Forty Republicans worked themselves into a high dudgeon this week over ABC's temerity in offering the President of the United States a forum to discuss health care with the American people. So irked were they that they did what they do best -- formed a group on the fly with a high-falutin' name (the Media Fairness Caucus), and then promptly began issuing intimidating letters.
The primary recipient, however, refused to play the game. David Westin, chairman of ABC, slapped right back at the group's claim (PDF) that airing a health care forum was "unprofessional and contrary to the journalistic code of ethics to present the news fairly and independently."
Westin called bullshit:
"Sadly, some inside government and within the private sector see every issue as material for a sort of political high theatre, to be used to gain votes or energize political bases or simply to raise funds. I would have thought that a subject as important as the health care received by the American people would rise above this sorry spectacle. Our citizens need and deserve more. We are proud to be making a serious effort to go beyond mere punditry or stylized, bipolar debate; we are proud to work for a network and a company willing to devote valuable airtime to serious consideration of a subject so worthy," Westin wrote.
Undaunted, the Republican National Committee forged ahead, launching a cable ad carrying the same lame message.