It seems that congressional criticism about the fairness of the ABC News Obamacare show tonight has struck a nerve in the president of that organization, David Westin to such an extent that he has responded via letter in a less than pleased manner. What sparked this testy reaction was a letter signed by 40 members of Congress that was sent yesterday by the Congressional Media Fairness Caucus to ABC News president, David Westin, criticizing the fairness of the health care special:
Dear Mr. Westin,
Health care reform is an extemely complex issue involving one of the largest sectors of the economy. Directly or indirectly, it will touch the lives of all Americans. The decision by ABC News officials to devote an entire day, June 24, to the "President's health care agenda" culminating with a primetime healthcare "town hall" gives the American people a slanted view of an important subject.
The manner in which the news programming is being presented – at the White House with the president and first lady and without opposition – is unprofessional and contrary to the journalistic code of ethics to present the news fairly and independently. This is not a presidential news conference open to all news outlets. This is an exclusive arrangement from which the president and his viewpoint stand to gain. It's as if ABC News is providing in-kind free advertising for President Obama.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓The Director of Communications for the White House Office of Health Reform, Linda Douglass, left her job with ABC News last year to join the Obama campaign. This does little to alleviate concerns about the objectivity of the event. Furthermore, ABC News' in-house medical expert, Dr. Timothy Johnson, has a long history of promoting government-managed univeral health care. It all gives the appearance of a state-run network.
Millions of Americans don't want the government to come between them and their physicians. We take no issue with the President addressing the nation. But if ABC News wants to make this event useful to the American people, it should present both sides and offer the opportunity for rebuttal.
...Without giving time to an opposing viewpoint, ABC News' programming on June 24 will amount to a day-long infomercial for the president and his government-run health care plan.
Strong but accurate criticism and David Westin was not pleased at all as you can see in his reponse:
Thank you for your letter of today’s date concerning our planned coverage tomorrow of health care reform in America. I am pleased that you agree that the subject deserves extensive and careful coverage. This is precisely what ABC News has given healthcare over many years; it is what we plan to continue tomorrow.
Unfortunately, you have found it appropriate to criticize a program that has not yet aired. Contrary to your assertions, this will not be “slanted” in any way – much less a “day-long infomercial” or “in-kind free advertising” as you allege. It will be a thoughtful, respectful, and probing discussion of some of the issues raised by the calls for health-care reform. We will include a variety of perspectives coming from private individuals asking the President questions and taking issue with him, as they see fit. We have heard already at some length (on ABC News and other outlets) from politicians and professional health care lobbyists, and there will be ample time to hear from them throughout the policy debate. I can see no reason why we should not hear tomorrow instead from some of the Americans most directly affected by the plans being discussed.
That "inclusion" defense rings hollow since government health care supporter, Timothy Johson, will be participating in this Obama care show while as of this writing, a prominent ABC News critic of the program, John Stossel, will NOT be part of the show. Give me a break!
Westin's anger then kicks into high gear:
Sadly, some inside government and within the private sector see every issue as material for a sort of political high theatre, to be used to gain votes or energize political bases or simply to raise funds. I would have thought that a subject as important as the health care received by the American people would rise above this sorry spectacle. Our citizens need and deserve more. We are proud to be making a serious effort to go beyond mere punditry or stylized, bipolar debate; we are proud to work for a network and a company willing to devote valuable airtime to serious consideration of a subject so worthy.
"Bipolar debate?" Is that a David Westin putdown of presenting both sides?
Westin also jumps to the defense of Timothy Johnson, loyal upholder of government-run health care:
Finally, on a note of personal privilege, I entirely reject your attack on my colleague, Dr. Timothy Johnson. Dr. Johnson has established himself over many years as the foremost medical editor in television news. His knowledge about health care reform is surpassed only by his commitment to the truth and to fairness.
John Stossel also has quite a bit of knowledge about health care "reform," and has been writing quite a bit about it lately on his blog. However, as of now, Stossel won't be attending tonight's Obamacare love fest despite being a member of ABC News.
Finally Westin invokes the time line defense about the involvement of former ABC News member, Linda Douglas, in this Obamacare show:
As for Linda Douglass, she did indeed cover Congress for ABC News. But she left us nearly four years ago to become a fellow at New York University and to work at the Rockefeller Foundation.
However, as Scott Whitlock has pointed out here in NewsBusters, Linda Douglass is continuing to shill for Obama on ABC:
Former journalist Linda Douglass returned to ABC and appeared on "Good Morning America" Wednesday in her new role as a strategist and spokesperson for Barack Obama. Expressing no surprise or conflict that a longtime reporter would segue from recounting the news to representing a Democratic presidential candidate, GMA news anchor Chris Cuomo breezily introduced, "We're going to begin with someone representing Obama, whom we know very well here at ABC News. Linda Douglass, a former, respected journalist, a longtime ABC News family member. But now Linda is an Obama campaign strategist and spokesperson.
David Westin's little temper tantrum aside, ABC News would have served the public better if they did have a "bipolar," (as he calls it) not stacked-deck, debate on this subject.
And, David, what will John Stossel be doing tonight? Sitting safely on the sidelines?
—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Of course there's no
June 24, 2009 - 08:12 ET by Radical1979Of course there's no bias. The press is very critical of Obama.
By the way, does anyone have the list of question Obama wants asked at the town hall meeting?
I Was Careful...
June 24, 2009 - 10:00 ET by Wildcatter1980...to not have any coffee in my mouth as I was reading your comment. (Snickering and snorting.)
Seriously, methinks Westin doth protest too much as is typical of one with the big ego he likely has. Why, he is the head of ABC and that just simply makes him smarter than everyone else so don't you question him on what he decides should and should not go on air!
I have always contended that the most important qualities any manager or executive should have are the ability and willingness to listen to others as well as knowing that though they may be higher in the chain of command, that does not make them "better" than those around him or her. They are just paid better and have more responsibility than those below them.
--
We already have term limits. They are called elections. We can & should vote out those who do not represent & serve us! - Me
Cult Members Don’t KNOW They’re in a Cult
June 24, 2009 - 11:24 ET by farstar99This guy sees nothing wrong in what he's doing, because it serves the master.
Everydoby should want to serve the master, shouldn't they?
Why do these Republicans and the other unenlightened ones resist, and struggle for freedom?
If they won't surrender to the master, they must be crushed.
"Jihad is holy," after all.
A cultivating media
June 24, 2009 - 21:31 ET by ghblogI love the comparison of the MSM to a cult. It seems to be an accurate depiction.
If they would only really drink the KoolAid.
Sorry, that was harsh
Ifomercials are mostly
June 24, 2009 - 08:25 ET by 10ksnookerIfomercials are mostly worthless ... A waste of time at best.
Billy Mays
June 24, 2009 - 08:31 ET by P.J. GladnickTimothy Johnson as Billy Mays?
Slap Chop
June 24, 2009 - 08:41 ET by BlondeOr perhaps they can interview the SlapChop guy, Vince Shlomi, after he was arrested in Miami for brawling with a prostitute....you know, to see how good his care was in the hospital. (Sorry, couldn't find the pic I saw of him in his hospital gown....in South Florida, natch).
Yep, he'd be a great commercial for Obamacare, "we're gonna chop your health care"...."you're gonna love my nuts!".
I hope he fails, too.
'ShamBamaCare" look, your
June 24, 2009 - 10:34 ET by be_objective'ShamBamaCare" look, your spending hundreds of dollars a month on healh insurance. Why waist your money when you can get ShamBamaCare for free!! Dont worry about paying for it, uncle O will take care of everything for YOU! /sarc off.
"In any compromise between good and evil, only evil can profit." Ayn Rand
Shambama Care
June 24, 2009 - 10:39 ET by BlondeI see mine is not the only sick mind at work today, :)
I hope he fails, too.
There's only one person Tim
June 24, 2009 - 08:53 ET by fitzfongThere's only one person Tim Johnson can stand in for.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
"But wait, there's more!!!"
June 24, 2009 - 10:52 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarActually, Billy has been hawking health care insurance lately.
And as far as Vince Shlomi, my favorite ShamWow line is "Hey, it's made in Germany so it's gotta be good"
"Obamacare, it's based on Eurocare so its gotta be good"
<barf>
"You should always tell the truth, because if you tell the truth you make it the other person's problem." Sean Connery
"You getting all this cameraguy."
June 24, 2009 - 11:01 ET by ahusserVince.
"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'
We are proud to be making a
June 24, 2009 - 08:27 ET by fitzfongWe are proud to be making a serious effort to go beyond mere punditry or stylized, bipolar debate
Certainly a wait-and-see approach should be taken before deciding that this ABC event is legitimate or just another Obamunist propaganda event. Given ABC's track record and the above quote, I suspect David Westin doth protesteth too much. Therefore, I predict a typical pro-Administration whitewash.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
I agree, wait and see
June 24, 2009 - 14:33 ET by TruthtalkOne of the values that separate us from the Obidiots is that we base our views on honesty and facts. Until the programs air, we don't really know how fair the coverage is, other than they've put up major resistance to including known opposing points of view. We should wait and see and evaluate the facts. Mind you, I'm not expecting anything other than a pro-Obama ABC infomercial, but let's see if they live up to Mr. Westin's promises. I suspect he'll be exposed for a fool, but pleasantly surprised if the programming delivers what he says it will.
AllBarackChannel.....
June 24, 2009 - 08:34 ET by adamsmithI'm starting to see cracks in the Obama/Media lovefest. Media,like politicians truly are only driven by one thing: MONEY. Once the media turns, as I have predicted they will, Obama will be a nightly blood sacrifice. The money will be in riding him down, as the economy gets worse and worse with the attempted Socialist Coup.
As far as Health Care, I surely don't want to see Universal Single Payer coverage and a European style system, but I have no real love for Health Insurance companies either. As my dearly departed father always used to say, "Taxes and Insurances will destroy this country". Insurance companies have been scamming everyone for decades in ways that are like the toxic assests with the bank. Both situations arise as the government has their dirty fingers in both systems. Get the government out and prices will find realistic levels.
Imapeach Obama!!!!!!
Remember that all-day ABC
June 24, 2009 - 08:38 ET by mattmRemember that all-day ABC special with Bush explaining why we need Social Security reform? Neither do I.
Funny... A real
June 24, 2009 - 08:43 ET by nolotrippenFunny...
A real infomercial, no matter what the product, is usually so mesmerizingly obnoxious that it can be fun to watch on that level (and I'll be honest, when you tell me a food processor can chop concrete, you've got my attention).
But a government infomercial is, in the words of the ABC borg (Westin) the "a sort of political high theatre" that isn't a whit fun or informative. It's exactly what the 40 members of congress say it is (only 40?)
yep
June 24, 2009 - 10:45 ET by i was just thinkingI agree about the real ones. Perhaps if The Big O dressed like the little English guy who always does the infomercials with Nan-cy... - buzz cut, bowtie, red suspenders.
Wait. That won't work. Too Steve Erkel-ish.
Sure it will!
June 24, 2009 - 12:11 ET by XJ.JonSure it will - at least its fun to picture Obama in that outfit saying "Did I do That?"
....wait, that's not funny.
Taxed Enough Already
Re: Sure it will
June 24, 2009 - 12:40 ET by slickwillie2001You mean this picture? http://3.bp.blogspot.com
If you get cable and like info-mercials there is competition.
June 24, 2009 - 12:44 ET by acaiguanaI was flipping through the channels and it looks like there is a lot of 'paid programming' on TV.
I don't know enough about it to make a llist of suggested info-mercials one could kick back and watch in competition to the 'Obama' slice and dice' show but I'm sure there are some who could come up with a list.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
ABC stockholders
June 24, 2009 - 08:45 ET by Red JeepHow do you like hours of commercial air time being given away?
This is about health INSURANCE not health CARE!
June 24, 2009 - 08:49 ET by DelsaWe have GREAT CARE for anyone walking into an emergency room or doctors office.
This fight should be about INSURANCE!
IF people want insurance they should be able to negotiate for the items they want in their policy. We don't want to be told what we HAVE to purchase!
There is NO WAY and insurance company can compete with the government! HOW does anyone compete with FREE???
This stage show (few will watch) is 100% scripted and ABC make me sick for being a GOVERNMENT MOUTH PIECE!
Another Barack Company
crap and tax
June 24, 2009 - 08:51 ET by kangaroocrap n tax is going to be passed on friday, my guess is late in the arvo, and then they all go home, it's a just say no major moment,
Westin makes me sick, and I still don't want Obama-Care!
June 24, 2009 - 08:55 ET by Ted ClarkeWestin wrote,
"I would have thought that a subject as important as the health care received by the American people would rise above this sorry spectacle."
Here he sets up the typical Leftist false premise: If you believe in the so-called "health care crisis" and you hop aboard the "Obama-Will-Fix-It Bandwagon", then you have passed the compassion test. Someone - perhaps your absent father - has clearly taught you "how to love". And like a benevolent emperor, you will give sick children the thumbs up for universal health care.
But if you are a Republican who demands from ABC News equal time for an opposing viewpoint, then it must mean that you are a cold-hearted, compassionless enemy of all that is good in the world. You AREN'T on board with "The One" and you DON'T want him to fix the health care system. Someone - perhaps your dead-beat dad - has clearly failed to teach you "how to love". And like a psychotic, blood-thirsty Caligula, you will give sick children the thumbs down for universal health care and condemn them to the most painful and horrible of deaths.
So to Westin, he and his fellow Leftists are pure, well-intentioned champions of goodness who are free of any political agenda.
While people who attempt to raise one finger of opposition are nothing but political opportunists who would sacrifice their own children for power.
American obama channel
June 24, 2009 - 09:03 ET by trueconservSince ABC News is promoting this healthscare scam, I never, never, never want to hear another word from anyone from the media complaining about not asking "enough questions" from the Bush Administration when it came to the war in Iraq. Gosh, this Obama fascist group makes the haliburton complaint look miniscule.
The only thing I hate about
June 24, 2009 - 09:06 ET by kangarooThe only thing I hate about private ins. is that if you have an exsisting proplem they will not insure you, and if are insured and develope an exsisting problem they cancel. So my honeys problem came up and went to his specialist, and he wouldnt do anything without insurance and sent us to the free help clinic, we were in the waiting room with everyone from haitians to cubans and they told us sorry we have to much money for free help, that took most of the day, so we go back to the specialist, and told them what happened, and said look we have the cash for the op lets just do it, so he said fine and put bill into the hospital, this was after getting the run around for a week, so he had the op, and because he was paying cash they gave him the discount about 50% off, (which goes to show in my book that gov and private insurance is a rip off price gouging practice) if this was social medicine he would still be waiting for the op years later, if he was still alive
SEND ABC AN EMAIL
June 24, 2009 - 09:05 ET by NortoI did and got a response, though it was canned, no doubt. I told them not to do the thing as the separation was getting blurred. The separation that is really supposed to exist.
As seen on TV
June 24, 2009 - 09:05 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsI hear that tonight Obama will be introducing the new Healthcare Tsar.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Oh great
June 24, 2009 - 09:17 ET by BlondeAnd if these idiots pass Kennedy's bill, we'll get Kathleen Sebilius wielding the Health Care Taser.
I hope he fails, too.
Sorry Mr Westin,
June 24, 2009 - 09:07 ET by IamTinmanAs long as opposing views and commercials aren't being allowed, I'm going to spend my Wednesday with The Food Chanel and Netflix.
There simply isn't any acceptable excuse ABC can give for their behavior.
Is the media serving the people?
June 24, 2009 - 09:17 ET by sevenIs the media serving the Pres?
Is Obamascare for us or for Obama?
ABC is proud and embarrassed.
I quote here from Francis Edgeworth, 1922
June 24, 2009 - 09:37 ET by acaiguanaThe only answer to this silliness is as cited from a compilation of articles by Eric Rasmusen, "Readings in Games and Information", published 2001 by Blackwell Publishers, Inc. Midden, Mass., (a good source for various writings in economics for those interested).
The article cited below is chosen for its humor, not for its subject matter. The article is "The Mathematical Economics of Professor Amoroso", and was published as a Book Review on Lezioni di Economia Mathematica, Luigi Amoroso (Bologna: Zanichelli, 1921. P 478).
The review ends with this statement. which I now present in full: (emphasis mine)
"But while differing from one another on some cardinal points, recognise that he has evinced great ability in defence of positions which we regard as indefensible. If they were defensible.
"Si...dextri
"Defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent."
Pretty much sums it up for me.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Is this legal?
June 24, 2009 - 10:00 ET by slickwillie2001Is this legal? Has anyone made a formal complaint to the FEC? Or has the Bamster corrupted them as well? The democratics should have to pay for this broadcast time just as any party or individual pays for political advertising.
Three words
June 24, 2009 - 10:18 ET by KellyRWHAT A FRAUD
The "F" word
June 24, 2009 - 11:01 ET by halpFrankly I think this event is disturbing when looked at all the other moves this administration and the Congress have made into the private sector with the buying of auto industries and banks. I hate to use the "F" word but does anyone else find our government (both sides of the fence included here) moving in a Fascist way?
And I just saw that the admin and the House worked together to sneak through the approval of the sale of gold by the IMF in a security bill. Which some think will suppress the price of gold which right now according to the widget (http://www.learcapit... ) is trading at $937.40. My guess is China will gobble it all up and the price will go up.
But that's beside the point, what I want to know is when will the underhanded attempts to fool the people stop? What happened about transparency?
jessieH I'll be
June 24, 2009 - 11:02 ET by jessieHjessieH I'll be curious to see ABCs (all barack channel) ratings after this clown is through.
My antennae went up last
June 24, 2009 - 11:08 ET by motherbeltMy antennae went up last week when it was reported that Stossel would not be participating.
Apparently ABC is very selective about which things they want him to expose!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Man I hope they get socked
June 24, 2009 - 12:02 ET by RR GOPMan I hope they get socked on the ratings for this circus.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Mr. Westin.
June 24, 2009 - 12:23 ET by XJ.JonThanks to your "unbiassed" and "Fair" programming today, I will crush my TV before I allow advertizing from ABC broadcast through my home. Whenever ABC is mentioned near me, people will be reminded of the poor decisions you have made. They will know that ABC stands solely for Liberal Agendas and propaganda, and has no regard for the sanctity of this Nation or the Men and Women who have fought/died to protect it. I know that sounds harsh, but if you, as a prominent Media Outlet director cannot show opinions in fairness, you are directly attacking Americas ideals, which many have sworn, fought, and died to protect.
- Old School Patriot
Taxed Enough Already
Well, I'm working the night
June 24, 2009 - 14:08 ET by ConservativeRexWell, I'm working the night shift right now. I wasn't going to watch the Obamathon anyway, and someone has to pay for all this BS. And I am getting damn tired of doing it, so the rest of you newsbusters had better start working nights as well. They'll be a little something extra in your Christmas check if you do. ; )
the govt.
June 25, 2009 - 08:54 ET by jessieHjessieH Name one thing that the govt. has fixed or improved. That is the trillian dollar question.