[StBernard] ABC AND OBAMA

[Westley Annis]

ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE
HOUSE
Tue Jun 16 2009 08:45:10 ET

On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns
its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push
government run health care -- a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!

Highlights on the agenda:

ABC NEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of
the White House.

The network plans a prime-time special -- 'Prescription for America' --
originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.

The Director of Communications at the White House Office of Health Reform is
Linda Douglass, who worked as a reporter for ABC News from 1998-2006.

Late Monday night, Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay
fired off a complaint to the head of ABC NEWS:

Dear Mr. Westin:

As the national debate on health care reform intensifies, I am deeply
concerned and disappointed with ABC's astonishing decision to exclude
opposing voices on this critical issue on June 24, 2009. Next Wednesday, ABC
News will air a prime-time health care reform "town hall" at the White House
with President Barack Obama. In addition, according to an ABC News report,
GOOD MORNING AMERICA, WORLD NEWS, NIGHTLINE and ABC's web news "will all
feature special programming on the president's health care agenda." This
does not include the promotion, over the next 9 days, the president's health
care agenda will receive on ABC News programming.

Today, the Republican National Committee requested an opportunity to add our
Party's views to those of the President's to ensure that all sides of the
health care reform debate are presented. Our request was rejected. I believe
that the President should have the ability to speak directly to the America
people. However, I find it outrageous that ABC would prohibit our Party's
opposing thoughts and ideas from this national debate, which affects
millions of ABC viewers.

In the absence of opposition, I am concerned this event will become a
glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda. If that is the case,
this prime-time infomercial should be paid for out of the DNC coffers.
President Obama does not hold a monopoly on health care reform ideas or on
free airtime. The President has stated time and time again that he wants a
bipartisan debate. Therefore, the Republican Party should be included in
this prime-time event, or the DNC should pay for your airtime.

Respectfully,
Ken McKay
Republican National Committee
Chief of Staff

MORE

ABC NEWS Senior Vice President Kerry Smith on Tuesday responded to the RNC
complaint, saying it contained 'false premises':

"ABC NEWS prides itself on covering all sides of important issues and asking
direct questions of all news makers -- of all political persuasions -- even
when others have taken a more partisan approach and even in the face of
criticism from extremes on both ends of the political spectrum. ABC NEWS is
looking for the most thoughtful and diverse voices on this issue.

"ABC NEWS alone will select those who will be in the audience asking
questions of the president. Like any programs we broadcast, ABC News will
have complete editorial control. To suggest otherwise is quite unfair to
both our journalists and our audience."