ABC holding Town Hall at White House with no GOPers invited.
ABC News should be required to register as a federal lobbyist.
On June 24, Drudge reports, the network will broadcast from inside the White House to air a propaganda special for Obamacare.
Opposing voices will reportedly be excluded. ABC News says “thoughtful” and “diverse” points of view will be allowed. In other words: Shills of all colors!
ABC: The All Barack Channel.
The RNC fears it’ll be a “glorified infomercial” but ABC assures us the infomercial will be fully under its control, with no input from Team Barry — except, of course, for the use of the White House to broadcast the special and that evening’s airing of ABC World News. Oh, and the total lack of any official Republican counterpoint, which Obama surely could have insisted on on if he was as serious about making this a “bipartisan” issue as he claims.
At The Corner,
I like a robust debate, and finally we’re starting to see some really good reporting on the merits of the president’s reform proposals. Judging by the reaction, people don’t seem to like what they’re learning. And some may feel like they’ve not been getting the full story about how much the reforms will cost them. Now that that cat’s out of the bag, their skepticism is rising. It’s no wonder the White House wants to open its doors to ABC for a large-scale PR push.
Perhaps ABC will help provide more clarity and “select” people who will ask tough questions; however, no matter how tough the questions are, President Obama will have home-field advantage. And it’s hard not to look like you’re in the tank when you’re anchoring from the Blue Room.
At Townhall, Carol Platt Liebau
Just wondering: What would be so bad with giving some time to opposing views, as well as to Obama? What is ABC so afraid of — isn’t the news supposed to be about informing the public? Or is it about pushing Obama’s agenda?
No wonder the public trust in media is declining. Americans recognize a rigged game when they see one.
And in opposition, Steve Benen
It doesn’t seem like the kind of interview/forum that would spark a controversy. A national debate on health care policy is beginning; Americans have concerns; and the president is apparently anxious to explore this in more depth. Gibson and Sawyer will no doubt ask plenty of pointed questions, and Obama will have plenty of GOP talking points to respond to. What’s more, ABC, in addition to the assembled audience, will reportedly work with Digg to let viewers have input into which questions get asked.
Sounds like a reasonable approach to a major policy debate? Well, it depends on who you ask.
The RNC and conservative blogs in general are outraged by the discussion. Drudge insisted earlier that ABC is “turn[ing] its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care,” adding that “the media and government [will] become one.”
UPDATE: Jeffrey Goldberg brings us David Zurawik
UPDATE #2: Malkin again
Allah Pundit again
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June 18, 2009 at 10:30 pm
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