Great catch by Mortman. Many Americans are under the impression C-SPAN is owned by the government, broadcasting at its whim. In all fairness, most Americans have more to do than know who owns a network they probably never watch. What’s the excuse for two top Senators, though?

Barack Obama:

“That’s what I did in Illinois, to provide insurance for people who did not have it. That’s what I will do in bringing all parties together, not negotiating behind closed doors, but bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are.”

Mortman notes that the President can’t direct anything to be broadcast on C-SPAN.

Hillary Clinton:

“And, certainly, it is important that the president come up with the plan, but we’ll have to persuade Congress to put all of those deliberations on C-SPAN.”

Again, Mortman notes that Congress can’t direct negotiations to be broadcast on C-SPAN.

C-SPAN is actually a service of the major cable companies, providing broadcasts of happenings at the Capitol. It’s offered as a public service by the cable industry, receives no government funding, has no contracts with the U.S. government, has no direct editorial control, and doesn’t accept advertising. What is broadcast on C-SPAN is solely at the discretion of C-SPAN — not Congress or the President.