On Wednesday, CNN's Carol Costello spent more time on a GOP Senate candidate's remarks on abortion than she did on a new bombshell report on the Libya attacks. Costello devoted just over 12 minutes to Libya, versus 13 and a half minutes to Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock's comments, and his endorsement by Mitt Romney. Costello anchors the 9 and 10 a.m. hours of CNN Newsroom.
Mourdock affirmed his faith-based views against abortion in cases of rape, stating "life is a gift from God, and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen." Costello said those words "erupted online and re-energized the so-called war on women."
Along with the networks, Costello played into the Democratic strategy of hyping a Republican candidate and his "ties" to Mitt Romney more than the White House's response to deadly terror attacks that killed four Americans.
However, Costello did better than the network morning shows. ABC and CBS gave a measly one minute combined to the Libya story, while NBC ignored it.
A transcript of the segment, which aired on CNN Newsroom on October 24 at 9:07 a.m. EDT, is as follows:
CAROL COSTELLO: Another day, another explosive controversy over rape and abortion, this time an Indiana candidate for U.S. Senate endorsed by Mitt Romney said life is a gift from God, even if that life is created through rape.
(Video Clip)
RICHARD MOURDOCK (R), U.S. Senate candidate: I believe that life begins at conception. The only exception I have for -- to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. I just – I struggled with it myself for a long time. But I came to realize, life is a gift from God, and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.
(End Video Clip)
COSTELLO: After the debate, Mourdock backed off the comments and said rape is horrible thing and that people are twisting his words, and the people who are twisting his words are absurd and sick. Even so, his comments erupted online and re-energized the so-called war on women. Democrats quick to pounce because, don't you know it, Mitt Romney endorsed Richard Mourdock for Senate just a few days ago.
(Video Clip)
MITT ROMNEY (R), presidential nominee: This fall, I'm supporting Richard Mourdock for Senate. As state treasurer, Richard worked with Governor Daniels to balance the budget and made government more accountable. As senator, Richard will be the 51st vote to repeal and replace government-run health care.
(End Video Clip)
