If there was a doubt in the mind of any informed, educated and rational observer that ABC is an officially government-run network, let that doubt be dispelled. In 2008 the Drive-By media served notice that they abandoned what little objective journalistic integrity remained; 2009 serves notice that at least one such news outlet - ABC - in now an appendage of the Obama administration.

Drudge broke the news today on his site:

On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!

Highlights on the agenda: ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.

I’m left wondering at what point in time ABCNEWS will simply broadcast from the White House on a full-time basis. How long will it be before NBC, CBS, CNN and MSNBC clamor for similar privileges?

The network plans a primetime special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.

While it is certainly infuriating, it’s not surprising. What ABC has done only confirms what we have known about the Drive-By media for years and what many pundits - including yours truly - have been predicting since before Obama was elected.

The problem, of course, is how to counter it. ABC has a long broadcast arm and it’s a sure bet at lot of otherwise clueless Americans - many of whom have no idea what this administration is really up to - will tune in, turn on and sign up to the Great Health Care Hoax.

Late Monday night, Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay fired off a complaint to the head of ABCNEWS:

Dear Mr. Westin:

As the national debate on health care reform intensifies, I am deeply concerned and disappointed with ABC’s astonishing decision to exclude opposing voices on this critical issue on June 24, 2009. Next Wednesday, ABC News will air a primetime health care reform “town hall” at the White House with President Barack Obama. In addition, according to an ABC News report, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, WORLD NEWS, NIGHTLINE and ABC’s web news “will all feature special programming on the president’s health care agenda.” This does not include the promotion, over the next 9 days, the president’s health care agenda will receive on ABC News programming.

Today, the Republican National Committee requested an opportunity to add our Party’s views to those of the President’s to ensure that all sides of the health care reform debate are presented. Our request was rejected. I believe that the President should have the ability to speak directly to the America people. However, I find it outrageous that ABC would prohibit our Party’s opposing thoughts and ideas from this national debate, which affects millions of ABC viewers.

In the absence of opposition, I am concerned this event will become a glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda. If that is the case, this primetime infomercial should be paid for out of the DNC coffers. President Obama does not hold a monopoly on health care reform ideas or on free airtime. The President has stated time and time again that he wants a bipartisan debate. Therefore, the Republican Party should be included in this primetime event, or the DNC should pay for your airtime.

Respectfully,
Ken McKay
Republican National Committee
Chief of Staff

McKay’s complaint is far more subdued and diplomatic than I would have been, but then I’m not sitting in his chair. Nevertheless, it’s pointed and on target. So how do the government whores at ABC respond?

Complete denial, of course, as befits any government-controlled propaganda tool:

ABCNEWS Senior Vice President Kerry Smith on Tuesday responded to the RNC complaint, saying it contained ‘false premises’:

“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.

“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. To suggest otherwise is quite unfair to both our journalists and our audience.”

The audacity of their mendacity is breathtaking. It would be one thing if the majority of Americans got their news from sources other than the broadcast networks; the ratings for these programs would immediately tank and they would eventually fold up their tents and leave the news scene.

Unfortunately, most Americans do not watch Fox News or peruse the Internet in search of the truth - they get their news in carefully chosen soundbites from the Drive-Bys, all of it vetted by the White House.

The age of government-run media has finally arrived, my friends. Looks like we’ve actually gone back in time to 1984 - not the year Ronald Reagan was re-elected, rather, the chillingly prescient novel authored by Eric Arthur Blair.

Now more than ever, it is incumbent upon all of us as individual patriots to make our voices heard not just in the talk radio and internet echo chambers, but among our families, friends and co-workers. We must make our voices heard in our neighborhoods, our municipalities and our states.

The time has come to act. If we do not, our only chance to turn back the approaching tide of Amero-Fascism will be lost in 2010.