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Networks Snub Obama On Primetime Health Care Address
Buzzfeed ^ | 04/03/14 | Evan McMorris-Santoro

Posted on 04/03/2014 6:09:48 PM PDT by markomalley

White House officials sought valuable primetime air for a rare, impromptu Tuesday night address to tout the accomplishment of signing up more than 7 million people under the Affordable Care Act.

But network officials refused to make the kind of accommodation they did previously for the announcement that Osama Bin Laden had been killed, for instance, and Obama was left instead cutting into the much smaller audiences of Ellen and other daytime shows.

Three sources familiar with the request confirmed the White House asked for the primetime slot in their effort both to emphasize a bright moment following the challenging roll out and, more important, to try to reintroduce the country to a law that remains unpopular. One top White House official referred BuzzFeed to another top official for comment on the conversation with networks, but the second official did not respond to a request for comment.

People familiar with the request declined to reveal which network blocked the primetime address, but broadcast networks have traditionally been much more reluctant than cable networks to provide the White House with evening air time.

Instead of the primetime speaking slot the White House wanted, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden lauded the accomplishment in a less formal Rose Garden address that was alternately celebratory and hard-edged.

“In the end, history is not kind to those who would deny Americans their basic economic security. Nobody remembers well those who stand in the way of America’s progress or our people,” Obama said.

The White House rarely asks for primetime broadcast TV time for Obama outside the traditional State of the Union address. Indeed, the Oval Office message is one of the traditional venues for presidential communications Obama’s team has shunned in favor of digital and nontraditional media tools that don’t require the help of established media. But while a primetime address remains a powerful tool available only to the sitting president, networks face a different imperative: protecting their profitable primetime lineup.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; democratcare; fail; obamacare; obamacareenrollment; obamascare; primetime
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1 posted on 04/03/2014 6:09:48 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

The clown is always on TV all his announcements seem to run together like one big clown fest.


2 posted on 04/03/2014 6:13:39 PM PDT by funfan
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To: markomalley

“economic security”

TAKING more of our money is economic security?

Proof that he speaks inversely.


3 posted on 04/03/2014 6:13:47 PM PDT by bicyclerepair (The zombies here elected alcee hastings. TERM LIMITS ... TERM LIMITS)
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To: markomalley

Racist networks!


4 posted on 04/03/2014 6:14:27 PM PDT by Mark (Obama Care is now DEMOCRAT CARE)
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To: markomalley

Finally.


5 posted on 04/03/2014 6:14:58 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: markomalley

“Cutting into daytime shows” probably worked better for Obama, who truly appeals to those sitting on their bums watching tv all day.


6 posted on 04/03/2014 6:17:14 PM PDT by Veto!
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To: funfan

Shine wearing off the Turd.


7 posted on 04/03/2014 6:18:23 PM PDT by wetgundog (" Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is no Vice")
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To: markomalley
“In the end, history is not kind to those who would deny Americans their basic economic security. Nobody remembers well those who stand in the way of America’s progress or our people,” Obama said.

I couldn't have said that better myself. I can only hope Obama will be forgotten in my lifetime. I hope his legacy finds a place in some long forgotten landfill.

8 posted on 04/03/2014 6:21:39 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (My whimsical litany of satyric prose and avarice pontification of wisdom demonstrates my concinnity.)
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To: markomalley

They(drive by media) carried the water, although the bucket had less volume, it was still carried! They may wean themselves of this illusion, but we shall not forget or forgive!


9 posted on 04/03/2014 6:23:17 PM PDT by goodtomato (I'm really, really blessed!)
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To: markomalley

10 posted on 04/03/2014 6:23:45 PM PDT by QT3.14 (Obama Socialized Health Insurance Tax ( O S H I T ))
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To: markomalley

seems odd, when do they ever say no?


11 posted on 04/03/2014 6:25:21 PM PDT by dontreadthis
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To: markomalley

Despite what he says in public, this president knows this is a ticking time bomb in a gunpowder factor tied to a nuke.

If he really believed this was the bee’s knees, he wouldn’t be trying to delay it’s full implementation


12 posted on 04/03/2014 6:27:09 PM PDT by LMAO (Insurgent conservative)
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To: markomalley

The Not-Ready-For-Primetime President.


13 posted on 04/03/2014 6:27:48 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: markomalley

Even Smirky Obama’s own enablers are fed up with his victory dances and his self serving half-truths, lies, and damn lies.


14 posted on 04/03/2014 6:28:41 PM PDT by Iron Munro (The future ain't what it use to be -- Yogi Berra)
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To: Tenacious 1

You are in dream land if you think Obama will be forgotten in your lifetime it is going to take generations if ever to get past all the harm he has wrought to this once great nation


15 posted on 04/03/2014 6:31:05 PM PDT by al baby (Hi MomÂ… I was refereeing to Obama)
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To: markomalley

Why would the give him any time, it’s like a broken record .lie, lie, lie followed by more lies and in closing another lie.


16 posted on 04/03/2014 6:33:53 PM PDT by chiefqc
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To: markomalley

They’re getting tired of Obama lies ... paid out of their pockets.


17 posted on 04/03/2014 6:39:42 PM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: markomalley

They suck up to him non-stop. It’s sickening.


18 posted on 04/03/2014 6:48:51 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: markomalley

The networks are laying low on Barrycare until after the elections. Don’t want to mess the elections up for their Rat candidates.


19 posted on 04/03/2014 7:22:04 PM PDT by Old Yeller (In Latin, the word sinister means left. Which is appropriate for left-wingers.)
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To: markomalley

20 posted on 04/03/2014 7:46:37 PM PDT by McBuff
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