Marking Tuesday’s midterm election primaries in Texas, ABC’s Good Morning America decided to take a story that was already 73% pro-Democrat and make it 100% pro-Democrat by editing out the one Republican interviewed for the report. The segment in question, from Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce, was recycled from Sunday’s This Week and hyped how “Democrats are hoping to turn this deep red state blue, fueled by a wave of female candidates.”
While profiling numerous Democrats running for office in the Lone Star State, Bruce announced: “Today’s primaries are a critical test for the Democratic resistance.” The reporter gushed over the liberal candidates:
Democrat Judy Canales still gets emotional thinking about the moment a friend convinced her to run....A year ago, Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, a career civil servant, was working for the Trump administration. Now, she’s running against his agenda....Democrats are also eyeing the Texas seat of conservative firebrand Ted Cruz. Democrat Beto O’Rourke has been drawing big crowds and big bucks.
Wrapping up the GMA piece, Bruce enthused:
Now, Democrats are focusing on a few critical swing states that were won by Hillary Clinton. And this morning, they do have reason to be optimistic. Early voter numbers show Democratic turnout is skyrocketing. The big question, though, will all of this enthusiasm stick come November?
What Bruce and the Good Morning America anchors failed to tell viewers was that a Texas Republican primary candidate featured in the original report aired on This Week had been dropped from the Tuesday story.
During her 3 minute 22 second report on the Sunday show, Bruce devoted 55 seconds (or 27% of the total segment) to highlighting: “While Democrats are hoping female candidates will fuel a blue wave come November, there are plenty of Republican women running to support President Trump.”
The correspondent explained:
In Concan,Texas, we met Dr. Alma Arredondo-Lynch on her ranch. She has deep roots in this state....She feels passionately that Republicans in Congress have not done enough to back the President, which is why she’s challenging the Republican incumbent.
Arredondo-Lynch told Bruce: “If we get enough people that are conservative like myself, who have the passion in their heart, yes, we can shake up Washington.” Bruce asked: “Do you think it’s going to take more women to shake up Washington?” The Republican replied: “Conservative women, yes.”
In addition to being on This Week, the intact report was also included on Monday’s Nightline, aired early Tuesday morning.
So what happened between Nightline and Good Morning America just hours later? If GMA producers were simply trying to edit down the story for time, why was it only the portion with Bruce talking to a Republican candidate that was removed?
Perhaps admitting that “there are plenty of Republican women running to support President Trump” in Texas just didn’t fit the “blue wave” narrative that the ABC morning show wanted to push.
Here is a full transcript of Bruce’s edited report that aired on the March 6 GMA:
7:12 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: And we’re gonna stay with politics now, because this morning marks a crucial day for the midterm elections. Voters are going to the polls in Texas to vote in the first primaries. The Lone Star State kicking off the battle for control of Congress. And this year, more than 50 women are running there in Texas. Our Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce sat down with some of them. Good morning, Mary.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, Robin. And welcome to primary season. Both parties are closely watching Texas this morning to see how the battle for Congress may play out come November. Democrats are hoping to seize on a rush of new enthusiasm, while Republicans are hoping the state will stick to its red roots.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Voters Head to the Polls in First Midterm Primaries; Surge in Female Candidates in Texas & Nationwide]
Deep in the heart of Texas this morning, the official kickoff of the critical midterm elections.
LIZZIE PANNILL FLETCHER [CAMPAIGN AD]: I learned then what it takes to fight back.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [CAMPAIGN AD]: And that is why I’m running for Congress.
BRUCE: Democrats are hoping to turn this deep red state blue, fueled by a wave of female candidates. Democrat Judy Canales still gets emotional thinking about the moment a friend convinced her to run.
JUDY CANALES [D, TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE]: They said to me, “You said you always wanted to run.” And I said, “You’re right, I did.” I thought, “Wow, I think this is it.” And so I thought, “I’m gonna go for it. I’m gonna go for it.” And here I am. Sorry about this.
BRUCE: No, it’s okay.
More than 50 women are running for Congress in Texas alone. Across the country, more than 400 female congressional candidates. That’s double the number that ran in 2016.
LIZZIE PANNILL FLETCHER [D, TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE]: We feel like it’s time for our voices to be heard and for us to have a seat at the table.
BRUCE: Today’s primaries are a critical test for the Democratic resistance. A year ago, Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, a career civil servant, was working for the Trump administration. Now, she’s running against his agenda.
GINA ORTIZ JONES [D, TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE]: It can’t be surprising that the number of women running, the number of women of color running. That the people that have the most to lose, you cannot be surprised that they have stepped up and said, “You know what? I am done assuming somebody is going to do for me that which I can do for myself.”
BRUCE: Democrats are also eyeing the Texas seat of conservative firebrand Ted Cruz. Democrat Beto O’Rourke has been drawing big crowds and big bucks.
Now, Democrats are focusing on a few critical swing states that were won by Hillary Clinton. And this morning, they do have reason to be optimistic. Early voter numbers show Democratic turnout is skyrocketing. The big question, though, will all of this enthusiasm stick come November? Robin?
ROBERTS: Alright, thank you very much, Mary.
