Nets Not Showing Embarrassing DNC Convention Events

The broadcast networks have devoted a lot of manpower and resources to covering this week's Democratic National Convention in Denver.  Viewers have been bombarded with images of delegates in crazy hats sporting Michelle/Kennedy/Obama/Biden/Hillary signs.  Interviews of “average Americans” attending the convention have played across all the network newscasts both in the evenings and mornings.

But there are some stories the networks are carefully avoiding. 

For instance, not one network morning program covered the pro-life demonstration held in Denver and no broadcast coverage has been given to the fact that the Bishop of Denver's archdiocese has chastised House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and soon-to-be-nominated-for-Vice President Joseph Biden, both Catholics, on their support for abortion.

And speaking of abortion, no network cameras have videotaped the Bowling for Abortion event held in Denver.  Well, according to the Washington Post's Dana Milbank, the event was actually called “Strike for your Rights” and was sponsored by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.  He wrote that Denver had become “a parade ground for the full panoply of liberal interest-group politics.”

Milbank also noted other happenings the networks haven't bothered to report to the American public, like Planned Parenthood's dance party called “Sex, Politics and Cocktails” or the fact that condoms were being handed out near the convention entrance by representatives of Trojan who challenged delegates to see how fast they could get the condoms on a banana.

 Now that would be compelling television, don't you think?

Kristen Fyfe is senior writer at the Culture and Media Institute, a division of the MediaResearchCenter.