ABC’s Nightline is a famously superficial “news” program. It mostly focuses on not-so deep topics like celebrities and “bootleg butt injections.” But the show can be as viciously biased as anything on television. Taking a break from the frivolous, host Juju Chang on Wednesday devoted an entire segment to Democratic propaganda.
Ady Barkan is suffering from ALS or (Lou Gehrig's disease). He is a young father with one child and another on the way. Barkan’s story is incredibly sad. But, the Democratic Party and ABC are using his condition as an easy way to slime any Republican who doesn’t support Medicare for all. Chang interviewed him and asked this question: “Through the darkness and your despair, what lit your fire again?”
Through computer, he replied, “When America elected a racist, sexist, kleptocrat to the presidency. He and the Republicans did more to undermine our democracy and social fabric. I decided I had to throw myself into the fight.” No push back or skepticism from Chang.
This was her introduction: “Ady Barkan is on an urgent mission, fearlessly fighting ALS while also fighting for Medicare for all in America. The powerful activist pushing forward and helping reshape the way we talk and feel about health care forever.” Of course, the downside and problems with Medicare for all were never discussed.
Instead, the whole segment is one big promotion for Democrats. Barkan got his start pleading with former Republican Senator Jeff Flake to support Medicare for all. He worked with ex-Obama staffer Liz Jaff and they have started a Super PAC. Chang narrated, “They named their Super PAC Be a Hero, raising more than $2 million and supporting Democrats across the country during the 2018 midterm election.”
Chang cheered, “Speaker Nancy Pelosi even thanking Ady for helping them win back the House for Democrats.” The only hint of criticism came when the journalist remarked, “Some observers would say that you're exploiting his disease for political gain.”
But when Jaff openly admitted exploiting Barkan, she didn’t press the issue:
LIZ JAFF: Absolutely. Absolutely. Because if the only way that we're going to force people to talk about these issues is with somebody like Ady, that he has to be this sick for people to pay attention, we're going to do it.
Imagine if Barkan was a devoted pro-life activist. Think he would get such a positive, promotional segment on Nightline?
A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more:
Nightline
9/4/1912:40 AM (9/5/19 on east coast)
JUJU CHANG: Thank you for joining us. Ady Barkan is on an urgent mission, fearlessly fighting ALS while also fighting for Medicare for all in America. The powerful activist pushing forward and helping reshape the way we talk and feel about health care forever. Every day, Ady Barkin hopes that what little time he has left to live will count for something.
...
CHANG: Through the darkness and your despair, what lit your fire again?
ADY BARKAN: When America elected a racist, sexist, kleptocrat to the presidency. He and the Republicans did more to undermine our democracy and social fabric. I decided I had to throw myself into the fight.
[YouTube video]
LIZ JAFF: On this plane is Arizona Senator Jeff Flake.
CHANG: The first battle played out on social media with that viral dubbed Flakes on a Plane.” Instantly giving him a powerful platform.
JAFF: When Ady lands in Santa Barbara we are at over a million views on this video.
CHANG: Within a couple hours.
JAFF: Within a couple hours. I mean, insane.
CHANG: Jaff, an Obama staffer turned political consultant, became his impromptu, new partner in crime.
JAFF: And he said I think we should start a Super PAC, but we should do it for the little people.
CHANG: They named Their Super PAC Be a Hero, raising more than $2 million and supporting Democrats across the country during the 2018 midterm election.
...
JAFF: We cut ads. They were run in 100 districts. We won every race we placed our ads in.
CHANG: Speaker Nancy Pelosi even thanking Ady for helping them win back the House for Democrats.
NANCY PELOSI: Nobody has been a stronger messanger than you, our hero.
CHANG: Some observers would say that you're exploiting his disease for political gain.
JAFF: Absolutely. Absolutely. Because if the only way that we're going to force people to talk about these issues is with somebody like Ady, that he has to be this sick for people to pay attention, we're going to do it.
...
CHANG: All the major Democratic candidates, except for former Vice President Biden have agreed to sit down with Ady.
BARKAN: I know that your father had Parkinson's disease. I recently read an article where you opened up about your mother's death.
CHANG: Turning a policy debate into a shared human experience.
JAFF: Kamala Harris is so strong and she broke down talking about her mother.
