"Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the Chambers, we respectfully request that you allow full public access, through television, to [health care] legislation that will affect the lives of every single American."
Thus wrote C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb in a December 30, 2009 open letter to congressional leaders, calling for them to "open all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings, to electronic media coverage."
Today, NewsBusters Publisher and Media Research Center President Brent Bozell issued a statement of commendation to praise C-SPAN and Lamb for publicly urging the Democratic leadership to live up to the President's campaign rhetoric about transparency in government and praised C-SPAN:
Finally, a network that's not afraid to call out the liberal bullies in Congress who want to make healthcare policy behind closed doors. We commend Brian Lamb and C-SPAN for flexing their journalistic muscle and standing up for the transparency that Americans deserve.
Other networks should take note of what C-SPAN has done - saying enough is enough - especially when the health and wellness of every American is at stake.
For the complete letter from Lamb, click here. For video of Obama pledging C-SPAN coverage of health care negotiations and for video of him reneging on that pledge, and , respectively.
