Executives at the broadcast networks refused to accommodate a White House request for a primetime press conference Tuesday on the Affordable Care Act reaching its enrollment goal, BuzzFeed reports:
Three sources familiar with the request confirmed the White House asked for the primetime slot in their effort both to emphasize a bright moment following the challenging roll out and, more important, to try to reintroduce the country to a law that remains unpopular. One top White House official referred BuzzFeed to another top official for comment on the conversation with networks, but the second official did not respond to a request for comment.
People familiar with the request declined to reveal which network blocked the primetime address, but broadcast networks have traditionally been much more reluctant than cable networks to provide the White House with evening air time.
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President Obama instead held the press conference Tuesday afternoon in the Rose Garden. It was covered by ABC and NBC, as well as the cable news networks.