ABC News Faces Backlash Over 'Exclusive' Obama Redistricting Ad ABC News is facing significant criticism on social media after labeling a campaign advertisement featuring former President Barack Obama promoting a Virginia redistricting measure as an 'exclusive.' Users questioned the journalistic integrity of classifying a widely circulated partisan ad as exclusive, sparking accusations of bias and propaganda against the network. Social media users on the platform X vehemently criticized ABC News on Friday after the network published a campaign advertisement featuring former President Barack Obama advocating for a redistricting measure in Virginia, labeling it as an 'exclusive.' This characterization sparked widespread backlash, with prominent figures like Mark Hemingway, a senior writer at RealClearInvestigations, questioning the network's decision. Hemingway publicly asked why a major news organization would deem an overtly partisan campaign ad as exclusive content. The controversy arose when ABC News presented a video clip of Obama urging Virginians to vote in favor of the redistricting initiative, which, if approved, is widely believed to enhance the Democratic Party's prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. In the advertisement, Obama stated, By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms. By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we're counting on you. The reaction on X extended beyond Hemingway's observation. Numerous users expressed their discontent in the comments section of his post, with some branding ABC News as a propaganda machine and others broadly criticizing legacy media outlets. One user sarcastically commented, It’s so exclusive I saw it on YouTube before my video started about 20 times in the past week. Retired U.S. diplomat Alberto Miguel Fernandez echoed these sentiments, sharing his experience: Every time I turn on the television here in Virginia, I see Obama saying this nonsense. For weeks now. How in the world is this exclusive or even new, @ABCPolitics? Many users pointed to what they perceived as a partisan bias from the network. One comment stated, It's a Democrat and it's the corporate media. Same thing, really. Another user suggested that the network might be obligated to provide equal time for opposing viewpoints. Others accused ABC News of effectively amplifying the Democratic message without charge. Conversely, some users defended ABC News. Responding to Hemingway's initial query, one user offered, Because it’s an exclusive I guess? Another questioned the relevance of partisanship to the claim of exclusivity, asking, What does partisanship have to do with it? ABC News did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the incident. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between traditional news organizations and social media users concerning the definition of journalistic exclusivity and the perceived impartiality of media coverage. The redistricting measure itself is a significant political issue in Virginia, with potential implications for future election outcomes and the balance of power in the state. The involvement of a former president in such a campaign, amplified by a major news network, inevitably draws scrutiny and debate about the role of media in political advocacy. The criticism leveled against ABC News underscores a broader public discourse surrounding the trustworthiness and objectivity of news reporting in an increasingly polarized political landscape. The accessibility of campaign advertisements through various platforms, including social media and pre-roll ads on video streaming services, further complicates the notion of a news outlet securing exclusive content.