1984 all over again

By Rick Moran

On the night of June 24, ABC News will turn their broadcast over to the White House so that Obama can sell his national health insurance program.

Here's the Drudge piece on this radical, dangerous, and outrageous threat to freedom of the press:

On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care -- a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!

Highlights on the agenda:

ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.

The network plans a primetime special -- 'Prescription for America' -- originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.

MORE

Late Monday night, Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay fired off a complaint to the head of ABCNEWS:

Dear Mr. Westin:

As the national debate on health care reform intensifies, I am deeply concerned and disappointed with ABC's astonishing decision to exclude opposing voices on this critical issue on June 24, 2009. Next Wednesday, ABC News will air a primetime health care reform "town hall" at the White House with President Barack Obama. In addition, according to an ABC News report, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, WORLD NEWS, NIGHTLINE and ABC's web news "will all feature special programming on the president's health care agenda." This does not include the promotion, over the next 9 days, the president's health care agenda will receive on ABC News programming.

The GOP requested time to present their health care plan -- rebuffed by ABC. The Republicans are also saying that this is little more than a White House infomercial and they should have to pay for the privilege of all this free air time.

It is true that the networks routinely hand over time to the party in power so that the president can address the nation. But this is much different. In essence, I agree with Drudge; this makes ABC a part of the executive branch - a cog in the Obama PR machine. It makes a cruel joke of the idea of an independent press.

Exit question; will any journalists resign as a result of this insult to the idea of freedom of the press?

Hat Tip: Rich Baehr

Thomas Lifson adds:

This isn't even NBC, whose corporate parent is dependent on Obama for billions in windmill and "smart grid" underwriting, not to mention bailout for its financial interests. We seem to have the broadcast nets one-upping each other to support Obama.