ABC hits back against ‘false premises’ in RNC letter

ABC fired back at the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) letter criticizing a planned program inside the White House, saying the GOP relied on “false premises” in its criticism.

RNC Chief of Staff Ken McKay had written ABC to complain about a planned series of ABC specials on healthcare — to be broadcast in the White House.

“I am deeply concerned and disappointed with ABC’s astonishing decision to exclude opposing voices on this critical issue on June 24, 2009,” McKay wrote ABC News head David Westin in a letter published on the Drudge Report.

“In the absence of opposition, I am concerned this event will become a glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda. If that is the case, this primetime infomercial should be paid for out of the DNC coffers,” McKay added.

“I am in receipt of your letter of June 15, 2009 and wanted to respond to a number of false premises you raise regarding our ongoing and upcoming coverage of health care,” ABC Senior VP Kerry Smith responded Tuesday.

Smith said the network sought to encourage a “robust debate of health care issues,” which is why they scheduled the special.

“In the end, no one watching, listening to, or reading ABC News will lack for an understanding of all sides of these important questions,” she said.