Hazardous to Your Health...

I hope that my progressive compatriots will acknowledge that a strong partnership between the media and the government is hazardous to the health of democracy. Even those who adore Obama should be troubled by the adulation and unadulterated support that large segments of the media have shown him. If you doubt this look at fawning photos of and uncritical articles about Obama that fill Newsweek and Time. Consider the remarkably lack of controversy generated by Reverand Wright's recent anti-semitic statements. We know that if Bush's long time pastor expressed racist sentiments there would be a firestorm of criticism. In a democracy a journalist must be a vigilant skeptic, a committed investigator, not a mindless cheerleader.

Steele blasts ABC for rejecting GOP ads during Obama healthcare special

By Cherie Saunders

In response to ABC's decision not to air GOP rebuttal ads during its hour-long White House healthcare special on Wednesday, Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele sent out a fundraising letter to party members accusing the network of shutting out conservative opposition.

As previously reported, the Republican National Committee wrote ABC News president David Westin a letter last week expressing concern that “Questions for the President: Prescription for America” – which will film at the White House with President Obama taking questions – will deliberately leave out "opposing voices."

ABC's Senior Vice President Kerry Smith dismissed those concerns, saying the network "is looking for the most thoughtful and diverse voices on this issue," and "ABC News alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the president. To suggest otherwise is quite unfair to both our journalists and our audience."

The RNC then requested rebuttal time during the 10 p.m. special, but ABC turned them down, explaining through a spokeswoman: "ABC Television Network has a long standing policy that we do not accept advocacy advertising."

Undeterred, RNC head Steele sent out the following fundraising letter last week to rally the troops.

Dear Republican,

It seems that the mainstream media has finally decided to dispense with the pointless denials of favorable coverage of the Obama Administration. Now one network, ABC News, has actually turned its entire programming over to President Obama and his big-government agenda.

On June 24th, ABC News and anchor Charles Gibson will broadcast "World News" from inside the White House, and make Barack Obama's case for nationalized health care for him, without any opportunity for opposing views to be aired.

The liberal special interests have clearly learned from their missteps the last time they tried to force Americans into a socialized health care system -- the abysmal failure of the Clinton Administration's "HillaryCare."

That's why their friends at ABC News will be promoting Obamacare at virtually every opportunity, from "Good Morning America" to "Nightline," and reach from ABC News' websites all the way to the White House's East Room.

Republican, the Republican National Committee's request for an opportunity to add our views along side those of the Obama Democrats' -- to ensure that all sides of the health care reform debate are heard -- was flatly rejected by ABC News.

What are the Democrats and their media allies afraid of? The truth? That is outrageous!

And we will not take it!

We will be heard!!

Please help us raise the nearly $100,000 we need to buy air time to get the truth about the disastrous consequences of the Obama Democrats' government-run health care plans out to the American people. Make a special donation of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the Republican National Committee today, and your gift will support our fight to counter the ABC/Obama "special programming" with our plan for meaningful, genuine health care reform.

Please stand with us. Help us get on the air and get our message to the American people! President Obama and the Democrats are blurring the lines between government and the private sector to pass their big government agenda. Help us keep things clear. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Michael Steele