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GOP Blasts ABC Over Obama Special

AOL News
posted: 4 HOURS 19 MINUTES AGO
comments: 2504
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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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Goringm14

05:11 PMJun 24 2009

>>>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@@@@Why are the GOP against this? Let is run and people will from their opinions. They are just trying to cause division again in this country.

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Luckfibs

05:11 PMJun 24 2009

maybe this show can save obama s' healthcare; i doubt it. It is already DOA because libs have been out of control on spending over the last 6 months. Admit it lib losers; you and obama cant even put a pricetag on your own porposal; even you dont know what the cost will be.

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Pow keno

05:11 PMJun 24 2009

Mayberry reruns more info than Obama's joke show.

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FerrariQX

05:11 PMJun 24 2009

NEWSFLASH: This just in!!!! BHO shit's out 24 carat gold bricks, gives them to Republicans. Republicans complain "it's too heavy!" NEXT!

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MDaok

05:11 PMJun 24 2009

Why is their no liberal talk radio? Because once they start debating their positions they find they are wrong. This happens in about 5 secounds and there is just dead air after that. Not a very productive discussion.

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GFRATI8

05:11 PMJun 24 2009

Gmcorbin958 05:08 PMJun 24 2009 I GUESS THE BRILLIANT OSAMA OBAMA WILL SHIT THE MONEY!NO LIBERAL YET HAS EXPLAINED HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR!========================BWHAHHAHAHAH...YOU'RE PAYING FOR THE UNINSURED NOW....BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE..BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH......

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Louto45

05:10 PMJun 24 2009

I won't waist my time on the left wing liberal as----------------holes

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Explosiveopsgear

05:10 PMJun 24 2009

Just what we need. Me paying for some lazy bum to have health care. No thanks.

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(2)

Harolddundee

05:10 PMJun 24 2009

Its really quite simple, Republicans are against anything thats for the average American. They only care about the rich.

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JKLgraywolf

05:10 PMJun 24 2009

For the sake of all you dem liberal lemmings I sure hope Mr. Odumbo's teleprompter doesn't have a malfunction tonight because then you'll see just what you got when you voted for this phony inexperienced community organizer - a phony inexperienced community organizer pretending to be a president.

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