ABC News faces backlash for presenting Obama campaign ad as an ‘exclusive’ on redistricting measure
Social media users at
“Why is a major news network deeming a highly partisan campaign ad ‘exclusive’?” RealClearResearch senior writer Mark Hemingway asked.
Criticism followed ABC News tagging campaign ad Obama urges Virginians to vote “yes” on the redistricting measure in an exclusively obtained clip.
The measure, if approved, could boost Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.
Former President Barack Obama urged Virginians to vote “yes” on the redistricting measure, saying it would help “level the playing field” in a video message released as early voting began.
(Fox News)
“By voting yes, you can push back against Republicans who are trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterm elections,” Obama said in the video.
“By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we’re counting on you.”
There were other criticisms in the comments to Hemingway’s post; Some accused the ABC of being a “propaganda machine”, while others slammed the legacy media as a whole.
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“So special that I saw it on YouTube last week before my video started about 20 times,” one user wrote.
Retired US diplomat Alberto Miguel Fernandez spoke similarly: “Every time I turn on the TV in Virginia, I see Obama saying this nonsense. How has this been ‘exclusive’ or even new @ABCPolitics for weeks?”
Some criticized the outlet for what they described as partisan bias.
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“His a Democrat and this is corporate media. Essentially the same thing,” one wrote.
“Looks like they might need to provide equal time [to the other side]”said another, while another accused them of “enhancing”[ing] The message is free.”
Others defended the network, responding to Hemingway’s question, “Because it’s a special, I guess?” and “What does partisanship have to do with it?”
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ABC News did not immediately respond to this question Fox News Digital request for comment.
Original article source: ABC News faces backlash for pitching Obama campaign ad ‘exclusive’ on redistricting measure
