Ann Romney Hosting 'GMA' After Announcement That Anchor Sam Champion Is Gay; Will It Be Awkward?

By Jeff Stone | October 06 2012 3:22 PM

As this November’s election date draws closer, the candidates and their families will make a full-court press to appeal to America’s undecided voters. The news channels will play up the hype, and ABC is no exception: Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, will sit in as a guest host on “Good Morning America” this week.

Potential First Lady Ann Romney is a sufferer of MS, and has even been affected on the campaign trail.

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ABC told the Los Angeles Times that Romney’s appearances on the morning show will be fair and balanced, but voters on both sides of the aisle might see some awkwardness between Mrs. Romney and “GMA” anchor Sam Champion, who recently became engaged to his longtime boyfriend.

There hasn’t been a report detailing exactly what Romney will talk about, but there is a chance she’ll be in the studio when the anchors discuss Champion’s decision to come out of the closet. Both Mitt and Ann Romney have been vocal about not wanting to give gay people the right to marry.

Mrs. Romney, who is 63, made news in August when she professed that her favorite TV show is “Modern Family,” a program that prominently features a gay couple raising a child. “Modern Family” creator Steve Levitan took to Twitter to sarcastically say how appreciative he is of Ann Romney’s support, according to E! News.

“Thrilled Ann Romney says ModFam is her favorite show. We’ll offer her the role of officiant at Mitch & Cam’s wedding. As soon as it’s legal,” Levitan tweeted.

In 2008, ABC invited Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain to be on the daytime talk show “The View,” so the invitation to Ann Romney is not a new idea. When McCain returned to the show with her husband, they were asked some tough questions by the show's hosts. Joy Behar, one of the show's hosts, even told Senator McCain that some of the ads his campaign was running were “lies.”

Even if there’s some discomfort between Romney and Champion, it’s hard to see the awkwardness reaching the level it did when Mitt Romney was confronted by a gay veteran last year. In the ABC News video of that incident -- which you can watch below -- Romney sits stone-faced and visibly uncomfortable when asked point-blank about his stance on gay marriage.

When asked if former servicemen who get married are entitled to the same benefits as a married man and woman, Romney said he would not be in favor of giving them burial benefits and other equality issues that straight veterans are eligible for.

“You have to look a man in the eye to get a good answer, and you know what, governor? Good luck, you’re going to need it,” the Vietnam veteran said. “He’s not getting my vote. He told me I’m not entitled to Constitutional rights. I think a man and man and a man and woman should be treated eqaul. What the hell is the difference?”