ABC Will Not Allow Ads Critical Of Obama’s Health Care Plan During Broadcast From The White House

So not only is Obama getting hours of broadcast time from the White House to pitch his health care plan to the American public, and not only is ABC refusing to allow any dissenters on the air during the broadcast to rebut the Obama administration’s message, but the company is also refusing to allow to air any paid ads critical of Obama’s policies during the broadcast.

ABC is refusing to air paid ads during its White House health care presentation, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, including a paid-for alternative viewpoint!
The development comes a day after the network denied a request by the Republican National Committee to feature a representative of the party’s views during the Obama special.
Conservatives for Patients Rights requested the rates to buy a 60-second spot immediately preceding ‘Prescription for America’.
Statement from Rick Scott, chairman of Conservatives for Patients Rights:
“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 event. Health care is an issue that touches every American and all potential pieces of legislation have carried a pricetag 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.”

ABC is a private company, and as such they can make their own decisions about what sort of advertising they do and do not accept (though given their ratings they really don’t have any business turning down ad dollars). What bothers me is that the folks at ABC news will continue to refer to themselves as objective journalists when, really, they’re not being objective at all.
They’re basically giving the Obama administration a free infomercial to pitch his policy to the public with no dissent or criticism allowed.
The simple solution for this is to simply not tune in. If what ABC is offering isn’t event going to attempt balanced, fair and objective coverage then why bother tuning in? If this is a ratings flop for ABC, they’ll learn their lesson soon enough.