The Honorable Lamar S. Smith
Chairman, Media Fairness Caucus
Congress of the United States
2409 Russell House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Smith:
Thank you for your letter of today’s date concerning our planned coverage tomorrow of health care reform in America. I am pleased that you agree that the subject deserves extensive and careful coverage. This is precisely what ABC News has given healthcare over many years; it is what we plan to continue tomorrow.
Yeah. By extensive and careful coverage, David means ABC is commited to extensively and carefully cover up any aspect of this subject and debate with the same sickly sweet progressive perfume being used by ABC and MSNBC to cover up the current steaming pile of dog poo called the Obama administration.
Unfortunately, you have found it appropriate to criticize a program that has not yet aired. [ Ed. It is still in the dog's ass ] Contrary to your assertions, this will not be “slanted” in any way – much less a “day-long infomercial” or “in-kind free advertising” as you allege. It will be a thoughtful, respectful, and probing discussion of some of the issues raised by the calls for health-care reform. We will include a variety of perspectives coming from private individuals asking the President questions and taking issue with him, as they see fit. We have heard already at some length (on ABC News and other outlets) from politicians and professional health care lobbyists, and there will be ample time to hear from them throughout the policy debate. I can see no reason why we should not hear tomorrow instead from some of the Americans most directly affected by the plans being discussed.
I cautiously await, without any Hope of Change. That last sentence tells me that ABC's analysis will follow the Michael Moore formula of a prefabricated victim parade. The parade will be designed to provide a sequential narrative, designed to maximize the view that our current system is flawed.
ABC viewer's will naturally be guided by their own sharply honed instincts to conclude that imminent and immediate government rescue, although imperfect, is the only viable solution. Did I mention it would have to be done immediately; I mean NOW, because everybody's reproductive organs will wither, crumble and blow away from global climate change if they don't rush the legislation through in midnight candle lit session of trillion dollar pork pulling.
Sadly, some inside government and within the private sector see every issue as material for a sort of political high theatre, to be used to gain votes or energize political bases or simply to raise funds. I would have thought that a subject as important as the health care received by the American people would rise above this sorry spectacle.
This venomous media parasite, spends years, trying to churn ratings for dollars, with 20/20, ABC news, running hit pieces on conservatives and marshmallow pitches at liberals with 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos". He then lectures those who want real debate over ABC theatrics, to reconsider their selfish motives.
How many times must this pathetic hypocrisy be endured?
Our citizens need and deserve more. We are proud to be making a serious effort to go beyond mere punditry or stylized, bipolar debate; we are proud to work for a network and a company willing to devote valuable airtime to serious consideration of a subject so worthy.
The coverage will not be valuable or serious, but it will be mere punditry with the stylized simulation of debate.
I guess pre-emptively denying the plan of attack, is the liberal media equivalent of the Bush doctrine.
Finally, on a note of personal privilege, I entirely reject your attack on my colleague, Dr. Timothy Johnson. Dr. Johnson has established himself over many years as the foremost medical editor in television news. His knowledge about health care reform is surpassed only by his commitment to the truth and to fairness. [Ed. Sounds like he's also already committed to re-forming it, even though no other system has served so many so well]
As for Linda Douglass, she did indeed cover Congress for ABC News. But she left us nearly four years ago to become a fellow at New York University and to work at the Rockefeller Foundation.
And when lovely Linda left ABC and took up a position in the Mahdi's administration, here's what she had to say to the Post:
After three decades as a television correspondent, Douglass is now on the inside -- but still not getting all the answers. She recalls Obama telling her that he would not talk to her, let alone the outside world, about the vice-presidential selection process, saying: "We're locking it down, we're buttoning it up."
Which is fine with Douglass: "That was so the people who are trying to claw me every day won't get anything. I expect to be kept in the dark."
Spoken like a true member of the flock, Linda. Ever been a Moonie?
I do appreciate your taking the time to express your views, which I will always welcome.
Sincerely,
David Westin
I predict that I will soon need surgery to roll my eyes back from the back of my ocular sockets.
Gag.
