CBS, NBC, and ABC: They May Not Show Ann Romney’s Convention Speech

Ann Romney’s speech at the Republican convention may not receive coverage from the three mainstream networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Mrs. Romney is the kickoff speaker and her talk will therefore take place during prime-time. None of these three networks plan to offer prime-time coverage of the convention, so, unless the schedule is changed, Mrs. Romney's speech will be slighted. Okay, but why do I think a speech by Michelle Obama—if given at any time of the day or night—would make the cut?

Ann Romney knows Mitt Romney better than anybody else in the world, and her talk will be an important part of introducing him to the voting public—and still, the three big networks don’t regard her talk as worthy of coverage.

This is a particular slap in the face at a time when the Democrats are alleging a “war on women.” Mrs. Romney might have interesting things to say about both this and her husband. Networks supposedly make decisions based on news judgment, but isn’t Ann Romney newsy precisely because of the war on women meme?

Mrs. Romney might provide an answer to the vicious remarks Senator Barbara Boxer just made about Republicans and women. Karin has already noted Boxer's outburst, but I think her words are worth quoting a second time:

At a Planned Parenthood luncheon in San Jose California yesterday, Sen. Barbara Boxer launched a full bore attack on Republicans, after Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin made his comments about “legitimate rape.”

“There is a war against women, and Romney and Ryan — if they are elected — would become its top generals,” Boxer said calling Akin’s comments a “direct outgrowth” of the extreme positions on abortion held by Republicans.

“Where’s the outrage by Mitt Romney?” Boxer asked, “There is a sickness out there in the Republican Party, and I’m not kidding. Maybe they don’t like their moms or their first wives; I don’t know what it is.”

This is a new low in public discourse.  

Mitt and Ann Romney are, by all accounts, a genuine love story. So switch to cable Monday night and see what she has to say.