Michael Gormley

AP Miscasts NY State Same-Sex Marriage Bill Status, Calls Common Cause Official a 'Good Government Advocate'
By Tom Blumer | June 21, 2011 | 10:00 PM EDT

The headline at Michael Gormley's Associated Press story on the status of New York State's legislation legalizing same-sex marriage ("NY GOP tables gay marriage; showdown looms") does not reflect the bill's status in the legislative process as described in his underlying report.

Additionally, Gormley had either the ignorance or the gall to characterize an official with Common Cause, an organization whose leadership and national governing board comprise a virtual leftist Who's Who, as a "good government advocate." Gosh, the people at Heritage are also "good government advocates." Does anyone think they'll live to see an AP reporter describe any Heritage official in such terms? (To be clear, the wire service shouldn't do that in describing leftist or conservative officials.)

Here are excerpts from Gormley's report (bolds and numbered tags are mine):

AP's Gormley Gripes That 'Old-time Back-room Politics' Has Delayed Same-sex Marriage Bill in N.Y. Senate
By Ken Shepherd | June 21, 2011 | 10:59 AM EDT

Somehow when I think of "old-time back-room politics" I don't associate it with important debates about the definition of marriage and the safeguarding of religious liberties.

But apparently AP's Michael Gormley does.

Here's how he opened his June 21 story which the Washington Post ran on page A2 (emphasis mine):