Prime Minister, it's time to boycott the ABC

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation overplayed its hand the other day, but so far it looks like it got off scot-free.

The ABC is the go-to channel for supporters and enthusiasts of policies that are anti-conservative, pro-illegal Muslim immigration (which the ABC continues to dress up as nebulous "asylum seekers" of unspecified religion), pro-green, pro-Labor and anti-American.

Its hosts – excepting perhaps the 7:30's Leigh Sales - vilify conservatives, conservative viewpoints and nationalist perspectives, taking great care when inviting guests to appear that the leftist narrative overwhelms all others. This is achieved either by ensuring guests reflect the bias of the relevant reporters or interviewers or by treating centre right guests – when they appear - rudely compared to leftist guests.

Does the Abbott government know what to do about the chronic bias at the ABC most recently demonstrated on the Q & A program?

With a cacophony of opinions oozing out of the party room, the short answer is "no". And that's a shame.

In the "common sense" corner we see three guys. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott livid, asking which "side" the national broadcaster is on?

South Australian Senator Cory Bernadi calling out the show for its naked partisanship and Defence Minister, Kevin Andrews (sensibly) rejecting an invitation to appear next Monday on the program citing the program's lack of balance.

And in the "hey, look at me" corner we see two guys. The Minister for Education & Training, Christopher Pyne telling ABC Radio in regards to Q & A that

We could choose not to go on it, but I think that's madness ­because I want the public to hear the Coalition's message because I think it's the right message.

Sadly Pyne while alert to the bias incredibly promises to keep appearing on the program. The man just doesn't get it.

He is joined in that corner by the Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull who earlier this week stated that the ABC has admitted an error of judgmentand that he spoke with its Managing Director and Chairman. He also soothed parliamentarians that the ABC would review aspects of the program.

Really strong stuff.

The ABC's senior executives must be quaking in their expensive taxpayer funded boots.

So what's the government to do?

As luck would have it, the Republican Party in the United States 'has been there and done that'.

Last year the Republican National Committee had enough with the vile partisanship of the leading leftist voice on cable: MSNBC.

A tweet from the network included this gem, referring to a new television commercial for a cereal that showcased a biracial family:

"Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new Cheerios ad w/ biracial family."

The commercial was scheduled for broadcast during the Super Bowl.

Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee had enough. He wanted an apology and demanded a boycott.

He wrote to the cable company's president, Phil Griffin. "Until you personally and publicly apologise for this behaviour, I have banned all RNC staff from appearing on, associating with, or booking any RNC surrogates on MSNBC. I have asked Republican surrogates and officials to follow our lead."

That said, that incident is not likely to diffuse MSNBC's enthusiasm for race baiting, just like any "apology" emailed from the ABC to the government about its promotion Zaky Mallah, a man who admitted he threatened to kill ASIO officials, is likely to dilute the contempt the ABC has for mainstream values.

Soon enough an apology was made. The offending tweet was deleted. RNC Communications Director Sean Spicer sent a memo to RNC members informing that Priebus had accepted the apology. "We appreciate Mr. Griffin's admission that their comment was demeaning and disgusting" and indicated that the RNC "will aggressively monitor the network to see whether their pattern of unacceptable behavior actually changes. We don't expect their liberal bias to change, but we will call them out when political commentary devolves into personal and belittling attacks."

The boycott was lifted. "That was the deal. Apology and corrective action," Spicer wrote.

But the distaste for MSNBC amongst Republican voters remains, which is why in January this year the party declined to invite the cable network from hosting any of the nine 2016 GOP presidential primary debates that will commence this August.

Just in case any leftist shrieked that by excluding MSNBC the Republicans were denying some members of the public a window into the primary debates, the RNC made clear that the debates will air on Fox, Fox Business, CNN (which the RNC still seethes over its most recent moderator, Candy Crowley's line of questioning for Mitt Romney); (America's) ABC, CBS, NBC/Telemundo and CNBC will also host debates.

In short, every major network has been invited to the party. Everyone except for MSNBC.

The viewing public will not be denied the opportunity to witness the debates.

Just denied the opportunity to witness them through MSNBC's biased lens.

Prime Minister, you know what you must do.