ABC News to become the All Barack Channel

On June 24, according to Drudge Report, "ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care..."

Now, it's not like the president has never before taken over television when you would rather be watching something else (and by this, I mean every president since TV was invented-- and they always seem to schedule their speeches for the times when the few shows I actually watch are showing. It's frustrating. I need to invest in a DVR, I think.). But this isn't quite the same. First, anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver the World News from inside the White House, a gimmick played just a couple of weeks ago or so by NBC Nightly News. Following this, however, will be a prime time special entitled "Prescription for America," in which Obama and other White House officials will be allowed to sing the virtues of health-care-for-all without the inconvenience of opposing viewpoints. The Republican National Committee requested the opportunity to provide that opposing viewpoint; their request was denied.

The Chief of Staff of the RNC, Ken McKay, sent a letter to ABC News, expressing his worry that without any voice of opposition, the program would become little more than "a glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda." In response, ABC News assured the public that "ABCNEWS prides itself on covering all sides of important issues and asking direct questions of all newsmakers -- of all political persuasions -- even when others have taken a more partisan approach and even in the face of criticism from extremes on both ends of the political spectrum. ABCNEWS is looking for the most thoughtful and diverse voices on this issue." And from whence will these diverse voices hail? "ABCNEWS alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the president. Like any programs we broadcast, ABC News will have complete editorial control." Highly reassuring words from just one of the many news sources in the deep end of the tank for Obama.