SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Protesters picketed ABC affiliates across the country Wednesday night, including ABC 4 in Salt Lake City.
Protesters arrived at ABC 4 before the special aired to protest what they believed was a slant from the ABC special.
The network initially took heat for broadcasting entirely from the White House with specialized coverage on President Obama’s health care plans.
Before the broadcast, a letter from Republican National Committee Chair Ken McKay to the head of ABC News complained that equal coverage will not be given and is “concerned this event will become a glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda.” ABC News denied a request from the RNC to share coverage equally saying the complaint was made on “false premises.”
David Westin, President of ABC, also responded to the complaint with this: “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.”
ABC 4 in Salt Lake aired the special that featured a town hall style meeting. Questions were asked by an audience from different backgrounds and political affiliations, as well as by Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson from ABC News.
