June 25, 2009 1:49 PM
Obama ABC healthcare infomercial vastly ignored
Hmmmm. I wonder why?June 25, 2009ABC's White House special struggled for viewers
President Obama's town hall meeting on health care delivered a sickly rating Wednesday evening.
The one-hour ABC News special "Primetime: Questions for the President: Prescription for America" (4.7 million viewers, 1.1 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) had the fewest viewers in the 10 p.m. hour. The special tied some 8 p.m. comedy repeats as the lowest-rated program on a major broadcast network.
The special was shot at the White House and featured the president answering questions about his health care plan. The president's primary message was that those who like their current insurance will be able to keep it and that taking no action will result in higher health care costs.
The special drew fire from Republican leadership after refusing to allow an official opposition response, or even a paid ad. ABC also interviewed Obama on "Good Morning America" to help promote the special.
Posted in Obama Nation | Permalink
Comments
Best news you've posted all day!
Perhaps Americans are waking up to our president's desperation for attention and trying to send a message: we care about your health care plan about as much as we care about "Friends" re-runs. Or maybe that's the scary truth- people would rather watch reruns than learn about what is going on? Either way, I didn't watch because I expected everything that was said to be regurgitated the next day in the Yahoo news headlines.
I wonder what the Fox news ratings were for that evening...
Posted by: Sarah | June 25, 2009 2:51 PM
I did watch the special and so did most of the rest of my family. We are all concerned about rising health care costs and often wonder how we are going to pay for health care in the future if costs continue to rise as they are now. We all are covered with fairly good insurance right now but we DO worry about people other than ourselves who have little, if any, coverage. I suppose those who have never supported Obama would not bother to watch and just continue to criticize his efforts.I'm happy top see a President who is trying to keep us informed rather than one who goes off on long vacations.
Posted by: Julie | June 25, 2009 3:53 PM
Julie, if this was perhaps a balanced presentation on healthcare, then yes. I would watch but it wasn't. ABC refused to let the other side comment.
If this healthcare is so great, then how come the unions and Congress don't have to apply? Anything that we get, they should get. And the fact that they are leaving themselves exempt should be a roaring red flag.
I want everyone to have access to good solid healthcare. Judging from the lack of success in the UK and Canada (and anywhere else that has socialized medicine), I'm very much against it.
We will have long waits for much needed treatment. It will be like going to the emergency room for every health problem that comes up.
We may not like insurence companies but it beats the government.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | June 25, 2009 4:49 PM
Julie, out of curiosity, which President "goes off on long vacations?" Not President Bush. His "vacations" at Camp David were working vacations.
Presidents go to Camp David not to simply put their feet up. It's a place where they can work in a much more relaxed atmosphere. But they are still working hard.
I would even say that of President Obama.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | June 25, 2009 5:05 PM
Julie, I take offense to your statement that you "DO" think about the uninsured,as if we do not.
We want everyone to have access to quality, affordable healthcare. We just don't think the government is the answer. That doesn't mean we care any less about others.
Posted by: Lauren | June 25, 2009 5:42 PM
I did not watch the infomercial because I did not want to add to ABC's ratings and besides, I really don't like to listen to the President, he says one thing and then does something else. I would rather get the scoop from Rush the next day or watch a balanced analysis on Fox today.
Once upon a time I supported HillaryCare, but since then, I've learned that government does not solve problems, they make problems worse. I have a friend from Canada and she filled me in how difficult it is in Canada to get surgeries, and essential tests because of government health care. And, how much more they pay in taxes! I would like to hear the Republican plan before the Obama plan gets ramrodded through.
To the previous Julie, doesn't it seem kinda suspicious to you that the Obama Administration doeasn't want you to know what ideas the GOP has? Why they denied opposing view televison ads to air during the infomercial?
Posted by: Julie Klekas | June 26, 2009 12:24 AM
