AP uncritically quoted RNC attack, ignored Obama's vote to condemn MoveOn ad

Written by Simon Maloy

Published

A September 25 Associated Press article on Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) first presidential campaign stop in Maine reported that “Republican National Committee spokeswoman Summer Johnson said Obama shouldn't talk about 'moral standing' when he sat out a Senate vote on a measure to condemn the liberal interest group MoveOn.org for a newspaper ad criticizing Gen. David Petraeus” -- referring to the vote on Sen. John Cornyn's (R-TX) September 20 amendment. The article quoted Johnson saying: “It seems Obama plays to the kind of politics set forth to him by MoveOn.org.” However, while reporting that Johnson attacked Obama for not voting on Cornyn's amendment, the AP ignored Obama's vote the same day for an amendment proposed by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to “strongly condemn attacks on the honor, integrity, and patriotism of any individual who is serving or has served honorably in the United States Armed Forces, by any person or organization.”

Boxer's amendment (pages S11864-S11865) criticized the MoveOn.org ad as “an unwarranted personal attack on General Petraeus,” but also criticized Republican-backed attacks against Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and former Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA) concerning their military service.

From the September 25 Associated Press article:

The hand-clapping, sign-waving crowd that paid $23 apiece for admission cheered repeatedly and rose to its feet during Obama's 35-minute speech. If elected, he said he would get out of Iraq, introduce universal health care coverage, change the tax code and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

America also needs to improve its “moral standing” in the world by being more open to listening and negotiating with others, he said.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Summer Johnson said Obama shouldn't talk about “moral standing” when he sat out a Senate vote on a measure to condemn the liberal interest group MoveOn.org for a newspaper ad criticizing Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

“It seems Obama plays to the kind of politics set forth to him by MoveOn.org,” Johnson said.