Scott Whitlock posts about a most unprofessional episode on ABC's "Good Morning America" program yesterday, an exchange between Robin Roberts and a callous Chris Cuomo."Good Morning America" co-host Chris Cuomo joked on Monday's show that Britain's Prince Harry "has been over in Afghanistan fighting because he's expendable." Fellow host Robin Roberts appeared somewhat shocked by the comment and sputtered, "What did you say?" Cuomo, who was previewing an ABC special on the royals, didn't back off his assertion and reiterated, "It's true. The reason that Harry is allowed to be in Afghanistan is because he's not the heir to the throne. William's not allowed to be there."
While Harry may not be next in line to be king, it's in very poor taste for a professional journalist to make such a snide remark. After all, Prince Harry went to Afghanistan to bravely serve his country, not because he's "expendable." And perhaps it should be pointed out that it was Chris Cuomo's brother, Andrew, who entered politics and carried on the legacy of father and former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. Is Chris Cuomo's career in journalism, by extension, a reflection of the fact that he's "expendable?"
Cuomo's comments (which also included praise of Harry's "great hair") were not only sophomorically crass; they were also, no big surprise, incorrect. Harry's brother William, an officer in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals who is preparing for his future role as England's head of the armed forces by serving with other branches too, is scheduled for battlefield duty later this year.
