Tea Party Members Protest ABC Health Care Special

President Barack Obama wants to overhaul America's health care system.

It's a plan that raises a lot of questions so tonight, ABC News will televise what's being called a "Primetime Conversation with the President."

The program has been drawing protesters outside Channel 9's studios since about 5:20 p.m. They say their protest is with ABC News, not Channel 9, and they feel a demonstration is the best way to show local politicians they're not happy with the president's plan. They are chanting "No Obama Care."

President Obama is calling for a health care reform plan that would spend more than $1 trillion to extend health care to 50 million uninsured Americans over 10 years. The president sat down with ABC's Diane Sawyer to explain his push.

"We're going to get it done. So I won't engage in hypotheticals in which we don't. And the reason it's gonna get done is because the American people understand it has to get done," President Obama said.

The president promised to work with Congress to pass legislation before the end of the year. Opponents say they are against government-run health care. The President of the Cincinnati Tea Party says that's one of the biggest factors but their is also another.

"Number two, is obviously the unprecedented access ABC is being given here. They're giving primetime television not for a major presidential speech that's covered everywhere but something only on ABC where they prepicked people that are asking questions of the president," said Cincinnati Tea Party President Mike Wilson.

WCPO's News Director Bob Morford issued the following response:

"All I can tell you is we are in charge at Channel 9 of our local newscast content whether its medical issues or any other news issues we are going to try very hard now and in the future to remain fair and balanced."

ABC News also issued a reply promising a thoughtful and probing discussion.

Kerry Smith, Senior Vice President, said, "ABC News alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the President. Like any programs we broadcast, ABC News will have complete control."

You can watch the ABC News Special: "Questions for the President: Prescription for America" tonight at 10 p.m. on Channel 9.

The president of the Cincinnati Tea Party says there are also protests taking place outside of ABC's affiliate studios across the country.

What are your thoughts on the current health care system and what should we do to fix it? Share your thoughts by adding a comment below.

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The following is the official response to the Republican National Committee from ABC News' Senior Vice President of Editorial Quality, Kerry Smith, regarding the special about health care with President Barack Obama:

Dear Mr. McKay:

I am in receipt of your letter of June 15, 2009 and wanted to respond to a number of false premises you raise regarding our ongoing and upcoming coverage of health care.

I hope we can all agree that a robust debate of health care issues and potential policies is in order.

To that end, ABC News announced plans to broadcast a primetime hour from the White House devoted to exploring and probing the President's position and the giving voice to questions and criticisms of that position. We hope that any American concerned about health care will find our efforts to informative, fair and civil.

Second, ABC News prides itself on covering all sides of important issues and asking direct questions of all newsmakers -- of all political persuasions -- even when others have taken a more partisan approach and even in the face of criticism from extremes on both ends of the political spectrum. ABC News alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the president. Like any programs we broadcast, ABC News will have complete editorial control. To suggest otherwise is quite unfair to both our journalists and our audience.

Third, there already has been extensive coverage of the upcoming health care debates, on ABC and elsewhere, and there will be much, much more. Indeed, we've already had many critics of the President's health care proposals on the air -- and that's before a real plan has even been put before the country.

In the end, no one watching, listening to, or reading ABC News will lack for an understanding of all sides of these important questions.

Thank you for your interest