The journalists at Good Morning America seem to have decided that the gay marriage debate no longer has two sides. On Thursday, co-anchor Robin Roberts opened the program by spinning Wednesday's Supreme Court decision only as a good thing. She extolled, "And some wonderful pictures to show you of jubilation. People dancing in the streets in cities all around the country." [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
After using the loaded term "marriage equality," Roberts gushed, "Celebrating well into the night. Look at San Francisco city hall, lighting up right there in tribute." Over the span of two segments totaling three minutes, GMA's reporters allowed a scant six seconds to opposition. Instead, the co-host simply highlighted the winners: "So many of those celebrations we showed you, erupting from coast-to-coast. Some of the biggest in San Francisco."
Reporter Cecila Vega echoed a similar theme, touting, "There was dancing in the streets to mark a momentous victory. California's long-fought battle for gay marriage, now over."
The sum total of gay marriage opposition came when Vega allowed, "But not everyone is happy." She then played a clip of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declaring, " I don't think the ruling was appropriate. I think it was wrong." That was it.
In a follow-up report, news reader Josh Elliott raved that San Francisco's city hall was lit up "the colors of the rainbow."
On Wednesday, Elliott and Sam Champion, the openly gay weatherman, celebrated on-air.
On May 10, 2012, Roberts excitedly told her co-hosts that she got "chills" after Barack Obama flip-flopped on gay marriage.
A transcript of the June 27 segment is below:
7:01
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Big changes are coming. It was a sweeping decision.
...
7:03
ABC GRAPHIC: Historic Ruling on Gay Rights: Celebrations Coast to Coast
ROBIN ROBERTS: Now, to those landmark rulings by the Supreme Court on marriage equality. So many of those celebrations we showed you, erupting from coast-to-coast. Some of the biggest in San Francisco. And ABC's Cecilia Vega is there for us right now. Good morning, Cecilia.
EDIE WINDSOR (DOMA plaintiff): The federal government can no longer discriminate against the marriages of gay and lesbian Americans.
CECILA VEGA: A sweeping win for gay rights from the nation's highest court. And now, orders from the highest offices. President Obama directing his cabinet to ensure federal benefits are extended to married gay couples. California's Governor ordering all counties in the golden state to allow same-sex weddings. And the ninth circuit court saying it will take at least 25 days before those marriages can actually begin.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I'm a deputy marriage commissioner.
VEGA: What's the conclusion in a same-sex marriage ceremony? I now pronounce you?
--
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Spouses for life.
VEGA: Spouses for life. But not everyone is happy.
CHRIS CHRISTIE: I don't think the ruling was appropriate. I think it was wrong.
VEGA: The ruling are not just symbolic. The changes in store for same-sex couples will be practical, too. For not having to pay estate tax on inheritances, to filing joint tax returns, to collecting more in Social Security benefits.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: The marriage license I got in 2008 in California, now holds the same value as the marriage license of every other person on my block.
VEGA: Well, She and her family are celebrating here in California today. A lot of other couples also. But in states, the 36 states where gay marriage is still banned, proponents there, Robin and George, say this fight goes on.
ROBERTS: All right, Cecilia, thank you. Such a historic week. When you think of the voters rights act and now marriage equality.
