Diane Sawyer interview with President Obama presents soft start for ABC's day of health care coverage

If Diane Sawyer's interview with President Obama aired on today's Good Morning America is any indication, critics of the network's decision to devote a full day to exploring his health care initiatives may have a point. See it by clicking here; transcript is located here.

Last week, I asked whether ABC would pull its punches, given all the airtime and access they've been given by the White House. Fox News and the GOP had their own gripes, with professional hysterics such as Sean Hannity declaring ABC was going to produce an infomercial for the president's efforts (picture at right from the campaign last year).

Unfortunately, Sawyer's brief interview snippets, recorded on Tuesday, lived down to that sniping, veering from frothy questions on Obama's smoking habits -- even the president acknowledged he's been tossed that softball too often -- to substantive queries about the shape of his health care initiative.

But Sawyer rarely pressed Obama when the president presented non-answers on several important issues, and failed to follow up on juicy moments. When the president admitted that his thinking has "evolved" on requiring uninsured people to participate in the government's program, Sawyer didn't push for details on what that might mean for citizens.

When the president dodged a good question about whether those who smoke or are obese will pay more -- he offered airy talk about how he and wife Michelle are encouraging kids to adopt better habits -- Sawyer didn't note that he basically answered a different question. Same with questions about whether people with current benefits will see them taxed; Sawyer didn't even ask about all the people who are projected to remain uncovered under the plans currently suggested.

One good moment: She pressed the president on his admission that Americans who like their current health care coverage could see it change if employers respond to healtgh cvare legislation by altering what they offer. 

I hope Charlie Gibson has a few fastballs up his sleeve when the discussion really gets going during ABC's 10 p.m. primetime special tonight (he's also anchoring from the White House at 6:30 p.m.). Because Sawyer's early preview looked a lot more like an infomercial than I expected.

Comments

[Deb]

I think it is a disgrace that rude people like Diane Sawyer are even allowed near the Michael Jackson memorial. She treated him like he was less than human. She told his ex-wife that he was weird - and this is supposed to be a respected news woman. God states that a person reaps what they sow. She will answer for that. Thank God - and she should by His Hand.

[olive]

Diane Sawyer is terrible. She should be ashamed of how she acted towards Michael Jackson in her interviews with him, and Lisa Marie Presley. I just watched her interview with Lisa Marie, and it was one of the most disrespectful interviews I have ever watched. Michael Jackson, is a prodigy, one of kind, a person whose life no one could relate to. I cannot believe how disrespectful she was, and biased in this interview. People deserve respect, especially someone with the talent of Michael Jackson. She should be replaced. She deserves no credit for being a successful anchor, news reporter, or strong woman leader. She gives no respect, she should get none in return. I am disgusted with how she referred to Michael, and I am disgusted with the media.

The media only destroys people. Like it did to Michael. :(

[Eric Deggans]

Never challenging him on any statement?

C'mon man. You know that's not true.

Quibble if you want with the quality of some coverage. But I challenge you to do a Google News seach on Obama's name any day and not find severa lstories asking tough questions about his policies or his actions.

[RagTTiger]

All this event proves is that the media is still in love with Obama. During the last three years, the media has gaven him a free ride, NEVER challenging him on any statement. The White House Press Corps, usually a pretty jaded group, seems afraid to ask the penetrating questions. Obama openly plants questions and no one cares. Obama talks for so long on everything that if more than ten questions get asked in an hour, your lucky. Obama is a master of eloquent fill that says nothing. I guess the reporters don't wish to receive Rehab Emmanuel's profane laden telephone calls and threats. Jake Tapper and Major Garrett seem to be the only ones willing to take Obama on.

[People Search]

After what the health insurance industry has done to this country, Obama could hardly do worse

[Eric Deggans]

it makes sense to be skeptical about plans to change health care. But calling what's happening noe fascism is alarmist at best and hysterical at worst.

You want to see fascism, then look at what's happening in Iraq -- where a questionable election resulted in crackdowns by police, shooting deaths in the street, nighttime arrests of dissidents and a opposition candidate who isn't even allowed to have a political party.

Take it from Democrats who faced eight years of GOP domination; having a representative government which enacts programs you don't like is not fascism. It's democracy.

[Hal]

Frankly I think this event is disturbing when looked at all the other moves this administration and the Congress have made into the private sector with the buying of auto industries and banks. I hate to use the "F" word but does anyone else find our government (both sides of the fence included here) moving in a Fascist way?

And I just saw that the admin and the House worked together to sneak through the approval of the sale of gold by the IMF in a security bill. When will the underhanded attempts to fool the people stop? What happened about transparency?

[Realist]

For those who haven't heard, the Dems, under Obamacare, DO want to tax the health benefits you receive from your employer.

It's just another of the myriad ways that this hastily assembled and hard-sold "plan" is going to cost all Americans big time.

Beware the damaged and costly goods that this slick salesman is selling.