Should President Obama's First Prime Time TV Discussion About his Health Care Plan Belong Solely to ABC News?

Eric Deggans - TV/Media critic for the St. Petersburg Times
Posted: June 16, 2009 12:45 PM

Barack Obama is a president who has no problem playing the media game.
From allowing two dozen NBC cameras access for a largely complimentary, two-night profile, to a lighthearted cameo in Stephen Colbert's week of shows from Iraq, Obama has shown a willingness to appear on camera in ways more traditional presidents have not.
But news that President Obama will discuss his new initiative to create a government-sponsored health care program during a day-long series of programs on ABC next week takes a universal concern and transforms it into a highly-promoted ABC News event.
Which raises a question: Is that really appropriate? (CONTINUES...)