On the July 30 broadcast of ABC's World News, both anchor Charles Gibson and ABC News correspondent David Wright suggested that Sen. Barack Obama's and Sen. John McCain's presidential campaigns were equally guilty of “negative attacks.” However, Wright provided no evidence that Obama had engaged in negative attacks, stating only that Obama is “constantly comparing McCain to President Bush.”

Introducing Wright's reports on “negative attacks” in the presidential campaign, Gibson stated: “It is a pledge made by every candidate in every campaign: to run on the issues and avoid negative attacks. Just last month, John McCain pledged that throughout the campaign, he would 'show my admiration and respect for Senator Obama.' As for Obama, he pledged to 'run a different campaign, run a positive campaign.' Well, that was then. Today, the attacks were flying so fast and furious, it was sometimes hard to keep up.” Wright then reported: “The mud has indeed been flying, with Obama constantly comparing McCain to President Bush, and today McCain comparing Obama to empty celebrities: all sizzle, no substance.”

Wright offered no justification for suggesting that Obama's comparison between Bush and McCain is an “attack” comparable to McCain's “comparing Obama to empty celebrities.” Indeed, Bush and McCain agree on several major policy issues, including taxes and the Iraq war. As Media Matters for America has noted, the nonpartisan publication Congressional Quarterly found that McCain was the Bush administration's most reliable vote in 2007: “Repeated votes on immigration and the Iraq War also helped elevate Republican John McCain of Arizona, one of Bush's chief adversaries in the Senate in 2005, to be one of his biggest supporters in 2007. McCain's 95 percent support score for last year was the highest in the chamber.” Moreover, Bush endorsed McCain's candidacy in a joint appearance at the White House, and McCain has reportedly said he was “not trying to separate myself” from Bush on the campaign trail.

Wright went on to note other attacks McCain has made on Obama, reporting: “McCain has recently said Obama would rather lose a war to win an election. He's called him 'Dr. No' on energy reforms and run ads blaming Obama for high gas prices. ... Today, McCain unveiled a new ad in 11 states flashing images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, suggesting Obama is just another vapid celebrity.” Wright noted that the “Obama campaign dismissed the ad as more of McCain's 'steady stream of false, negative attacks' ” and that “Obama told an audience in Missouri the Republicans are just trying to scare voters.” He later added:

Today, the McCain side released a memo noting, among other things, Obama's fondness for chocolate protein bars, Black Forest Berry Honest Tea, and arugula. In other words, high maintenance, like any big star.

But Obama supporters are having none of it. Today, they called attention to the shoes McCain has worn on stops throughout the Rust Belt -- Italian calfskin loafers that retail for $520 a pair.

But while Wright reported that “Obama supporters ... called attention to the shoes McCain has worn on stops throughout the Rust Belt,” the on-screen text that accompanied Wright's report attributed the assertion to an “Obama campaign memo”:

Wright did not produce any evidence that the Obama campaign released a memo attacking McCain for his choice of footwear or explain the contradiction between his reporting and the on-screen text. On July 30, The Huffington Post first reported on McCain's shoes, noting that McCain “has worn a pair of $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes on every recent campaign stop -- from a news conference with the Dalai Lama to a supermarket visit in Bethlehem, PA.” By contrast, the Politico's Jonathan Martin reported in a July 30 blog post that the McCain campaign released a memo that stated, in part:

Only a celebrity of Barack Obama's magnitude could attract 200,000 fans in Berlin who gathered for the mere opportunity to be in his presence. These are not supporters or even voters, but fans fawning over The One. Only celebrities like Barack Obama go to the gym three times a day, demand “MET-RX chocolate roasted-peanut protein bars and bottles of a hard-to-find organic brew -- Black Forest Berry Honest Tea” and worry about the price of arugula.

From the July 30 edition of ABC's World News with Charles Gibson:

GIBSON: Good evening. It is a pledge made by every candidate in every campaign: to run on the issues and avoid negative attacks. Just last month, John McCain pledged that throughout the campaign, he would “show my admiration and respect for Senator Obama.” As for Obama, he pledged to “run a different campaign, run a positive campaign.” Well, that was then. Today, the attacks were flying so fast and furious, it was sometimes hard to keep up. ABC's David Wright is in Washington tonight. David.

WRIGHT: Good evening, Charlie. The mud has indeed been flying, with Obama constantly comparing McCain to President Bush, and today McCain comparing Obama to empty celebrities: all sizzle, no substance.

[begin video clip]

WRIGHT: John McCain has been trying to raise doubts about his opponent. Today in Colorado, he was at it again.

McCAIN: The bottom line is that Senator Obama's words, for all their eloquence and passion, don't mean all that much.

WRIGHT: McCain has recently said Obama would rather lose a war to win an election. He's called him “Dr. No” on energy reforms and run ads blaming Obama for high gas prices.

NARRATOR: He's the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead?

WRIGHT: Today, McCain unveiled a new ad in 11 states flashing images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, suggesting Obama is just another vapid celebrity.

NARRATOR: Higher taxes. More foreign oil. That's the real Obama.

STUART ROTHENBERG (editor and publisher of The Rothenberg Political Report): Nobody is going to confuse Paris Hilton with Senator Barack Obama. But over time, the attempt to raise questions about his substance, that could very well work.

WRIGHT: The Obama campaign dismissed the ad as more of McCain's “steady stream of false, negative attacks. Or as some might say, 'Oops, he did it again.' ”

OBAMA: We don't need the same old tired answers. What we need is something new.

WRIGHT: Obama told an audience in Missouri the Republicans are just trying to scare voters.

OBAMA: The argument is, “I know you don't really like what we're doing, but he's risky.”

WRIGHT: McCain's spokesman shot back: “This is a typically superfluous response from Barack Obama. Like most celebrities, he reacts to fair criticism with a mix of fussiness and hysteria.”

Today, the McCain side released a memo noting, among other things, Obama's fondness for chocolate protein bars, Black Forest Berry Honest Tea, and arugula. In other words, high maintenance, like any big star.

But Obama supporters are having none of it. Today, they called attention to the shoes McCain has worn on stops throughout the Rust Belt -- Italian calfskin loafers that retail for $520 a pair.

Late today, the Obama campaign responded to McCain's “Celebrity” ad, with a new ad of their own.

NARRATOR: “False.” “Baloney.” “The low road.” “Baseless.” John McCain: Same old politics. Same failed policies.

[end video clip]

WRIGHT: It's getting ugly early, and some Republicans are expressing concern about McCain's tone. In particular, one former McCain aide calling the new “Celebrity” ad “childish.” Well, the McCain campaign insists that Obama went negative first. Charlie?