NBC, CBS Spike Dem Adviser's Nasty Comment That Mom Ann Romney Has 'Never Worked'

The NBC and CBS morning shows on Thursday completely skipped any mention of a nasty attack on Ann Romney by Democratic National Committee adviser (and frequent White House visitor) Hilary Rosen. Today and CBS This Morning both ignored Rosen's insult that Mrs. Romney "has actually never worked a day in her life."

Rosen's remarks were made on Wednesday's Anderson Cooper. Today did highlight news coming out of that CNN show, but it wasn't the Rosen story. It was Cooper's riveting "attack of the giggles" that Natalie Morales marveled over: "The CNN host just couldn't keep it together" and suffered a case of the "sillies." This, apparently, was the more important news emanating from Anderson Cooper 360. [See video of the actual Rosen comment below.]

Only ABC's Good Morning America actually covered the story. Anchor George Stephanopoulos explained "all that talk about a war on women in this presidential race is getting personal with a Democratic strategist taking off on Mitt Romney's wife." 

However, the ABC graphic oddly put the focus on Ann Romney and not the Democratic operative: "Ann Romney Controversy: Defends Being a Full Time Mom."

While ABC should be given credit for covering the story, correspondent John Berman made sure to highlight, "All of this comes as Romney tries to close a big gender gap. Our latest poll gives the President a 19-point advantage with women."

A transcript of the April 12 segment can be found below:

7:01 tease

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Also, boy, this presidential race is heating up so fast. Ann Romney right there, forced into the fray last night. It's all part of the big battle for women voters. She went to Twitter to defend her choice to be a stay-at-home mom. We're going to get to that. 

7:15

ABC GRAPHIC: Ann Romney Controversy: Defends Being a Full Time Mom

STEPHANOPOULOS: We're going to turn to politics now. Your voice, your vote and all that talk about a war on women in this presidential race is getting personal with a Democratic strategist taking off on Mitt Romney's wife. And Ann Romney striking back immediately on Twitter. It all happened overnight. And ABC's John Berman here with all of the details. Good morning, John.

JOHN BERMAN: You know, George, the second this happened overnight, you knew it would explode. It puts Ann Romney right in the middle of a white-hot debate that deals with politics and motherhood. It began when Hilary Rosen, an adviser to the Democratic National Committee, said this on CNN about Ann Romney, who raised five sons.

HILARY ROSEN: What you have is Mitt Romney running around the country saying, "well, my wife tells me what women really care about are economic issues." And when I listen to my wife, that's what I'm hearing. Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life.

BERMAN: Boom. Instant Twitter explosion! Ann Romney firing back with her first tweet ever. "I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work." Her son Josh jumping in. "Ann Romney is one of the smartest, hardest working women I know. Could have done anything with her life. Chose to raise me." But Rosen didn't back down. Responding, "I'm raising children, too. But most young American women have to both earn a living and raise children. You know that, don't you?" All of this comes as Romney tries to close a big gender gap. Our latest poll gives the President a 19-point advantage with women. And while Rosen doesn't work for the Obama campaign, campaign manager Jim Messina engaged in instant damage control. "I could not disagree with Hilary Rosen any more strongly. Her comments were wrong and families should be off limits. She should apologize." You know, Rosen later wrote an article, saying what she was questioning was Ann Romney's connection to women and their economic problems. I'm sure you'll hear more from Mrs. Romney today. George?

STEPHANOPOULOS: No question about that. John, thanks very much.