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GOP Blasts ABC Over Obama Special

AOL News
posted: 136 DAYS 18 HOURS AGO
comments: 3773
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(June 24) - Republicans are attacking ABC for devoting much of today's news programming to President Obama's heath care reform plan.
'Good Morning America' featured an exclusive interview with the president this morning. Obama will return tonight for an hour-long "town hall" event moderated by Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer.
In response, the Republican National Committee is running an ad that begins: "Today a national TV network turns it airwaves over to President Obama's pitch for government-run health care."
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RNC Chief of Staff Kan McKay fired off a strongly worded letter to ABC charging that the network had decided to "exclude opposing voices on this critical issue" and arguing that the Democratic Party should have to pay for tonight's airtime.
"ABC News prides itself on covering all sides of important issues and asking direct questions of all newsmakers -- of all political persuasions," ABC News Senior Vice President Kerry Smith wrote back. "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."
Sean Hannity is among those on the right who have joined in the fray, going so far as to declare "Journalism in America is dead." The Fox News commentator called tonight's broadcast on Disney-owned ABC a "Mickey Mouse sponsored infomercial."
"Oh, Sean," Sawyer sighed after listening to Hannity's broadside. "It is not an infomercial. ABC News does not do that."
“ABC has done town hall forums before,” Sawyer added in a telephone interview on CNN’s 'Reliable Sources.' She mentioned two programs that aired during the Clinton years. Although Sawyer said ABC "talked to the Bush administration" about the idea, it has never done such a forum with a Republican president.
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There hasn't been this much buzz about a network being "in the tank" for Obama since NBC was given exclusive access to the president for its 'Inside the Obama White House' special a few weeks ago. Conservatives said one scene from the documentary showed anchorman Brian Williams literally bowing to Obama.
The president laughed it off in remarks at last weekend's Radio and Television Correspondents’ Dinner.
"A few nights ago, I was up tossing and turning, trying to figure out exactly what to say," Obama joked. "Finally, when I couldn’t get back to sleep, I rolled over and asked Brian Williams what he thought."
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2009-06-24 11:55:23

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zalleyne2 Click to read Low-rated and possibly explicit material.
Swvmd Click to read Low-rated and possibly explicit material.

Ljponejolic

09:43 AMJul 01 2009

IF YOU THINK SOCIALISED HEALTH CARE IS SO GOOD GO TO CANADA AND STAND IN LINE WHERE DO PEOPLE IN CANADA WHO HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS GO GUESS WHAT THE GOOD OLD U S A ALL THIS IS ABOUT IS CONTROL OBAMA WANTS TO CONTROL YOU WHAT CAR YOU BUY WHERE YOU BANK HES EVEN TELLING YOU WHAT KIND OF LIGHT BULBS YOU CAN USE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WE NEED MORE TEA PARTYS AND SOON

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(11)

York Virginia

08:15 AMJul 01 2009

The real joke is how the media embellishes a topic in such a slanted, ridiculous manner.r.....to all the Liberals who are brainwashed into believing this govt. is going to make your life easier, you are being fooled Greatly. They will steal from the successful and those that are barely making it and they will make this country into a dictatorship where you have no freedom. I'm not wealthy, just getting by, but I have common sense enough to know the truth when I hear it. I wish you would listen to all of the news stations before you form an opinion. This govt. is involved in every angle from voting corruption to the media, to what you watch. Where and how you bank, to what doctor and what kind of medical care you will receive. They are tightening the noose every day.Global warming is a farce and has been proven as such by many scientists but they bury the data so the public only hears what they want you to hear. It's all about power and taking your money. That's it, there is nothing m...

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(10)
DuroF1 Click to read Low-rated and possibly explicit material.

MONROE LAW

06:09 AMJul 01 2009

Gee Mwoods when are you and your ilk going to realize that those of us who actually pay taxes and create jobs have had enough of you and your party destroying the economy? In the 2 1/2 years since you took control of both Houses of Congress the economy tanked. That isn't a coincidence and the truly stupid among you sheeple keep bleating about "the last eight years." If you aren't bright enough to understand which branch of government controls what, you desreve what is headed your way in taxes that even Barry can't dump on those of us paying more than our fair share already. If you think we can afford this health care plan it must be becuase you don't expect to be paying any part of the tab. You will however, be paying the VAT and you will be paying the pass along costs atendant to the new cap and trade bill. I'm not a Republican but I do seem to reacll that we have a First Amendment that protects the rights of ALL people to have an opinion. After all you got to post yours, right?

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NanMarge

11:29 PMJul 01 2009

Ignorant democrat Obama lovers are so blind. You really think things willl be better? We are going to be in worse shape when Obama is finished with us than we have been since the great depression. Blind ignorant, unthinking democrats.

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NanMarge

11:25 PMJul 01 2009

America is doomed to democrat control, and poverty.

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SpecialTny45

10:39 PMJul 01 2009

bammy sucks

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Barbgre1

10:16 PMJul 01 2009

Rosprmn2:07:34 AMJun 25 2009:Anybody that thinks this is not a infomercial for Obama care is ignorant with no opposing viewpoints how could it be anything else----------Absolutely right. The audience was hand-picked...and they wouldn't accept any advertising from anyone with an opposing viewpoint. Unbiased news is essentially dead. We might have to take a lesson from the Iranians and twitter news of any who disagree with Obama out of the country so the world will know.

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(June 24) - Republicans are attacking ABC for devoting much of today\'s news programming to President Obama\'s heath care reform plan.