack Obama’s far-left views on sex education for kindergartners into an attack piece on Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Rather than focus on the Democrat’s controversial stance, ABC cast Romney as the villain, painting the Republican as an opportunist and a flip-flopper for daring to criticize Obama’s comments.

As Wright pointed out, "Massachusetts has one of the most progressive sex education curriculums in the country. It starts during pre-school and not only requires that elementary schools teach kids the basics about sex but encourages them to teach about sexual orientation too." In a glib tone of voice Wright explained, "Of course you’d never know that from hearing Romney on the campaign trail now."

Later, after a clip of Romney addressing a group of conservatives ended, Wright shook his head in mild disgust. Smirking, Wright suggested that the GOP candidate was pandering to conservatives: "Now as governor, Romney never sought to repeal Massachusetts’ comprehensive sex education laws, in fact he told Planned Parenthood back when he was a candidate, that he supported age-appropriate sex education much as Obama does now. Of course he was running for governor then, of a very liberal state. Now he’s trying to appeal to social conservatives."

Here is a longer portion of the story which appeared on the July 20 edition of Good Morning America:

David Wright: This week Democrat Barack Obama reaffirmed his belief that sex education should start early and be frank.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL): It’s the right thing to do. To provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in the schools.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA): He said that we should have sex education in kindergarten. I'm not kidding you.

David Wright: Republican Mitt Romney quickly pounced.

Mitt Romney: I was governor four years; I never had a parent come to me, not once, and say "You know what, governor, I'm concerned about something." "What's that?" "I'm concerned we don't have enough sex education. I don't think our kids are learning enough about sex." I never heard that.

David Wright: That may be because Massachusetts has one of the most progressive sex education curriculums in the country. It starts during preschool and not only requires that elementary schools teach kids the basics about sex but encourages them to teach about sexual orientation too. Of course you’d never know that from hearing Romney on the campaign trail now.

Mitt Romney: How much sex education is age-appropriate for a five-year-old? In my view, zero is the right amount.

David Wright: Now as governor, Romney never sought to repeal Massachusetts' comprehensive sex education laws. In fact he told Planned Parenthood, back when he was a candidate, that he supported age-appropriate sex education, much as Obama does now. Of course, he was running for governor then, of a very liberal state. Now he's trying to appeal to social conservatives.

No one is going to argue that Romney hasn’t made some serious reversals in policy, particularly on social issues. The timing of Romney’s many conversions is, at the very least, suspicious. But the question remains, didn’t this report start out as a story about Obama’s comments? Does Romney’s hypocrisy let the Democratic hopeful off the hook? Wright is full of pithy comments about Romney’s past views, why not spend a little time explaining to viewers what Obama is saying on the campaign trail right now?