GOP seeks to counter ABC programming
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Republican National Committee is urging GOP members of Congress to take to the local airwaves next week to discuss their approach to healthcare reform in an effort to counter an ABC News primetime special featuring President Obama speaking on the issue.
The RNC is informing GOP congressional offices this morning that it will pay for and help schedule the interviews with local television reporters in their states and districts.
The RNC tells the Republican lawmakers it is taking this step because they said their request to be included in the special “was denied.”
“This means that President Obama and the Democrats will have an entire day to push their government-run health care agenda without hearing Republicans’ policy ideas and principles on health care reform,” the RNC writes in the memo that was obtained by CNN.
Read the full memo after the jump
MEMORANDUM
TO: House and Senate Republican Chiefs of Staff, Communication Directors, Press Secretaries and SchedulersFROM: RNC Communications
DATE: June 17, 2009
RE: June 24th Republicans’ Opportunity to Respond to President Obama on ABC News
On Wednesday, June 24th, the ABC News network will devote an entire day of programming to President Barack Obama’s health care agenda. According to an ABC News report, in addition to a primetime health care reform “town hall” at the White House, Good Morning America, World News, Nightline and ABC’s web news “will all feature special programming on the president’s health care agenda.”
The Republican National Committee asked ABC News to include Republicans in their health care reform programming on June 24th but our request was denied. This means that President Obama and the Democrats will have an entire day to push their government-run health care agenda without hearing Republicans’ policy ideas and principles on health care reform.
Next Wednesday, the RNC will make our television studio available, for the entire day, for House and Senate Republicans to conduct satellite interviews with local network affiliates in their home states or congressional districts, including the 211 ABC affiliates nationwide. The RNC will absorb the cost of the satellite time and offer assistance in setting up the satellite interviews with the local affiliates. Republican Members of Congress can use this opportunity to discuss his or her views on health care reform as well as to respond to President Obama’s health care plan.
The RNC TV studio will be available the entire day of June 24th. Please RSVP at your earliest convenience as space is limited.
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They will be all over cable news whining like they always are. I don't know what they are so worried about.
Wonder if the ABC News reporter doing this free ride interview with Obama will bow to him the way Brian Williams did. These so-called journalists are a joke, they all remind me of Mary Hart when it comes to Obama (fawning all over the big celebrity of the moment). How many pictures of the puppy and the family will this "news" special inlcude – wonder if they can think up any inane questions that haven't yet been asked. Maybe we will find out who REALLY wears the pants in the Obama family. This media bias is bordering on hysterical and talk about overplaying someone. Is there anyone else who loves the camera more – loves to see and hear himself on TV? Good God I never thought I would agree with Bill Maher but in this case I think he is spot on and Obama would be wise to listen to him – GET OFF OF THE TV!!!
what a bunch of moron.Yes I am talking about the republican party. If President plan is so bad, why are they afraid that the President will have a full day to talk about it. They don't want the truth to get to the American people. Public option is the best plan. What can of reform will it be if there is no public plan? This health care debate will really tell u the can of party that is for the people. And I believe this will put the final nail on the republican party. The racist party. That should be there new name. They are anti any good thing for the people.
The Republicans have never seriously wanted to reform health care in the past, so why should we listen to them now?
We have heard from repugs,and they say NO,NO, NO.
They have to first figure out what their approach to health care is. The GOP is dead. Time for a new party. Look at the last 12 years of GOP control of congress, all they did is increase their pocket size. Never advanced the right's agenda and used the churches to get re-elected. Played on the fears of the American people and only increased the threats.
GOP has noting to offer to the poor but to the rich.
Typical Democratic manure - they don't want differing opinions. They just want to ram Socialism down your throat. Wake up America!
What Republican Health Care Ideas – all that they want is to maintain the "staus quo" and protect those who are lobbying against any change!
I need a new car and a house! Hey I live in America and the American dream guarantees me these things, right? I need a raise, maybe the goverment can sponsor a bill that will give me a pay increase, new car and house? I need some more vacation time so maybe the govenment can interfere more than it already does and force business to do this? Socialism at its best! If someone wants health insurance than they should get a job and pay for it on their own. Spread the wealth is Obama's philosophy! If we continue down this path of socialism than eventually no one will want to work because their is no incentive to work! Why would someone work when the government will pay for all their expenses! Eventually the democrats will have no one left to steal from to pay for these programs.
Grand Obsolete Party : you are history.
OBAMA: We need to provide health care to those who lose their jobs. To children whose parents can't afford to give their kids healthcare.
REPUBLICANS: We are so sick of people whining about they want health care. We've got ours, let them do for themselves.
Its interesting that the RNC has no details or reasons as to why their request to be included on the ABC special was denied. My guess is that Michael Steele and his staff were thinking so outside the box that they simply forgot to ask. I have never seen such a group of grossly incompetent people running a political operation in my life as Steele and his colleagues. However, the solution is simple: just ring up FOX, and they will provide at least a week of wall-to-wall coverage slamming the President's speech. As usual, they will offer no solutions, but that is not their job: blaming and distracting is. Meanwhile, lets hope that the few GOP adults left in the Senate will have crafted some kind of thoughtful response that does not use the phrase "socialized medicine" more than 20 times. We need a thoughtful opposition providing real alternatives, not a screaming mob with pitchforks and torches.
So the GOP actually has a plan for Health Care? That should be news itself as they have not had a plan for anything for years...........
Given the laughable points of the GOP plan, they should buy time on Comedy Central. Maybe all of the 15 people who protested the Letterman show (i.e. the Republican party) will watch it.
Oh good, the Gop on healthcare. Let's hear from the fox more information about how to protect the hen house.
“This means that President Obama and the Democrats will have an entire day to push their government-run health care agenda without hearing Republicans’ policy ideas and principles on health care reform,” the RNC writes in the memo that was obtained by CNN.
Duh, that's because they have none. Nobody wants to hear a bunch of mumbo jumbo and hoo doo from these nay sayers. When they come on TV, I immediately switch the channel and run for the Pepto Bismol.
Obama's state-controlled media is chilling. Thanks to Fox (and some of the foreign press) for giving us at least ONE balanced reporting source. I know this upsets the messiah terribly, and Fox must now watch their backside.
The republicans had 8 LONG years to try and fix and come up with a plan for health care and they did NOTHING! Because they didn't care and still don't but Now all of a sudden that President Obama is trying to fix it they have ideas????
The American people will not consider any Republican ideas until they redesign their core principles on fair trade, universal health care, and affirmative action.
Thank you ABC News for not allowing the party of NEVER from saying one thing on the air against health care reform. Let the revolution move forward and succeed. This is great news. You guys have guts. Thank you for denying those idiots one word. You deserve a medal.
The GOP should talk to FOX. They get free air-time there.
GOP we already know your plans,,,tax cuts for the wealthy, cooperate favoring as always!!
Funny how Republicans were at the helm for 6 years before Americans started seeing right through them and now they are all concerned about health care. Make that eight years if you want to count when boy wonder was still acting like he was a President.
No No No to their plan. The plan does not help those with out a plan.
Same plan the McShame rolled out last year. More tax breaks........