How to frame a story

The headline on this AP story ("Kerry's Military Records Show a Highly Praised Officer") sounds great. The story, with one exception, provides a stark contrast with Bush's military record. The one exception is the first paragraph:

Records of John Kerry's Vietnam War service released Wednesday show a highly praised naval officer with an Ivy League education who spoke fluent French and had raced sailboats -- the fruits of a privileged upbringing that set him apart from the typical seaman.

One positive description ("highly praised") combined with 1...2...3...4...5 phrases that could have come right from an RNC talking points memo.