ABC News & Obama down in the Schoolyard.

[RobMoney$]

**Sung to the tune "Me & Julio down by the schoolyard"**


ABC is in collusion with Obama on promoting his socialized Health Care reform package and refuse to allow opposing viewpoint from the GOP.


http://www.drudgereport.com/flashaot.htm
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:

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.

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 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 Staff

MORE

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...


If there was ever a doubt about the Left taking us into a place where government is running everything, and controlling everything...

[Bob]

If there was ever a doubt about the Left taking us into a place where government is running everything, and controlling everything...

again, do you not think that's a slightly overdramatic reaction to this?

[RobMoney$]

Imagine this happening under "W's" administration.
Now imagine how "overdramatic" the reactions would be from the campus fuckfaces.

Now ask yourself if what I said was "overdramatic".

[kaiser soze]

Now imagine how "overdramatic" the reactions would be from the campus fuckfaces

There you go with the generalizations and disparaging comments. Come on rob....aren't you better than that?

oh great, an infomercial. I do not agree with the supposed exclusion of certain parties from this discussion.

Where were the opposing voices when bush was selling his war?

oh right, locked up in free speech zones

I recall many presidents being interviewed in the White House

it's not like loyalty oaths are something new....ask bush

[Bob]

Imagine this happening under "W's" administration.
Now imagine how "overdramatic" the reactions would be from the campus fuckfaces.

Now ask yourself if what I said was "overdramatic".

yes, it's overdramatic

this article doesn't make it entirely clear as to how opposing voices are being excluded from this. here's what i can gather:

-ABC is hosting a primetime event in the white house, a town hall style discussion about obama's proposed health care reform
-the RNC requested to have some of their members included
-ABC said "no, we'll maintain editorial control, as we always do, but don't worry, we'll make sure that the opposing side will have a voice"

i don't understand how this equates to THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING OVER THE MEDIA, WE'RE THE USSA NOW

[saz]

not to mention that this is from the sleazy drudge report.





Obama Boost: New Poll Shows 76% Support For Choice Of Public Plan

First Posted: 06-17-09 11:19 PM | Updated: 06-18-09 12:02 AM
Sam Stein l HuffPost Reporting



New poll numbers from NBC/Wall Street Journal (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/090617_NBC-WSJ_poll_Full.pdf) produce two major and potentially conflicting story lines when it comes to the Obama administration's efforts for a health care overhaul. On the one hand, the American public overwhelmingly favors a choice between getting insurance coverage either through the private market or a government run option. Indeed, 76 percent of respondents said it was either "extremely" or "quite" important to "give people a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance."

With the public option being such a lightning rod in the current health care debate, progressive activists are already emailing around these numbers as evidence that voters are way ahead of the politicians. Certainly, the findings provide a boost of sorts to President Obama, who has stood by the public plan even as Republican opposition has crystallized.

That said, the president still has his work cut out for him. In the same NBC/WSJ poll, only 33 percent of respondents said they thought the president's health care plan, to the extent they knew of it, was a "good idea;" 32 percent said it was a bad idea.

In short: the administration has yet to complete the sale. An additional 30 percent of the public had no opinion of Obama's proposal for reform. But when read a description of the general outline -- requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions, an employer mandate, tax credits for lower income families to buy coverage, and tax increases on wealthier Americans to pay for it - the number of respondents in support rose to 55 percent.

link (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/17/obama-boost-new-poll-show_n_217175.html)

[RobMoney$]

i don't understand how this equates to THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING OVER THE MEDIA, WE'RE THE USSA NOW

Do you honestly think it's fair for ABC to set up shop in the White House and refuse to allow any opposing points of view to be heard?
As Ken McKay stated in his letter to ABC, that's not news, that's an infomercial.
It should concern everyone that people will tune in to watch this and some might not realize the negatives of this plan since they are not being presented.
Is that "fair and balanced" reporting?
Government run media would drag us into the depths of countries like North Korea.

It's a very disturbing story to me. A major news media is in bed with the President on this issue and it's just wrong on soo many levels.
I realize that I make a lot of threads bashing Obama, but I think if the regulars here can put their "partisan grudge against me" aside for a moment, you'll realize that this is an issue that should raise all of our suspicions. This pretty much brings ABC's entire news network into question IMO.

All of our mainstream media outlets are horrible. Didn't someone make a thread about the Daily Show about 2 months ago when he had that confrontation with Jim Cramer and a lot of you guys said that Stewart was the most credible news source out there today?
This pretty much brings ABC's entire news network into question IMO.

[RobMoney$]

not to mention that this is from the sleazy drudge report.


That doesn't mean this story is without merit.

[RobMoney$]

There you go with the generalizations and disparaging comments. Come on rob....aren't you better than that?

You're right, I shouldn't make it personal.
I thought "campus fuckface" had become pretty much a term of endearment at this point on the boards. :rolleyes:
I meant no harm.
But the reality is that ABC setting up shop in the White House is totally wrong. The media is not giving us the proper news both here and abroad. Look at the facts in what is developing here, it's wrong.


oh great, an infomercial. I do not agree with the supposed exclusion of certain parties from this discussion.

Where were the opposing voices when bush was selling his war?

oh right, locked up in free speech zones

I recall many presidents being interviewed in the White House

it's not like loyalty oaths are something new....ask bush

1. Plenty of Dems voted to go to war along with Bush.
2. I don't recall the Dems not being afforded an alotment of airtime post any GWB addresses? Is there a specific address you are talking about where they were denied a rebuttal?
3. Please don't assume I'm going to ever defend GWB or his policies. I hate the guy too. Just because we disagree a lot doesn't mean we disagree on GWB.

[Bob]

Do you honestly think it's fair for ABC to set up shop in the White House and refuse to allow any opposing points of view to be heard?
As Ken McKay stated in his letter to ABC, that's not news, that's an infomercial.
It should concern everyone that people will tune in to watch this and some might not realize the negatives of this plan since they are not being presented.
Is that "fair and balanced" reporting?
Government run media would drag us into the depths of countries like North Korea.

It's a very disturbing story to me. A major news media is in bed with the President on this issue and it's just wrong on soo many levels.
I realize that I make a lot of threads bashing Obama, but I think if the regulars here can put their "partisan grudge against me" aside for a moment, you'll realize that this is an issue that should raise all of our suspicions.

All of our mainstream media outlets are horrible. Didn't someone make a thread about the Daily Show about 2 months ago when he had that confrontation with Jim Cramer and a lot of you guys said that Stewart was the most credible news source out there today?
This pretty much brings ABC's entire news network into question IMO.

again, it's not at all clear from this article that ABC actually is excluding opposing points of view. the only fact they give in support of that claim is that ABC denied a request from the RNC to include some of their members. the article did not explain the nature of this request. is ABC excluding all republicans? did the RNC provide a list of people that they would like to be included? just because ABC denied a request from the RNC, it doesn't mean that they're in bed with obama. it just means they don't want to surrender editorial control of their programming to the RNC.

apart from that, there is nothing, nothing at all which indicates that ABC is actually trying to exclude opposing points of view except for the drudge report's conclusory statement that ABC is going to "exclude opposing voices on the debate". if they have some kind of actual evidence of that, they didn't write about it in the article.

but maybe i'm wrong. maybe this is the first step on the way to becoming north korea

[RobMoney$]

L.O.L. ^^This is rich.
Spoken like a true lawyer.

Nothing at all that indicates ABC is trying to censor?
When you watch the show and see no one from the GOP giving a differing opinion or a rebuttal then will you be convinced, Counselor?

Hell, I'll bet you GM is the first commercial they air going into the first break.

[Bob]

L.O.L. ^^This is rich.
Spoken like a true lawyer.

Nothing at all that indicates ABC is trying to censor?
When you watch the show and see no one from the GOP giving a differing opinion or a rebuttal then will you be convinced, Counselor?

yes rob, that would convince me. i don't plan on watching the show, but if it turns out to be a big obama circlejerk then i'll happily concede the point but right now i don't see anything that would indicate that that's going to be the case.

i note that you didn't actually respond to anything i said. what indicates that ABC is trying to censor the program other than the fact that the drudge report is accusing them of doing it and that they denied a request from the RNC?

edit: and if you're going to be condescending about me being a lawyer, i'd appreciate it if you'd address me as esquire. thanks.

[DroppinScience]

again, do you not think that's a slightly overdramatic reaction to this?

No one is being overdramatic when you're chanelling this guy (http://www.arras.net/circulars/archives/McCarthy.jpg).

[RobMoney$]

yes rob, that would convince me. i don't plan on watching the show, but if it turns out to be a big obama circlejerk then i'll happily concede the point but right now i don't see anything that would indicate that that's going to be the case.

I'm so sure Charlie Gibson will be fair, balanced, and ethical while broadcasting from the Blue Room in the White House or where ever he's going to set up shop. :rolleyes:

i note that you didn't actually respond to anything i said. what indicates that ABC is trying to censor the program other than the fact that the drudge report is accusing them of doing it and that they denied a request from the RNC?

What more do you need than they denied the request from the RNC?

edit: and if you're going to be condescending about me being a lawyer, i'd appreciate it if you'd address me as esquire. thanks.

I didn't realize calling you "Counselor" could be viewed as insulting or condescending? That honestly wasn't my intent.
Speaking to someone as if they're an imbecile the way you've been addressing me in this thread is pretty condescending tho, and I don't appreciate it.

[Bob]

I'm so sure Charlie Gibson will be fair, balanced, and ethical while broadcasting from the Blue Room in the White House or where ever he's going to set up shop. :rolleyes:



What more do you need than they denied the request from the RNC?



uh...some kind of evidence, i guess? ABC is putting together a program, and according to their statement, they're seeking people of "the most thoughtful and diverse voices" on the issue to participate (obviously, this could be a lie but as of now there's no evidence that it is). they're under no duty to comply with requests from the RNC, and just because they decided against letting the RNC tell them how to run the show, it doesn't mean that they're going to exclude republicans and other dissenters from asking questions. it doesn't prove a thing.

basically it looks like this to me: the RNC sees ABC putting together this program. the RNC writes to them with a request about how to run it. ABC, not being run by the RNC, denies the request. the RNC whines that because ABC won't do what they tell them to do, it is therefore biased and the drudge report runs hog wild with it because it's garbage

I didn't realize calling you "Counselor" could be viewed as insulting or condescending? That honestly wasn't my intent.
Speaking to someone as if they're an imbecile the way you've been addressing me in this thread is pretty condescending tho, and I don't appreciate it.

it wasn't so much that as it was "LOL this is rich, spoken like a true lawyer". you don't think that's condescending?

and i'm not trying to address you as an imbecile. sorry if you feel that way. i am being condescending, but it's not because i think you're stupid, it's because you're making a mountain out of a molehill. ABC won't do what the RNC wants them to do, therefore the government is trying to take over the media and we'll be north korea soon? come the fuck on

[RobMoney$]

I'm sure you're aware that it's a pretty standard pratice for the opposing party to be granted airtime for the purpose of rebuttal after anything like this, right?

For ABC to deny that standard request is pretty significant.

Accusing the RNC of trying to tell ABC how to run the show is a bit of a stretch.

[Dorothy Wood]

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.

that part there is the kicker, rob. and if you think that the media hasn't been controlled by the government and/or corporations since it was invented, you're living in a dream world.


it'd be one thing if Obama was taking over every network for this, but they are airing a primetime special. and no where does it say there won't be talking heads afterward on a different show debating the whole shebang.

it's ABC, have you watch 20/20 lately? it's conservative as fuck. and they let that screeching right wing barbie doll, elisabeth hasselbeck, cry all morning on the View.

I really think that we'll be alright dude. If not, you can always say "I told you so".

[saz]

sorry, but this story has no merit whatsoever. this is nothing more than hypocrisy, whining and fake republican outrage at its finest.




Fox News Complains About ABC's "Unprecedented Access," Ignores Their Own (VIDEO)

First Posted: 06-18-09 04:59 PM | Updated: 06-18-09 05:36 PM
Jason Linkens l HuffPost Reporting[/B]


Next week, ABC News plans to air a news special entitled "Questions for the President: Prescription for America," which will afford President Barack Obama the opportunity to field questions on his plan for health care reform. This has given the good folks at Fox News a big old sad, because of ABC's "unprecedented access" and the very limited opportunity available for Griff Jenkins to dress up like the ghost of Thomas Paine, "ambush" the participants, and blame ACORN for rationing health care, like we were from Saskatoon or something. Karl Rove says that what ABC is doing has never been done before! Sean Hannity claims journalism is dead! Gnashing of teeth, rending of garments, vows to run counterprogramming, loud noises!

But, of course, this whole thing is ridiculous. Didn't Fox News enjoy "unprecedented access" to the the White House during the presidency of George W. Bush? And wasn't that access so unprecedented that Bret Baier, of Fox News, stood in front of teevee cameras, declaring it to be unprecedented? And didn't Baier get to go mountain biking with President Bush and fly around on Air Force One and stuff? And didn't Fox also get "unprecedented access" to the Vice President as well? Jesus, wasn't it only weeks ago that NBC News had unprecedented access to the White House, where they all bought hamburgers and plugged Conan O'Brien's move to the Tonight Show? Yes, of course, all these things are true. But here's a mashup video from Daily Kos (http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001852/), that shows the total absurdity of these claims that ABC is getting "unprecedented access" to the White House.

My God! Did you know that mash-up videos making fun of Fox for complaining about "unprecedented access" to the White House aren't even themselves unprecedented (http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/18/hannity-unprecedented-access/)? It's true! (direct youtube link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cFvJR1u3mk)).

Anyway, maybe now everyone can drop the whole issue of unprecedented territorial pissing and maybe do an analysis of health care reform policy on the merits, which would actually be without precedent!

link (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/18/fox-news-complains-about_n_217652.html)

[kaiser soze]

that video is golden (y)

fox is full of fucking kooks

it's unprecedented!

[RobMoney$]

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!!!
The "Bush & FOX News did it too" defense?


The liberals just spent the previous 8 years bitching about FOX news' complete lack of integrity and now 6 mos into Obama's term and ABC looks like it's going to be playing the same game and now it's OK?

[DroppinScience]

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!!!
The "Bush & FOX News did it too" defense?


The liberals just spent the previous 8 years bitching about FOX news' complete lack of integrity and now 6 mos into Obama's term and ABC looks like it's going to be playing the same game and now it's OK?

1) Highly doubtful ABC is going to have the same relationship with the Obama administration as FOX News' relationship was with the Bush administration.

2) But even if that was the case, FOX News is hardly the network in any position to call ABC out since they're blatantly guilty of the alleged sins they're speaking out against. There's that word "hypocrisy" rearing its ugly head again.

3) No, it doesn't make it "okay too" if ABC did the same thing as FOX News did. It's just helpful to point out the obvious.

[RobMoney$]

Fox news was nothing more than a propaganda pulpit for the GWB admin.
If ABC turns into something anywhere near that, it's equally worng.

This isn't about what side of the two parties your ideals lie with.
Seeing people who advocated against FOX who are now OK with ABC are a joke.

[DroppinScience]

Where is anyone saying it's okay with ABC doing the same thing as what FOX News does?

The problem we're having here is that there's no compelling evidence that ABC is a propaganda tool of the Obama presidency. The Drudge Report and FOX News frothing at the mouth does not equal a news story.

[kaiser soze]

well, it cannot be denied that ABC has better programming

[RobMoney$]

That's debatable.
Fox has the Simpsons, what's ABC got?

[kaiser soze]

oh, when is that?

lemme guess...Between glenn beck's all american rodeo and the o'reily faction?

Even though the Fox channel and Fox news are under FOX broadcasting, they are obviously two different things

[DroppinScience]

Yeah, FOX network creates the programming that the FOX News Channel believes is corrupting America. So I guess they profit handsomely from two disparate audiences.

[Bob]

That's debatable.
Fox has the Simpsons, what's ABC got?

the last season of lost was pretty good

relatively