CNN's Phillips drew distinction between "anti-war" Sheehan and "staunch advocate for the troops" Young

Summary: CNN's Kyra Phillips characterized Cindy Sheehan as an "anti-war activist" while casting Beverly Young, wife of Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (R-FL), as a "staunch advocate for the troops." Both women were removed from the visitor's gallery of the House of Representatives prior to the start of President Bush's State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with political messages.

On the February 2 edition of CNN's Live From..., host Kyra Phillips characterized Cindy Sheehan as an "anti-war activist" while casting Beverly Young, wife of Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (R-FL), as a "staunch advocate for the troops." Both women were removed from the visitor's gallery of the House of Representatives prior to the start of President Bush's January 31 State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with political messages. Sheehan's shirt listed the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq at that point -- 2,245 -- along with the question "How many more?" Young's shirt read: "Support the Troops -- Defending Our Freedom."

Philips did not say how Sheehan's status as an "anti-war activist" or how the message on her shirt differentiated her from a "staunch advocate for the troops" such as Young.

Media Matters for America previously noted other media outlets characterizing Sheehan's shirt as "the opposite" of Young's, and describing Young's message as "more patriotic" than Sheehan's.

From the 2 p.m. ET hour of the February 2 edition of CNN's Live From...:

PHILLIPS: Uh, never mind. The great Capitol Hill garment crisis turns out to be a tempest in a T-shirt. Here are the players, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and staunch advocate for the troops Beverly Young, wearing the shirts that got them both bounced from the State of the Union on Monday. Capitol Police chief Terrance Gainer cops to the double blunder, saying his officers were operating under outdated guidance. Turns out political T-shirts aren't unlawful in chambers unless the wearer tries to call attention to the message. Now both women have gotten plenty of attention.

—J.B.