On World News Saturday and on Sunday’s Good Morning America, ABC continued to quote liberal commentator Ron Reagan’s recent criticisms of Sarah Palin without reminding viewers of his liberal political views and history of attacking conservatives as both shows recounted Palin’s speech in commemoration of former President Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday.
On World News Saturday, after playing a clip of Palin’s speech, anchor Sharyn Alfonsi continued: "Reagan's outspoken youngest son Ron told the Associated Press that Palin, quote, 'is a soap opera who has nothing in common' with his father."
And on Sunday’s GMA, a piece by correspondent David Kerley used a clip of Ron Reagan from one of his recent appearances on GMA promoting his book, My Father at 100, when he had negative words to say about Palin. After relating that Palin had charged that America is "on a road to ruin because it has strayed from Reagan’s values," and after a clip of the former Alaska governor comparing her own political views to those of President Reagan, Kerley continued:
Reagan’s son Ron - who has written a new book about his father at 100 - was having none of that, saying Palin is a soap opera, not serious, with nothing in common with his father. He even tried to channel his father when he was asked by Bianna Golodryga what the former President would think of Palin.
Then came a clip of Ron Reagan and GMA’s Bianna Golodryga from a couple of weeks ago:
RON REAGAN, SON OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: He would say, well, she seems like a nice young woman, but, you know, perhaps in years to come with a little more seasoning she might want to consider running for my office.
(RON REAGAN AND BIANNA GOLODRYGA LAUGH)
BIANNA GOLODRYGA: A little more seasoning?
RON REAGAN: Yeah, maybe even a lot more.
As previously documented by NewsBusters, on Saturday’s GMA, Ron Claiborne read a brief item on Palin’s speech, and added: "But one of Reagan’s sons, Ron Reagan, says Palin has nothing in common with his father." Also of note, ABC's GMA in recent weeks devoted 28 minutes over several shows to Ron Reagan to talk about his book in which he theorized that his father had started to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease as early as his first term.
Below are transcripts of relevant portions of the February 5 World News Saturday and the Sunday, February 6, Good Morning America from ABC:
#From the February 5 World News Saturday:
SHARYN ALFONSI: And some rather sharp comments from Sarah Palin. At a dinner celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth tomorrow, she warned that the U.S. has veered too far from Reagan’s values of low taxes and limited government. Palin said the policies of President Obama and other Democrats will lead to quote, "decline and defeat."
FORMER GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN (R-AK) CLIP #1: This is not the road to national greatness. It is the road to ruins.
PALIN #2: The federal government is spending too much, borrowing too much, growing and controlling too much.
ALFONSI: Reagan’s outspoken youngest son Ron told the Associated Press that Palin, quote, "is a soap opera who has nothing in common" with his father.
#From the February 6 Good Morning America:
DAVID KERLEY: There will be celebrations and candles today marking what would have been Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: I’ve thought a bit of the shining city upon a hill.
KERLEY: But it’s a party with some tension. After riding a horse on Reagan’s ranch and feeling his spirit she says, Sarah Palin charged that America is on a road to ruin because it has strayed from Reagan’s values.
FORMER GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN (R-AK): As an Alaskan, I probably consider myself a western conservative in the spirit of Ronald Reagan.
KERLEY: Reagan’s son Ron - who has written a new book about his father at 100 - was having none of that, saying Palin is a soap opera, not serious, with nothing in common with his father. He even tried to channel his father when he was asked by Bianna Golodryga what the former President would think of Palin.
RON REAGAN, SON OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: He would say, well, she seems like a nice young woman, but, you know, perhaps in years to come with a little more seasoning she might want to consider running for my office.
(RON REAGAN AND BIANNA GOLODRYGA LAUGH)
BIANNA GOLODRYGA: A little more seasoning?
RON REAGAN: Yeah, maybe even a lot more.
