On multiple March 13 broadcasts, KUSA 9News reported that gay-rights activists were upset by the recent remarks of Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said he considered homosexual acts “immoral.” However, 9News ignored widespread reporting that Pace's remarks also had sparked bipartisan congressional criticism.

In an interview published in the March 13 edition of the Chicago Tribune, Pace was quoted as saying, “I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts.” Discussing why he supports the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy with regard to gay men and lesbians serving in the armed forces, the Tribune attributed the general's position to his belief that homosexuality is “akin to a member of the armed forces conducting an adulterous affair with the spouse of another service member.”

As the Associated Press reported, Pace's comments touched off “a flurry of condemnation.” And while the AP noted that "[t]wo gay advocacy groups strongly condemned Pace's remarks," it also stated that "[l]awmakers of both parties criticized Pace's remarks":

“We need the most talented people; we need the language skills. We need patriotic Americans who exist across the board in our population,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “We don't need moral judgment from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.”

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., one of Congress' most respected authorities on military matters and a former Navy secretary, said, “I respectfully but strongly disagree with the chairman's view that homosexuality is immoral.”

Also chastising Pace was Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., who has introduced legislation repealing the policy.

Despite such reporting on the congressional response to Pace's comments, 9News' March 13 coverage of the controversy largely focused only on the reaction of unidentified “gay activists” or "[g]ay advocates":

• 9News at Noon anchor Gary Shapiro reported that “gay activists say that [Pace's] comments ... were outrageous, insensitive, and disrespectful,” and that "[t]he activists wanted an apology."

• 4 O'clock at 9News anchor Mark Koebrich similarly noted only that "[g]ay advocates are asking for an apology."

• 9News at 5 p.m. anchor Bob Kendrick's report stated, “Gay-rights activists wanted [Pace] to apologize for likening homosexuality to adultery and calling it immoral.”

During the 9News at 10 p.m. report, anchor Adele Arakawa did state that “some members of Congress have also condemned the general's comments.” In contrast to the numerous 9News reports that failed to note the reaction beyond gay-rights activists, KCNC reported on its March 13 broadcast of CBS4 News at 5 p.m. that "[m]embers of Congress and gay-rights groups are demanding a more formal apology" from Pace.

As the AP noted, following the widespread criticism of his remarks, Pace stopped short of issuing an apology, but released a statement saying, “I should have focused more on my support of the policy and less on my personal moral views.”

From the March 13 broadcast of KUSA's 9News at Noon:

SHAPIRO [anchor]: Other news today, gay activists say that comments made by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were outrageous, insensitive, and disrespectful to the 65,000 gays now serving in the armed forces. General Peter Pace, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, likened homosexuality to adultery and said it is immoral. The activists wanted an apology, but Pace stopped short of that in a statement issued this morning. In that statement, Pace said he supports the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy. He also said he should have focused his comments more on policy and less on his personal views.

From the March 13 broadcast of KUSA's 4 O'clock at 9News:

KOEBRICH [co-anchor]: Regrets, but no apology from America's top general regarding his comments about gays in the military. General Peter Race -- excuse me, General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was interviewed for the Chicago Tribune. When asked about gays in the military, the general said he believes homosexuality is immoral. His comments renewed the debate over the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy. House Democrats want to repeal the current policy. The general says he should have focused his remarks on the Pentagon policy rather than his personal reviews.

[begin video clip]

PACE: We, by policy, would be condoning what I believe is immoral activity.

REP. MARTY MEEHAN [D-MA]: If every person who's gay were to leave the military overnight, we would lose thousands of effective, capable heroes who are fighting for us around the world.

[end video clip]

KOEBRICH: Gay advocates are asking for an apology. A statement released by General Pace today explains that he expressed his support for the “don't ask, don't tell” policy during the interview and that it is a policy that allows individuals to serve the nation.

From the March 13 broadcast of KUSA's 9News at 5 p.m.:

KENDRICK [co-anchor]: General Peter Pace issued a statement today regarding comments that he made against homosexuality. But he stopped short of an apology. Gay-rights activists wanted the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to apologize for likening homosexuality to adultery and calling it immoral. Pace made those comments in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. In the statement, Pace said that he should have focused more on military policy and less on his own personal views.

From the March 13 broadcast of KCNC's CBS4 News at 5 p.m.:

JIM BENEMANN [co-anchor]: The chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff says he supports the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy on gays. General Peter Pace says he regrets calling homosexuality immoral.

PACE [audio clip]: I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts.

BENEMANN: Pace now saying he should not have expressed those personal beliefs to a newspaper reporter when asked about military policy. Members of Congress and gay-rights groups are demanding a more formal apology. A bill now before Congress calls on the military to repeal that current policy on gays and lesbians.