Since March 26, 2008, the ABC network has devoted nine segments or 64 minutes and 48 seconds to the "pregnant man" Thomas Beatie, including three stories in the last four days on either "20/20" or "Good Morning America." On Monday, GMA weekend anchor Kate Snow invited Beatie, who was born a woman but kept her reproductive organs after having transgender surgery, to discuss the autobiography "Labor of Love," which recounts the author's first pregnancy and now another. Snow announced that Beatie would be appearing "to tell us what his definition of family and fatherhood is all about."
Since GMA first discussed the story on March 26, the program has gone back to the subject again and again. Despite hyping the transgendered birth, most stories acted as though there was nothing at all controversial about the topic. News anchor Chris Cuomo told a doctor in March, "Oddity aside, biology aside, it is all about love of this child and as long as that's present, everything else is really going to be normal."
By April 4, the morning show had touted the subject three times. On June 9, reporter Ryan Owens insisted that "Today, Thomas says, different is normal" and "Love makes a family, he [Beatie] says, and that's all that matters." Mixed in with the usual segments on hotdogs and fireworks, GMA returned to the tabloid tale on the Fourth of July and proclaimed that the daughter of Beatie and his wife Nancy would have a normal life. Less than eight months after first being mentioned, the "pregnant man" returned on Monday to talk to Snow and to break the hour mark in terms of time devoted to a topic. (This was after Friday's "20/20" gave 33 minutes to the Beatie couple.) On July 23, correspondent Andrea Canning showcased photos of transgendered parent and new baby.
Snow was more challenging than previous GMA journalists Owens or Cuomo. She queried Beatie, "Can you understand the questions, though? I mean, all morning people here have been talking about it and people say, when you're not around, people say, 'But is it normal?'" However, when Nancy Beatie said of the publicity, "Well, you know, hopefully it will just calm down and we can just get on with our lives," Snow failed to mention just how much attention the couple had been seeking and ABC's role in obliging.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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Freak Show
November 17, 2008 - 12:09 ET by SouthJersey1953GMA is nothing but a freak show. They have "promoted" this freak ad nasium...
Diane seems especially drawn to this he/she.
Luke 23:34
PALIN/Jindal '12
Tired
November 18, 2008 - 00:44 ET by viluzionI wish he would get his tubes tied. I get tired of hearing about some of those things they do in that part of the country.
No offense Mr. Scott
November 17, 2008 - 12:14 ET by bigtimerNo offense Mr. Scott Whitlock...
#1.The title of this blog should not be PREGNANT MAN...EVER!
#2. If I have to look at that absolutely disgusting, despicable picture one more time I am going to throw up.
#3. I am sick and tired of the story, there is not much more to say here as we have been inundated here with these.
#4. We should not give any of this or the network or talking heads any attention. Zilch is all it is worth.
Just my rant and two cents....I've had enough...enough is enough...getting this forced down our throats is getting past old.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
We don't need to be giving
November 17, 2008 - 12:26 ET by SeashellWe don't need to be giving this any credence whats-so-ever especially since it seems they are just trying to sell a book on this deviant behavior.
the bottom line...
November 17, 2008 - 12:41 ET by lotrIt's all about the money.
People are getting rich off this modern-day "bearded lady," all the while deluding themselves that they are the "enlightened philanthropists" of the Brave New World.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
CUOMO: All you need is
November 17, 2008 - 12:17 ET by lotrCUOMO:
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now!)
All you need is love (everybody!)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
Good Thing
November 17, 2008 - 12:29 ET by MichiganVetToo bad there isn't anything important for GMA to cover, eh?
Television is "soma"!
I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy
MVet... I LOVE your
November 17, 2008 - 13:03 ET by bigtimerMVet...
I LOVE your tag-line!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
XX
November 17, 2008 - 14:12 ET by GothampcNone of the media will report that this "man" still has the XX chromosome.
EXACTLY
November 17, 2008 - 14:30 ET by moderncommentaries83Until DNA testing proves this "pregnant man" has an XY chromosome makeup, "he's" no more a man than I am - she's a woman, living an alternative lifestyle, looking for media attention and support for said lifestyle, and probably a nice fat sum of money from all the interviews and coverage she and her partner receive.
This has nothing to do with the children, they are merely the means to obtaining celebrity and fame - human beings as commodities or possessions.
I feel sorry for the children. Couldn't care less about the two women selfish enough to do this to them for fame and fourtune.
Needless to point it out to
November 17, 2008 - 15:26 ET by ForeverOnTheRightNeedless to point it out to people here, they are using the wrong criteria for what makes a man a man and a woman a woman. A beard and looking like a man is not the determining factor in what determining a person’s sex, it's the 1) genitals and 2.) DNA.
What I think I have said before on a NB thread about this and I will say it again here, is that this is a proof of the corruption, amongst many proofs, of the American media. This "man" is a perversion of what is natural, and short of twisting and corrupting the definition of what we are, can you difine this woman as a "man".
correct
November 17, 2008 - 17:23 ET by lotrBiologically, she is not male, nor can she ever be. She can act like one, and spend loads of $$$ to change her secondary sex characteristics to appear like one, but in the end, she is still female. And one of the sad things is, there are unnamed people making lots of money off the high-tech "bearded lady."
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
Hope that female Eclectus
November 17, 2008 - 14:51 ET by Tim the EnchanterHope that female Eclectus parrot bites (him/her/it) nice and hard in a place that hurts. Feel sorry for those poor birds.
Newsbusters needs a 'barf alert' filtir
November 17, 2008 - 15:08 ET by Jonah JohansenOn the Free Republic posters can warn readers ahead of time; when they post a particularly disgusting story, they insert the words (Barf Alert) in the title.
Also spare us the picture, some people occasionally eat when using their computers.
It is not a man. Pretty
November 17, 2008 - 15:36 ET by ThomNJIt is not a man. Pretty simple, I think. It may no longer be a woman, but it isn't a man...and I am not trying to be rude, mean or intolerant. If this is what the couple wants, fine, but it is two women having this kid, and by no means is it a man and a woman.
She's a Woman
November 17, 2008 - 15:42 ET by JillCWWith some additional physiology . . . what a joke.
Oh brother!
November 17, 2008 - 15:51 ET by jackie3In the words of Charlie brown "Oh brother." This is a national newsworthy story? Gwad, it's just a transsexual with a uterus. Honestly, this is absolute garbage and the fact this "man" is willing to allow himself to be smeared all over the public makes me wonder what is the mentality.
He's not drawing attention to GID (i do know a person with this disorder--from a psychological stand point--it fascinating) or any other affliction. Not pushing social boundaries or going to court for custody of an adopted child. Nope, just claiming to be something that is widely regarded as a medical impossibility.
This person makes all the "normal" transsexuals look like a bunch of creepy freaks from the outskirts of society. The craving for attention by the person and the lack of exploring the condition that caused him to have surgery to live as a man is baffling.
This is not a news worthy story but a freak show that just demonizes those who are seriously affected with the disorder and try very hard everyday to over come it.
Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
I'm going to change the horn on my
November 17, 2008 - 16:02 ET by Teddycar tomorrow.
"La Cucaracha" or maybe "Zorba The Greek" as an ode to my people.
Sure I'm gonna.
So when do I get My 15 (or 61) minutes on GMA?
Note to ABC... It's NOT a
November 17, 2008 - 16:59 ET by Clear thinkerNote to ABC...
It's NOT a pregnant man for cryin' out loud, it's a woman!!!!!!!!
American Communist Education - Special Edition
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Okay....
November 17, 2008 - 17:03 ET by doug1950Maybe my mind runs along a different track (ex Navy) but my first question is..."WHO in the hell keeps knocking this guy/gal up????"
I have seen his/her picture and I can honestly say I have never been that drunk and the fella that keeps doing it is just NASTY (and creepy weird) and should be taken out of circulation.
"It" is disordered
November 17, 2008 - 17:05 ET by LeftCoastRightieThis is really sick stuff.
A woman who wants to be a man but wants to mother. Twice. Does "it" think it can be a father to the infants "it" gave birth to?
Please pray for them.
Pray, indeed. At a bare
November 17, 2008 - 20:19 ET by HockeyKidPray, indeed. At a bare minimum, they're doomed to fail their Health/PE classes. I can just imagine the arguments when the poor teacher is trying to explain that, by definition, MOTHERS give birth.
Why is it that these people only understand the concept of denial when it works in favor of someone turning "alternative"?
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Tens of thousands of dollars
November 17, 2008 - 19:23 ET byTens of thousands of dollars later we have: 'the bearded lady'
With all the forensic evidence TV shows so popular now you'd think someone would consider DNA evidence.
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -Chief Justice John Roberts
Is everyone that stupid
November 17, 2008 - 20:17 ET by Chattychitothis is a woman on steroids. she is a transgender or in case a cross dresser who wants to be a man. she is still capable of bearing children so she is clearly a woman.
"the bearded woman has a baby " that is what Barnum and Baily headlines in the early days of their CIRCUS.
The Media is a circus, setting the agendas for presidency, global Warmng(coldest temts in 10 years) and who are we the clowns playing to their every whim and fancy.
Good night this is a woman with a beard a freak at best.
Yep. Accurate
November 17, 2008 - 20:21 ET by HockeyKidYep. Accurate headline:
DOUBLE-MASTECTOMY TRANSVESTITE GIVES BIRTH
So what? Next it's going to be some fat guy with manboobs claiming he's the first woman to impregnate another woman...
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
So what? Next it's
November 18, 2008 - 12:20 ET by DCC1So what? Next it's going to be some fat guy with manboobs claiming he's the first woman to impregnate another woman...
Thats clasic!
Obamas economic plan: "Trickle up Poverty" - Michael Savage
→ Pregnant trial balloon
November 17, 2008 - 20:24 ET by Cool ArrowMaybe some MSM exec mad a bet with another that he could stuff sh*t down the throat of the American public and they'd eat it up.
Looks like he won that bet.
Even the women on the morning shows now believe men can get pregnant.
So I'm thinking "Is female nothing more than a state of mind?" No, I'm not. Nobody is that stupid.
"trading places," ABC style
November 17, 2008 - 21:46 ET by lotr"Maybe some MSM exec mad a bet with another that he could stuff sh*t down the throat of the American public and they'd eat it up.
Looks like he won that bet."
Exec #1: Pay up, Mortimer. I've won the bet.
Exec #2: Here you go, one dollar!
Meanwhile, they both made $hitload$ of money off of it.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
ugggh
November 18, 2008 - 09:47 ET by LedeAgendaThis WOMAN is a sick discusting mar on ther human race. HER children should be ripped from her care, custody and control for their own safety. That the media wants to force this story down our throats is revolting. Will anyone ask this WOMAN if she was raped as a child? Most transexuals and gays/lesbians have early childhood sexual trama.
And NEWSBUSTERS- DONT GIVE CREEDANCE TO THE "PREGNANT MAN GARBAGE" PLEASE EDIT YOUR HEADLINE. Are you the watchers of media bias or not?
In all fairness, Scott did
November 18, 2008 - 12:42 ET by lotrIn all fairness, Scott did make effective use of scare quotes around the oxymoronic "pregnant man" moniker.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
Lede Agenda
November 18, 2008 - 15:15 ET by Scott WhitlockLede Agenda,
As lotr pointed out, I did put pregnant man in quotes in the headline. It's a problem of trying to have pithy headlines that explain as much as possible.
64 Minutes More Than Republican McCain
November 18, 2008 - 15:00 ET by deerjerkydaveI wonder if those 64 minutes are more than the time devoted to John McCain's campaign.
So wait, if a woman takes artificial hormones to grow an artificial beard and has an artificial mastectomy and who knows what else, then she becomes a legitimate man? Clearly there are psychological problems with this woman. The liberal media does not help by giving this woman's confusion legitimacy. ABC even showed footage of this woman with her shirt off during a commercial. Oh boy, I love seeing a woman's double mastectomy during prime time TV. It gives me another reason to boycott the network all together. I'm sure Walt Disney is spinning in his grave right about now.