ABC Hypes Obama 'Talking Tough' on V.A. Scandal, But Devotes More Air Time to Pickpockets

Matthew Balan | May 21, 2014
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[More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.]

The 21 May 2014 edition of ABC's World News minimized any sense of the Obama administration's responsibility in the ongoing V.A. scandal, and spent the least amount of air time on the issue among the Big Three networks' evening newscasts. The program actually aired segments on pickpocketing and custom mobile homes than lasted about a half a minute longer each than their report on the scandal.

Diane Sawyer spotlighted how the President "weighed in – talking tough and talking action" on the "growing outrage over veterans hospitals." Jim Avila noted how multiple V.A. medical facilities in several states are now being investigated, and let the relative of deceased veteran decry the President's handling of the scandal. However, he didn't mention that the wait lists have been around for years – something that CBS Evening News mentioned in its coverage of the controversy.

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