Diane Sawyer Responds to Health Care Special Attacks (VIDEO)

"Good Morning America" co-anchor Diane Sawyer responded to accusations that ABC News will pander to the Obama administration in an upcoming primetime special about health care reform.

Since the announcement of the special, conservative commentators, including Sean Hannity, have decried ABC for promoting "Obama-care" and for making it clear that "journalism in America is dead."

In an interview with Howard Kurtz during the "Reliable Sources" segment on CNN's "State of the Union with John King," Sawyer seemed both upset and bemused by the accusations.

"I'm so proud of ABC," Sawyer said. "This network is trying to tackle a serious issue in a serious way".

Sawyer stressed that the special's purpose was not to unequivocally back Obama's health care plan, but to take a careful look at both sides of the issue. "It is not an infomercial" she noted. "ABC News does not do that... [we] are going to be able to ask questions from every single vantage point".

Sawyer also pointed out that this was not the first time ABC News has been granted access to the White House to film a special focusing on a single hot-button issue. The network arranged a similar program with the Clinton administration regarding gun control, and approached the Bush administration with an offer, but was turned down.

"Our job is to have a serious conversation," Sawyer said. "This is not theater. This is too important."

Watch:

"Questions for the President: Prescription for America" will air on ABC at 10PM ET on Wednesday, June 24.

Comments

[Trublulu]

05:37 PM on 06/23/2009

Looked up Diane Sawyers bio. She was born and raised in Louisianna and her father was a prominent Republican politician. She is no liberal and doubtful that she would consider being a Democrat. Her husband is Mike Nichols. She did have a relationship with Ambassador Hollbroke (wasn't stated when or for how long). She is probably a Republican of the Colin Powell genre (a dying breed).I fear this so-called bruhaha with Fox News is just a ruse to get people to watch the program. ABC is no friend to President Obama; like all of the main stream media, they bow to commerical interests. I am sure they will be very concilliatory to the private insurance side of the issue.

[needlefingers]

05:32 PM on 06/23/2009

Hannity was just on Good Morning America a few weeks ago, with Sawyer, talking about Obama's speech in Cairo.

And they have O'Reilly on often. And Coulter.

It seems to me that ABC does present other voices. Even those from Fox.

News attacking news. It is geting so old.

[LeeCalif]

05:10 PM on 06/23/2009

Sawyer is simply a fraud.

[JanSP1971]

02:40 PM on 06/23/2009

I'm not a huge fan of Diane but why is she even talking about smack that Hannity spewed on Fixed News? Come on what does anyone think they will say when it comes to someone that might give an honest q&a with President Obama? Fixed was there to support GWB, Cheney and their war and now they are here to support the right wing hate and fear spewing republican party and feed their opinions to all their un-American viewers that want our President and our country to fail.

[Brewtopia]

02:32 PM on 06/23/2009

If this is so open and balanced...
Then why has ABC banned John Stossel from partaking in the broadcast?????
Oh that's right.... they already know his opinion and disagree with it so.... silence all descent

[sasidechick]

03:00 PM on 06/23/2009

just like when Faux followed Bush all over the place without a progressive voice in the area code....

[Brewtopia]

03:27 PM on 06/23/2009

Thank you for admitting the ABC is just as biased as Fox News!!!
nuff said!

[dutt]

04:49 PM on 06/23/2009

Seems to me we are hearing plenty of dissent. The insurance companies along with the politicians on their payroll are constantly spewing their rubbish to try an block healthcare reform. Anyhow, why is the tv program already being attacked for bias when it hasn't even aired yet?

[eladora]

01:51 PM on 06/23/2009

The dispute with having this become a part of everyones conversation comes from the insurance companies. They are doing everything they can , buying every Congressperson they can, to keep this from getting to the table.
The insurance co and pharmacutical co are raging a war against this administration to keep this off the table until 2010 when their investments in Congress pay off with repubs gaining back seats.
Everyone needs keep their eyes on the ball --- this ABC flack is just a sideshow.

[DestinationsUnknown]

10:31 AM on 06/23/2009

approached the Bush administration with an offer, but was turned down.

they were busy with fox

that is why people did nto pay any attention to cheney on cnn first to start bashing obama

never did he go on cnn before fox or rush

why do you think that was?

[flapjack]

10:13 AM on 06/23/2009

She says THEY will be asking questions. I'm sure their questions will be screened in advance. If ABC truly wanted a healthcare dialogue, then they would allow opposing viewpoints.

[TheSpider]

10:35 AM on 06/23/2009

Nobody cares what the GOP, Special Interest, or Insurance companies have to say....

[flapjack]

10:37 AM on 06/23/2009

So you are only interested in propaganda. That explains alot.

[Shashi0224]

12:03 PM on 06/23/2009

Only Bush needed the questions ahead of time as he was too stupid and unqualified to answer anything otherwise.
America WANTS to hear what our President, President Obama, is proposing. Perhaps repubs don't, they'll just wait for their negative talking points to be issued from Rush and Fox.
I am looking forward to hearing this interview and learning how President Obama is going to deliver the healthcare reform our country so desperately needs.

[frappe]

03:59 PM on 06/23/2009

Republicans are like the Borg collective from Star Trek -- those half human/half robot beings that take their cues, instructions, and orders (talking points) from a centralized source or authority. Very Orwellian -- 1984ish. And Bush's administration was further proof of their natural inclination to centralize authority and exert control. What a paranoid bunch.

[Trublulu]

05:11 PM on 06/23/2009

I just hope that ABC doesn't pander to the wing-nuts and water down their report to appease them. Seems like whenever the Republicans throw a tantrum the media backs down.
I am glad that John Stossel will not be on the program. He is so biased and so uninformed. We need a real dialogue and the right in unable to contribute in a rational manner. All they know is how to grovel at the feet of the big insurance and big pharma corporations that contribute so handsomely to their campaigns.

[whydodemshate]

09:47 AM on 06/23/2009

Here we go again, who in their right mind cares or gives a @%$# what Diane Sawyer thinks about anything?????

[DestinationsUnknown]

10:34 AM on 06/23/2009

name one original thought from your man hannity-

can you do that?

[fairness4all]

01:28 PM on 06/23/2009

If Hannity was capable of having an original thought, he wouldn't have to work for FOX.

[jonjon66]

09:46 AM on 06/23/2009

"Journalism in America is Dead" yes over at Fox News

[Shashi0224]

12:04 PM on 06/23/2009

It never existed at Fox......it's even laughable that Hannity could say the word Journalism.....he probably broke out in hives.

[tormato]

08:21 AM on 06/23/2009

Sean Hannity said "journalism in America is Dead"? He should know, he and Fox News pulled the trigger.

I guess the cheerleading for the Bush Administration and the Tea Parties was objective and "Fair and Balanced" in his view.

[MarianneEvans11]

09:58 AM on 06/23/2009

Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, they're all comedians; all entertainers. Not a journalists among the bunch! I listen to Rush on my way home from work occasionally to pass the time and get a laugh. I mostly enjoy when he is put to task over his repeated negative attitude and suddenly we have a problem with the audio...LOL...Same with Hannity, he brings on some good speakers to his show only to mock their objectives viewpoints on their subject matter. He is always bringing Obama into the talk show matter regardless of the subject....he "Blames" President Obama for everything...I guess he'll blame him next when there is no toilet paper in the restrooms at FOX!

[dhfsfc]

08:21 AM on 06/23/2009

She's a joke.

Another blond given too much deference on the teevee!

[oncethere]

07:54 AM on 06/23/2009

This is all projection. Turning this kind of special into an advertisement for the president is Exactly what Fox would do. It is not what ABC plans to do.

[1Troubles]

10:15 AM on 06/23/2009

anyone out there that watches ABC knows they are NOT Obama fans

It goes all the way back to the unforgettable debates and the flag pi8n

[Shashi0224]

12:06 PM on 06/23/2009

Exactly! I stopped watching ABC after that embarrassing debate by Charlie Gibson and George S. Their questions to Obama were insulting and inane.

[Trublulu]

05:18 PM on 06/23/2009

How do you know this will be an advertisement for our president? I am sure that there will critics, but not enough to satisfy the Republican insurance companies and big pharma that are whining that they can't compete with the government. Funny, isn't it, that these were the same people who complained that government doesn't do anything right and private enterprise is so much more efficient. Oh, yeah, we have a wonderful healthcare system for the rich and famous.

[TomInJax]

07:42 AM on 06/23/2009

I find it just laughable that the fear mongers at FOX would dare decry anyone for being biased. What's even more laughable is that the FOX news pundits comments are being reported by reputable news outlets as legitimate concerns. Hannity is gonna cry foul no matter what this President does. What's the only profitable sector in this economy. Health Care. What is the most profitable sector period. Health Care. That is why they don't want a public option.

[Tommygun264]

06:16 AM on 06/23/2009

I am in no way a fan of Hannity or anyone else over at FOX Noise, but "Diane Sawyer" and "serious issues" are like oil and water.

[MarianneEvans11]

10:01 AM on 06/23/2009

Oil and water do mix, when you add a little vinegar....ever try Italian dressing? Diane Sawyer is a journalist and one of the best! ABC-NEWS is objective....There is no one-side to their commentaries or special edition shows. It is a fine line to walk down the middle of the road and I truly believe ABC walks that line never crossing it. NEVER!