September 2, 2009 - 4:09pm
David Westin
President, ABC News
77 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023
Dear Mr. Westin,
The American people are fed up with the media's biased reporting on the proposals to overhaul the U.S. health care system. Enclosed are binders containing the names of 83,070 citizens who demand the media in general and ABC in particular report the truth about these proposals. It states:
I am deeply troubled by the national media's liberal bias, particularly in their coverage of the government's proposed health care takeover.
My fellow citizens and I deserve the truth from the media, yet instead of reporting the facts about the nationalization of health care, so-called "journalists" are using their resources and influence to present an extremely biased view of health care "reform." It is clear from their reporting that few of them even read the legislation before reporting on it.
The national media are distorting the truth about America's health care system in an attempt to pave the way for socialism. They are ignoring the consequences of socialized medicine. They are stifling debate and preventing the American people from getting the whole story.
I am joining with the Media Research Center and citizens across the nation to demand the media tell the truth about health care! I demand the news media strive for objectivity and balance in reporting on health care, and I am committed to taking action when necessary to directly combat the liberal bias of the media.
My fellow citizens and I deserve the truth from the media, yet instead of reporting the facts about the nationalization of health care, so-called "journalists" are using their resources and influence to present an extremely biased view of health care "reform." It is clear from their reporting that few of them even read the legislation before reporting on it.
The national media are distorting the truth about America's health care system in an attempt to pave the way for socialism. They are ignoring the consequences of socialized medicine. They are stifling debate and preventing the American people from getting the whole story.
I am joining with the Media Research Center and citizens across the nation to demand the media tell the truth about health care! I demand the news media strive for objectivity and balance in reporting on health care, and I am committed to taking action when necessary to directly combat the liberal bias of the media.
Your network in particular has made a mockery of journalism throughout the health care debate. This past week, we learned that you are refusing to air an ad that presents an opposing view to the President's health proposals. This comes after ABC News dedicated an entire day in June to what was little more than an infomercial for ObamaCare broadcast from the White House. You promised the June 24 "town hall" forum would be a fair examination of the President's proposals. However, the entire day served as an advertisement for ObamaCare, with all of your news programming that day geared toward promoting the President's health care agenda.
Even prior to the White House infomercial, ABC News was actively promoting the President's radical plan. Your network's health care stories featured Obama or his supporters three times more often than critics. ABC has earned its title: the All Barack Channel.
ABC already employed Dr. Tim Johnson, a longtime proponent of universal health care, as your medical editor. Then, in July, you hired Dr. Richard Besser - a two-time contributor to Obama's presidential campaign - as a new medical editor. In the middle of a national debate over life and death health care issues, you hired as your new medical expert a man who has already chosen sides. How can you defend that?
Then, when concerned citizens across the nation stood up and questioned their elected officials on these ill-conceived health care reform proposals, your evening news broadcast was one of the first to characterize their actions as "orchestrated." ABC and the other networks refused to report on the protests as unbiased observers. Instead, you attacked the motives and integrity of thousands of honest, hard-working Americans with charges that have never been leveled against those who protested the previous administration.
Mr. Westin, the patriotic Americans who are signing these petitions, attending town hall meetings, and contacting the offices of lawmakers and news organizations are demanding the truth be told about these radical health care proposals.
Report about the true extent of the so-called health care "crisis." Report the true costs of the proposals being forced through Congress. Report on the lower quality of care, the longer waiting periods, and the overbearing bureaucracies associated with the kind of coverage Obama and Congress are proposing. And allow opposing points of view to be aired on your network.
ABC must stop repeating the White House talking points and start providing Americans with news coverage free of spin and bias. Let us decide for ourselves what is best for this nation.
Sincerely,
L. Brent Bozell III
Founder and President
Media Research Center