After several biting back-and-forths, ABC News announced today that it is cutting conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart from ABC’s election night coverage.
The network was the target of much blowback after it announced that Breitbart — who had a role in Shirley Sherrod’s firing and has supported James O’Keefe’s video activism — would take part in a town hall-style event in Phoenix.
ABC quickly tried to distance itself from Breitbart, saying he was not an “analyst” and would not be part of the network’s broadcast coverage, but that he would offer opinion in an online forum. Breitbart pushed back, publishing emails that suggested he would be part of the broadcast.
Now ABC sends Greg Sargent the Dear John letter it sent Breitbart:
We have spent the past several days trying to make clear to you your limited role as a participant in our digital town hall to be streamed on ABCNews.com and Facebook. The post on your blog last Friday created a widespread impression that you would be analyzing the election on ABC News. We made it as clear as possible as quickly as possible that you had been invited along with numerous others to participate in our digital town hall. Instead of clarifying your role, you posted a blog on Sunday evening in which you continued to claim a bigger role in our coverage. As we are still unable to agree on your role, we feel it best for you not to participate.
In his post Sunday night, Breitbart promised (or threatened?) to be part of ABC’s coverage in Phoenix “one way or another.”
Late update: Breitbart tells TPM he’s on a flight home from Phoenix. “At least I get to vote!” he said.
