Update: Obama Takes Over ABC?
I’m sure I’ll continue to say this for the next three and a half years, but this whole era of Obama is resembling a bad sci-fi movie on how a rogue government took total control of industries, and eventually all modes of information to the public.
One down…
ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA;
NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSETue 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!
Even Hugo Chavez didn’t go this far.
Highlights on the agenda:
ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House. The network plans a primetime special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.
MORE
Late Monday night, Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay fired off a complaint to the head of ABCNEWS:
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 primetime 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 primetime 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 primetime event, or the DNC should pay for your airtime.
Respectfully,
Ken McKay
Republican National Committee
Chief of StaffMORE
ABCNEWS Senior Vice President Kerry Smith on Tuesday responded to the RNC complaint, saying it contained ‘false premises’:
“ABCNEWS prides itself on covering all sides of important issues and asking direct questions of all newsmakers — 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. ABCNEWS is looking for the most thoughtful and diverse voices on this issue.
“ABCNEWS 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.”
Developing…
Again I repeat myself: Imagine the screech from the left had George W. Bush done exactly the same thing.
This (like most things with this administration) is unprecedented, a blatant violation of journalism ethics, and the Republicans have been given a new gift to use against Democrats in 2010 and beyond.
UPDATE: The White House has responded in the negative to the RNC request for equal time.
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.
— Ken McKay, Republican National Committee Chief of Staff
Then again, when was the last time a liberal volunteered equal time…?
June 16th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Makes perfect sense to me. Stephanopoulus should’nt have to do his job remotely.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I wonder who’s going to be socialist thug to be the 21st Century Joseph Goebbells to heir Obama?
speaking of those references, I saw “Valkyrie” last night, and while I don’t want death to befall O, I wish the Military would stage some kind of confrontation to force this false prophet to PROVE he’s legal citizen, and stop HIDING behind millions of dollars in lawyers, getting off on “technicalities”
June 16th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Hahah, Bob you nailed it! “Again I repeat myself: Imagine the screech from the left had George W. Bush done exactly the same thing.”
Imagine the uproar if, oh wait, there IS uproar because of Fox News and conservative talk radio dissenting from Obama’s agenda.
I read the article you linked to a NYT oped regarding the phenom of conservative talk radio and TV, and where the commenters are almost all gleefully calling for a fairness doctrine!!!
So how is it that Bush was an opresser, but this new administration which has been able to change the meaning of words around, like “fairness” and “Employee Free Choice Act”, to represent giving all mankind a fair shake; when in reality, it is quite the opposite.
Snuff out fredom of choices and the right to free speech and what do you get??? USSR anyone????
June 16th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Fiction seems to have nothing on reality.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I wonder when they’re going to make The Karl Marx Verity Hour
June 16th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
This is worse than the horror movie-esque dream I had last night where I was trapped in an abandoned train yard, surrounded by dead bodies, with a psycho killer on the loose.
I’d fall asleep and go back to that in a second rather than live the real-life nightmare that is this administration.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I’m curious though… is this take-over simply for this one primetime event, or is ABC officially a government puppet for the remainder of this administration? It’s difficult to tell from the articles.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I’ve just made a telephone complaint to the FCC. They took my contact info down and will be calling me back. I also called my local ABC affiliate and told them I would no longer watch their local programming if they chose to air this. I haven’t been able to find a direct line to ABC yet, only a recorded message, but the day is young.
I suggest people call the FCC and make complaints that this violates standards and practices and is biased reporting. If Janet Jackson’s b**b caused so much flak, this should be much more upsetting.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Anybody want to tell me again that there’s no such thing as media bias? Anyone? Bueller?
June 16th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Remember how they screamed when President Bush invited some talk radio people in for a chat?
June 16th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Darcy_Lynne:
“or is ABC officially a government puppet for the remainder of this administration?”
What’s that old adage about the walking, talking duck???
It’s been 10 minutes since I read that news story and I still can’t breathe normally! I used to respect Charlie Gibson until a couple of years ago and now I think he has totally gone insane. This is not a news item, he has officially gone into politics and should be named the WH press secretary.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
What is happening to my country?!
June 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
[...] As Bob so aptly puts it, “This whole era of Obama is resembling a bad sci-fi movie on how a rogue government took total control of industries, and eventually all modes of information to the public.” ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE [...]
June 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Is ABC News Turning Programming Over To Obama? Bla…
Bob Parks, a black conservative Republican commentator in Massachusetts, opines: “I’m sure I’ll continue to say this for the next three and a half years, but this whole era of Obama is resembling a bad sci-fi movie on how a rogue government took tot…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Chavez and Fidel are jealous, remember?
They try, and try; but, they’re just a shadow of the full BS.
“Venezuela Chavez says “Comrade” Obama more left-wing”
http://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE5520GX20090603
Anyone watch the propaganda on PBS (especially digital 9-2)?
June 16th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Forget journalism ethics. What happened to journalism? It’s dead like Jimmy Hoffa.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Back in ‘91, I couldn’t even accept a cup of soup from the owner of a diner I was interviewing for a story unrelated to his establishment. My editor was very clear about that sort of thing.
Here, it’s so blatant: ABC gets the exclusive if they don’t talk to the loyal opposition. How much you want to bet that Gibbons’ only nod to opponents is that irritating “some people say” cliché?
June 16th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Typical left wing BS. When its a conservative program….they DEMAND equal time. When we ASK for time as well, they say they have to and its at their discretion.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Even Chavez sez that Obama is farther left then him…
June 17th, 2009 at 1:03 am
One thing nice about TV, it has a button to turn it off. Too bad it doesn’t work with Obummer! I haven’t watched ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC or CNN since they started pimping for “The Man”. I watch the Discovery Channel, Military Channel, TLC, History Channel & a few other mind expanding programs. If I want Fantasy I could watch the MSM, but the SIFI Channel is more realistic. ABC will need Stephanopoulus there so he can correct Obama when he has a brain fart & makes a truthful statement, like his Muslim Faith. I may be old, but my brain still functions, which is more than I can say for “The Man”.
June 17th, 2009 at 1:15 am
This will continue as long as there remains sufficient wealth or perception of the same. As soon as the US attains Venezuela status, then, and only then, will the people wake-up. Fortunately, there is an alternative to Media-gate, and that alternative (Bob, Michelle, and company) serves to inform conservatives, and moderates that voted regressive.
Speaking of Media-gate. I was in the waiting room of a hospital and their television was tuned to CNN. For nearly 1 hour, I watched and listened to their propaganda, and worse, most of that hour was filled with Larry and Kathy Griffin — Oh the horror! If you watch enough of that crap, you will either lose your mind, regress, or both! An hour of CNN with Larry and company can unequivocally be classified as torture!
It was worse because all of the magazines were for women or self-loathing men. I was fortunate to be distracted by some exotic fish in a tank, and the videos and photographs stored on my phone.
If you really hate someone, then make them watch Larry and company.