If in the wake of the Imus incident the Rutgers women's basketball players had spurned an invitation to meet with President Bush, do you think ABC might have told us about it? Natch. But when those same players blew off a chance to meet Hillary Clinton, ABC managed to put a positive spin on matters.
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As reported by Newsday in an article entitled Rutgers team skips Clinton meeting
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton finally dropped by Rutgers to meet with the school's women's basketball coach -- but the players themselves skipped the half-hour meeting, citing their studies and Imus fatigue.
"Many of the players were in study hall from eight to noon and some had finals," explained a Rutgers source who said the players were "tired" of all the attention. "These young women need to do their classes, and wrap their spring semester."
It's enough to give a guy flashbacks to co-eds shooting him down for a Saturday-night date because they had to study.
So, how did ABC report it? On today's Good Morning America, newsreader Ron Claiborne offered this upbeat assessment of Hillary's visit:
Senator Hillary Clinton paid a visit Friday to Rutgers University. She met with the coach of the women's basketball team. She said the young women showed the world the difference between bravery and bravado.
A clip of Hillary on stage at Rutgers was flashed, and that was it. Not a discouraging word of the snub by the players was heard. You remember the old Bing Crosby song:
You've got to ac-cen-tu-ate the positive.
E-lim-in-ate the negative.
At least when it comes to an MSM outlet's treatment of a leading Dem presidential contender, that is.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
