ABC News, GOP sparring over Obama health care coverage

ABC News and the GOP are sparring over the network's day-long coverage of President Obama's health care reform that includes televising his town-hall meeting live at 10 tonight.

A large contingent of Republican House members, who formed a "Media Fairness Caucus," has blasted ABC News for "providing in-kind free advertising for President Obama."

ABC News President David Westin issued a defensive statement, calling the criticism an attempt by "some inside government and within the private sector" to turn every issue into "material for a sort of political high theatre, to be used to gain votes or energize political bases or simply to raise funds."

He promised a "thoughtful, respectful, and probing discussion of some of the issues raised by the calls for health-care reform."

"We will include a variety of perspectives coming from private individuals asking the President questions and taking issue with him, as they see fit," he wrote.

But 40 Republican House members signed a letter that says that by presenting Obama's plan without opposition ABC News is acting in an "unprofessional" manner "contrary to the journalistic code of ethics to present the news fairly and independently."

The Republican National Committee has launched a new national political commercial attacking "a national TV network" for 'turning its airwaves over to President Obama's pitch for government-run health care." The commercial is airing on cable outlets today.

ABC News is devoting today's news programs to health care issues from reports on "Good Morning America" to "World News Tonight." The network also will have a news special about health care in prime-time as well as coverage of Obama's town hall meeting. No other network is covering it as extensively.

ABC's Westin calls health care an important issue of great interest to the American people. He says the GOP attack is a "sorry spectacle."

"Our citizens need and deserve more," he continued. "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."

ABC News turned down a request by Republicans to give them airtime for rebuttal tonight.