For those of you who thought my original piece "Goebbels Media" was unfair and unbalanced, in that Fox News certainly "liked" the Bush Administration and that ABC has issued a "renouncement" of the Obama Administration's "editorial control" of content (uh huh), you might want to read this:
ABC News is refusing paid ads for its health care program at the White House. Conservatives for Patients Rights (CPR) inquired about purchasing ad time and was willing to do so. As of now, ABC is not accepting paid advertising, thus they're refusing even a paid-for alternative viewpoint. Here is statement from Rick Scott, chairman of Conservatives for Patients Rights. We remain hopeful ABC News will reconsider.
"It is unfortunate - and unusual - that ABC is refusing to accept paid advertising that would present an alternative viewpoint for the White House health care program. Health care is an issue that touches every American and all potential pieces of legislation have carried a price tag in excess of $1 trillion of taxpayers' money. The American people deserve a healthy, robust debate on this issue and ABC's decision - as of now - to exclude even paid advertisements that present an alternative view does a disservice to the public. Our organization is more than willing to purchase ad time on ABC to present an alternative viewpoint and our hope is that ABC will reconsider having such viewpoints be part of this crucial debate for the American people. We were surprised to hear that paid advertisements would not be accepted when we inquired and we would certainly be open to purchasing time if ABC would reconsider."
Uh huh.
Note that this group was willing to pay to get their viewpoint across, just as would any other paid advertisement (political or not.)
Their request was refused.
ABC claims to be intending to present a "fair" and "balanced" view, with a "wide variety" of opinions on President Obama's health care plans.
This, of course, means in newsspeak "as long as the people who will be in the panel have the views we want you to see, and will speak only to the points and on the questions we want you to hear."
Proof? Read the above again.
Clear enough?
Thought so.