With Liberal Stephanopoulos Taking the Day Off, ABC Shuts Robin Roberts Out of Politics
Despite there being numerous presidential news stories developing on Monday, including Rick Santorum and abortion, ABC's Good Morning America skipped all political topics. Not coincidentally, former Democratic operative turned journalist George Stephanopoulos was off for the day. Since Stephanopoulos became a co-host on December 14, 2009, ABC has marginalized incumbent anchor Robin Roberts's participation in serious political stories, often relegating her to tabloid coverage.
When Stephanopoulos debuted on GMA in 2009, GMA executive producer Jim Murphy told TV Newser, "We believe in supporting everyone fully...Everyone will get their fair share." Yet, on Monday, as CBS and NBC were discussing Santorum's comments on abortion and faith, Roberts was left to highlight the latest on accused murderer George Huguely. The program also found time for more on Whitney Houston and basketball player Jeremy Lin.
Wouldn't it have made sense to have an interview with ABC analyst Matt Dowd about the latest in the GOP race? Or perhaps a discussion with senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper?
Before Stephanopoulos joined the program and took most of the political interviews, Roberts did them all the time, hosting a 26 minute infomercial with Hillary Clinton in 2007.
Roberts will occasionally still do big interviews, however they are much less frequent. On June 17, 2011, she talked to Barack Obama for 15 minutes, but even that was forced into the template of a light-hearted Father's Day interview.
The freezing out of Roberts began almost immediately. From December 14, 2009 to January 06, 2010, Stephanopoulos anchored all but one of the political and policy interviews. (The one exception was a joint interview that Roberts and Stephanopoulos participated in.)
On November 14, 2011, Roberts bashed her own show's obsession with tabloid stories and, perhaps, vaguely vented about her less important role on the program: "I’ll be honest, it’s been an adjustment for me, the lighter fare...I want to be No. 1. I don’t want to sell my soul to the devil to be No. 1."
The same Daily Beast article showcased strife, with Howard Kurtz revealing that Roberts and Stephanopoulos "almost never chat during the show when the cameras are off."
On December 10, 2009, Roberts appeared taken aback at the idea that ABC would give all the political stories to Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton operative. "I'm not worried one bit," she insisted.
- Scott Whitlock's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
You know how it is with liberals.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 1:12pm.
They will keep the "darkie" babe around because it makes them look so open-minded, but don't give her anything that will tax her obviously less-than-stellar intellect.
Maybe if she were more gay or something, she could be elevated up the ladder closer to being a "whole person" instead of just a token, square filler for the white boy.
Do you think that any ethnic minorities have a clue how bad it is going to be when the RBFSOB completes his takeover and we are at last the USSA?
Glad to see that Ron Paul had the guts to say (at least) we are "headed toward a Fascist government."
Here's a flash, Ron. We're a lot closer than you think!
Oh dear
Submitted by CO2Maker on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 1:15pm.
ABC, fresh off getting rid of the ESPN editor who wrote the "Chink in the Armor" headline about Jeremy Lin's latest triumph, sidelines the disparate impact hire because her strong suit was also the strong suit of the diminutive political guy who swept in from the Democratic White House to host Brinkley's old program. When he wanted to move on, she had to move over.
Ain't the way liberals practrice equity and fairness wonderful to watch?
Tabloid coverage?
Submitted by KornKing on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 1:16pm.
Isn't tabloid coverage most of what the lapdogs take part in, aside from the mandatory recitation of Dem talking points. Sure we won't see any big drop in the "Mooch is sooooo coooool" story lines.
⇒ Pity party for Robyn
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 1:37pm.
Yeah, in a way, I do feel sorry for her. What choice did she have, coming up through the sports reporting world?
I expect, with the election approaching, Robyn will get some really great assignments like
Women who need Obama money
Black women who need Obama money
Women who would die without Obamacare
Black women who would die without Obamacare
Why women love Obama
Why black women love Obama
. . . the possibilities are endless.
Quit your complaining, Robyn. You have allowed yourself to be pigeonholed.
You are woman? Let's hear you roar! And having discovered you are an individual rather than the black woman they see, we'd welcome you over here.
Oh, I forgot about her sports gig
Submitted by CO2Maker on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 7:12pm.
She's Keith the Sports Boy's alter ego, and boy does he have an ego.
Politics?
Submitted by gwalt on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 1:44pm.
I'm pretty sure Stephanoupoulos doesn't do the "politics" on ABC. Propaganda--- White House/DNC-DWS talking points maybe--- but politics? Nah.
"A lot of briefing for a 2 hr. special with Dan Rather. Saw the show & wonder why we bothered". Ronald Reagan
Being that she is black the
Submitted by ForeverOnTheRight on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 1:51pm.
Being that she is black the lliberl media will alow her to interview black celebraties and politicians (maybe). Oh, they will only alow her to interview women, black women, never a man and especially never a white man.
Hey, ABC..
Submitted by texasborngranny on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 2:22pm.
misogynistic much?
Cause shes a stupid sports broad!
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 2:28pm.
What the hell would she know about politics? And thank god, she doesnt do it, cause Ive seen and heard her, like the rest of the ESPN/ABC morons who started in sports and attempt to do national issues-they come off as liberal, whining, and worst of all, ill-informed!
Sounds like racism to me...
Submitted by Iron Tigers Vet on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 2:35pm.
If Stephie boy is "out to lunch", or just maybe "leaning forward" against Obama's backside, they surely couldn't have a "black woman" do his bidding.
No sah, massah... white mons keepin me down! Me don't know nutin bout politks.
Way to keep it classy ABC!!
Hell-Stephie concurs with his old Boss
Submitted by KornKing on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 6:11pm.
Few years ago, she'd a been bringin' us coffees
see...
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 3:56pm.
There you go Media Matters/Pelosi etal - there is your "women/minorities being excluded on a news program" story. What's that you say? Only FOX does that? Oh, here we thought you were a gov't subsidised entity concerned with truth - my bad!
Ronald Reagan
I don't watch the show, nor
Submitted by WarEagle66 on Mon, 02/20/2012 - 4:12pm.
I don't watch the show, nor would I ever...
But I remember her on ESPN saying, when Danny Marino ran out of bounds late in his career and tried to hurdle a bench and failed, that she said something to the effect of...."see, white men can't jump".