Who wants to help me meme a boycott? *UPDATED*
Drudge announced today that ABC news is going to use its June 24, 2009 broadcast to shill for Obama’s attempt to nationalize health care:
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.
The network plans a primetime special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.
Even when it speaks in its defense, ABC describes its “news” program as a giant advertisement for ObamaCare:
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.”
And speaking of advertising….
The United States of America is still a capitalist country. The marketplace can speak loudly — and in this case it should. All Americans who are opposed to a major media arm becoming a visible branch of the presidential political machine should take a vow that they will boycott any products advertised on ABC News.
This boycott should be bipartisan. It’s not about the health care agenda. It’s about keeping a free media. No more bowing Brians, please.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkoEIYve2GM[/youtube]
UPDATE: Welcome, Fox News readers. Please feel welcome to leave comments, but be advised that I do moderate for threats and obscenity. I understand that people can feel strongly about issues, but I like my blog to be a place for civil discourse.
UPDATE II: If I’ve started something here, I’m going to have to watch some ABC news, aren’t I? I haven’t watched the show in about 20 years, since its reporting from Israel tended already then to be bullying Israelis versus pathetic Palestinians. That wasn’t news, it was soap opera. But I digress. If any of you know which companies advertise there, let me know. Otherwise I’ll hold my nose and check it out.
As it is, a few years ago, ABC looked at the issue of the advertisers themselves boycotting shows (emphasis mine):
Two advertisers rejecting a show is likely not enough to lead to any type of cancellation. But if advertisers leave a show en masse, they can have a significant impact.
[snip]
Sheri Broyles, a professor of advertising at the University of North Texas, said that the marketplace typically will sort out these types of issues.
If viewers find the material offensive, she said, they will change the channel or shut off their TV. Without strong ratings, shows will be pulled off the air.
Likewise, if someone clearly crosses a line, Broyles said, advertisers will bail and a show will be canceled like Imus’ show [after his nasty remark about the Rutgers’ team], for example.
[snip]
A two-part miniseries by CBS called “The Reagans,” based on the former president and his wife, took heat from conservatives who considered the show unfair to the couple. They persuaded advertisers to drop their support. The show was moved off network TV and ran on Showtime to a much smaller audience.
UPDATE III: In case you’re wondering why a boycott would be useful here, I recommend this post about the danger of presidential power that, owing to a compliant media, is unconstrained. Also, with regard to Obama’s lack of restraint when it comes to changing our health care to a socialized model, check out what the Confederate Yankee has to say.
Uncontrolled Presidential Power is Inherently Totalitarian in Nature
UPDATE IV: Nathan left a good comment:
It’s true that a group of pajama clad bloggers could watch ABC between now and June 24th. They could assemble a list of advertisers. They could send this list on a viral journey throughout the blogosphere. Talk radio could tell listeners where to get the list off the internet. This is too complicated and unfocused.
Here is another way. ABC is part of the larger Disney conglomerate. I think a more effective boycott may be to go for the jugular and boycott the many products put out by Disney itself. Just go here and you can see how many there are.
Parents might heave a sigh of relief at finally having a moral reason to say no to their kids’ “I want” when it comes to Disney products.
UPDATE V: Thanks, MadAsHell for gathering the names of some advertisers: Carson Pirie Scott, Amstel Light, Outback, Ford, Verizon, Southwest Airlines (shame on them),Subaru, Panera, Honda, JC Penney, PNC, and Lowes.
