ABC Hosts Heckled after Debate: 'The Crowd is Turning on Me'

[Hissyspit]

Source: The Huffington Post

ABC Hosts Heckled After Debate: "The Crowd Is Turning On Me"

The Huffington Post | April 16, 2008 10:17 PM

Reflecting what seemed to be the main consensus of the night - that ABC botched this debate, big time - Charlie Gibson tells the crowd there will be one more, superfluous commercial break of the night and is subsequently jeered.

"OH..." he declares, hands raised in defense. "The crowd is turning on me, the crowd is turning on me."

Visitors to ABC's site weren't much kinder. Here's a sampling on page 1:

"...This is AWFUL. Thank goodness for Jon Stewart and Comedy Central. He does a better job of interviewing and asking relevant questions of his guests in 5 minutes than these 2 yahoos have in more than an hour. ABC should be ashamed. George should be ashamed. Charlie should be ashamed. This isn't a debate. This is a hit job."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/abc-hosts-heckled-after-d_n_97124.html

[ashling]

1. After both agreed the other would be elected

any questions about reactions to or from McCain were irrelevant

[roguevalley]

114. tvnewser.com says ABC is spinning the booing to their discontent

over the coming commercial.

[badgervan]

2. It Was Bad

Stephanopolis(?) and Gibson lost a LOT of fans tonight. What a disgrace of a "debate"... nothing more than a ganged up hit job on Obama. Not a question of substance for almost the whole "debate". Reminded me of what the National Enquirer would ask if they ever hosted a "debate".
ABC = trying to replace Faux? Sure been looking like it lately.

[coyotespaw]

5. Snuffleupagus and Gibson have fans?? n/t

[harun]

97. That would be "news" to me (n/t)

[Cobalt-60]

8. not replace : augument

Remember, the zombie of the network once known as ABC reaches past the confines of pay tv.
The fascists that now direct it wish to reach a wider audience.
As far as I'm concerned ABC stands for Air Borne Cigar!.
(theres a subtle WWII reference. 10 points to the first ot correctly id it.)

[The Wizard]

15. How's this

Where do I collect my 10 points?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_electronic_warfare_equipment

About the "debate"
Corporate media vomit bag, stinko, crappola, shit on a stick. One of the candidates could have scored major points by asking one of the moderators how many of their questions came directly from Karl Rove.

[ldf]

159. ABC

ABCess teevee...

a festering pocket of news "spinners". the last thing they want to do is reflect real journalism. that is SOOO dated.

:shrug:

[Enthusiast]

17. I knew it would be bad, but

I really didn't think it would be THAT bad. It was ridiculous. I turned it off after a while. Barack should not have agreed to debate in such a one sided format. The issues were non-existent.

[mhoran]

53. I honestly don't think it matters.

ABC "news" only damages itself with a travesty like this. Their tabloid approach preaches to a choir which is already lost.

What this political season has made abundantly clear is that the bulk of the American electorate has awoken from the anesthetizing effects of the past eight, tragic years. People are paying attention and becoming engaged in the political process in a way that we have not seen in many years.

As a people, by and large we are smarter than this. ABC hasn't noticed. Ultimately - as we are already seeing in response to last night's sham of a debate - this will come back to damage them far more than either of the candidates.

It's a long time until November, when we WILL elect a Democratic president.

[DiverDave]

165. 'A Democratic president?'

not if hrc gets her way.
I'm convinced that she is thinking that if she cant win, she will help put that god damned idiot in the WH...and I don't think I need to say who the "idiot" is.

The REAL rulers of this country have anointed HER for the job, and if they cant have her, the second choice WILL win.

Obama needs to be VERY careful if he wins, he might just have an "accident" or some "lone gunman" will do it for them.

[truedelphi]

100. Yes, i agre. The candidates should be able to say what constitutes a debate

Why waste voter's time so the networks can make big bucks off advertisers??

[Clear Blue Sky]

20. They want a close race.

The political news is 90% on the Democratic side since there is no nominee yet. McCain is on the back pages. The media will try to keep this alive to keep their ratings up. If both parties had settled on their nominees by now, the public would go back to American Idol and forget politics until the fall. Not good for news ratings.

[9119495]

33. The American public already have forgotten...

Even after all this stuff, Obama is even with McCain. Were anyone paying attention, he'd probably be behind after all this shit.

[ooglymoogly]

63. The GOP needs a close race for their

vast cheating machine to steal the election....again.

[alstephenson]

94. Bingo!

My thoughts exactly.

[kath]

161. Exactamundo, oogly.

our days of free and fair elections are long gone. At this point we have only the illusion of democracy.

[Seabiscuit]

85. They want "chaos".

[WatchWhatISay]

81. It was so bad

Hillary didnt even need to help them out

[electropop]

83. National Enquirer, WWF, American Idol

are all pretty proud today that their content is so highbrow. A new low in trash TV has been established.

[donheld]

3. We really MUST end corporate moderated debates

We will continue to get this crap as long as corporations are doing the moderating.

[DeSwiss]

4. Agreed.

- K&R

[susankh4]

16. Amen to that!

[cyclezealot]

18. yes

bring back the League of Women Voters. But, then the Republikans like corporate questions , particularily when the questions are submitted in advance. Ex. Schwarnezzer.

[redqueen]

74. The LWV quit due to BOTH parties trying to script the debate.

Sorry but let's not pretend it's only republicans that are corporate. We've got a whole corporate wing of our own.

[cyclezealot]

121. Unfortunately you are right

but still it was better than ABC or CNN. The League of Women voters did the best under difficult conditions.

[saigon68]

163. ~

[bdamomma]

30. exactly, the media is another enabler.

why don't they have Bill Moyers asking questions, the British Press would even do better.

[Shae]

48. Very good point. nt

[bbgrunt]

57. oooh, you are so right about corporate debates!

[Richard Steele]

61. Exactly. nm

[sakabatou]

71. RAmen

[dkf]

6. I would LOVE to see a Jon Stewart moderated debate.

I think it would be heads above the debates we have had to suffer through.

[cstanleytech]

7. Also a Rosie O'Donnell run debate would be fun. NT

[Beam Me Up]

10. LoL, now THAT I would pay to see. n/t

[bdamomma]

31. even Whoopi would do better.

[SaveAmerica]

36. Big Bird could do better...

[sakabatou]

73. Jon/Colbert '08... or '12

[liberal1973]

9. Charlie Gibson should be fired.

[Supersedeas]

76. or at least demoted to the entertainment arm of the 'news' room

[peace frog]

11. Shameful. I turned it off

as soon as Ms. "I'm-down-with-the-common-folk-no-elitist-here-no-sir!" started pontificating. As hard as she tried to look and sound tough-but-sincere, she came off as a lying media tool. I'm sure it was all Obama could do to not look heavenward, roll his eyes and sigh (think Al Gore 2000).

[Window]

13. I fell asleep while Hillary was pandering.

[a la izquierda]

26. My husband and I usually have a few beers and watch.

Not so, last night. We watched the disgusting thing for about 10 minutes and then switched to Family Guy. Just disgraceful. But it's what you get from ABC.

It's strange, I hate Murdoch so much, but I do love the Simpsons and Family Guy...a debate led by Homer would be a smashing success.

[NCDem60]

79. Not Homer

Stewie!!

[truedelphi]

101. Doh!

With Marge and Lisa occasionally cutting in, it would be fantastic.

[customerserviceguy]

164. My lady and I

had beer and pizza. We're Obama fans, and thought he scored a few points. No big deal on the Ayers question, he's bound to face it from McCainiac, anyway. By that point in time, it will be "old news".

Besides, we think he scored some points with his remarks about things done when he was eight years old, and about co-President Hillary's pardoning of the two Weather Underground members.

[formercia]

12. The natives are restless

I love the smell of hot tar in the Morning. :evilgrin:

[peace frog]

28. Don't forget the feathers

They add just the right touch to hot tar. :thumbsup:

[LongTomH]

80. You stole my line!

I was going to make a comment about storming the stage with tar and feathers!

Well, don't forget the rail - to ride them out of town on!

[formercia]

82. Make sure it's a rough one

with lots of splinters. :rofl:

[geiger]

14. At least the candidates' answers revealed their character,

which speaks to leadership ability.

HRC simply came off as negative and nasty, playing old style politics. When she got her second wind, her weird inappropriate laugh came back and she made a weird Dick Cheney and starting sputtering disproven policy from the past. Obama's answers showed focus, intelligence and determination.

[sallyseven]

88. We were not watching the same debate./

How the heck did you get that feeling. I think she did a good job.

[bronxiteforever]

19. Kick & R

[Lint Head]

21. No questions about healthcare, immigration, education or

the criminal in the White House. :dem:

[Uncle Joe]

68. I can't remember them asking any questions about global warming climate change either.

I did find the question about the flag lapel pin, as to something the former Soviet Union would've loved.

[harun]

99. The MSM hasn't asked a question about the real issues in over 2 months (n/t)

[InfiniteNether]

22. Hillary is a master debater and Barack is a cunning linguist. :)

Seriously, the other debates already covered all the policy stuff like healthcare. What else is vapid ABC gonna talk about? Hillary knows she can't out-talk Obama so she just had to play it safe and hope he implodes, which never happens.

[bbgrunt]

58. they have yet to cover the restoration of the constitution....and

I much prefer cunning linguists to master debaters

[Vogon_Glory]

23. Are The Proles FINALLY Getting Restless?

I can't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, the voting public has finally gotten fed up with the biased and shallow treatment the broadcast media has been Democrats and progressives. The broadcast media spent most of the Clinton administration quite willingly serving as echo chambers for right-wing and Republican propaganda, then spent the better part of Gee Dubya's terms in office toadying to Those On High. Might we ask, might we pray for, that people have not only become aware of corporate American broadcast medias' antics, but have gotten angry about it?

I think it's time and past time that these arrogant, condescending, and trivial, particularly trivial, corporate press-titutes get the message that we're throughly p!$$ed off at the sorry flow of tripe they call journalism and that we'd like to have real, UNBIASED reporting again.

:grr:

:dem:

[FatDave]

24. I'm just now watching it on DVR and they just asked Obama about the flag pin.

The flag pin? Are you fucking kidding me? Is this what the American people care about? Are people going to say "I can't vote for him, he doesn't wear a flag pin!"? If that's the case, we're fucking screwed. Irrevocably screwed.

[bdamomma]

32. real ignorance out there huh?

when I heard that I said what about Iraq, or Iran, or the deteriorating status of the country, no, all about a pin??? people are really dumbed down, 7 yrs of a moran in office and people are soft in the head. (excluding DU'ers of course)

[SammyWinstonJack]

49. Seven years of "flag pin wearing" thugs in bu$hco has screwed us, royally.

Wonder why that isn't apparent to more 'Muricans? :shrug:

[dixiegrrrrl]

56. hate to break it to ya, but yes

My husband reports that the "sweet young thang" dental assistant 2 days ago was babbling about why she would not vote for Obama..
"He's not American, he's Muslim, and he doesn't wear the flag pin"..
Hubby said it was he could do not to chop down on her fingers.

I would have...

[electropop]

93. I would've left the dentists office and informed her

that she had just flunked my IQ test and I don't allow stupid people to stick their fingers in my mouth.

[howmad1]

110. Flag pin bullshit.

When will people realize that a flag pin in a rethuglicans' lapel is code for "fuck you, Americans". Good god, how obvious does it have to be for sheeple to realize this fact. I wear one upside down and boy, does that piss people off.

[InfiniteNether]

111. Heh. McCain will get at least forty million votes

from people who have thoughts just like that one.

[catgirl]

25. I don't think the media should be hosting political debates

Too biased.

[Efilroft Sul]

27. The debate was all I feared it would be.

For once, a primary isn't settled by the time Pennsylvanians get to vote, and Gibson and Judas Maximus completely ignore the issues that matter to our commonwealth and country. The American Idol kiss-off show had more substance.

[bdamomma]

29. I think the commentators are the biggest problem

discuss the issues huh? that is what the American people want to hear, not all the attack stuff. Geez, the country is in the toilet and they are talking about the stupidest things.

[Virginia Dare]

34. A couple of hundred years ago, they would have been tarred and feathered..

DISGRACEFUL. HANG YOUR HEAD IN SHAME CHARLIE.

[BayjanDem]

35. Thanks ABC

You guys are SOOOOO much better than FOX, I'm SOOOOOO glad I tuned in. All those deep, probing questions. I love the way you didn't rehash stuff we've heard 1000X before.

[ckramer]

37. Hillary spent 45 minutes chasing the non-issues

And there is that stupid woman asking why Obama didn't wear a pin. What a **** moron.


Charlie Gibson should just shut up and let the candidates talk.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

38. "But what about the corporate gains tax!" Waaaah.

:cry:

[natrat]

39. come on this is the new world order where stupidity in public discourse reigns

[Supersedeas]

46. Gibson and George Stephie have stupid down to a science

[KansDem]

86. Actually, I think that was the election of 1994

...the "I'm ignorant and proud of it!" election with Newt Gingrich and his "Contract with/on America." Perhaps 2008 is simply a continuation of that? :shrug:

[MessiahRp]

40. This is the second debate where Charlie Gibson adopted GOP talking points and went after the Dems

Last time around it was the debate w/ Obama, Hillary, Richardson and Edwards and he tried to state as plain fact that the Surge was proven to have worked and went after the Democrats trying to insinuate that they were totally wrong on the surge and not supporting the troops or giving Iraq a chance to succeed.

It was sickening then and I told friends this debate will probably be no different. Good to know that Charlie and the good ol' "liberal media" didn't let us down.

Rp

[underpants]

51. The bit about capital gains tax rates was laughably bad

Charlie the capital gains tax rate is not the only factor in the amount of tax revenue collected by the Feds you moron.

[creeksneakers2]

64. revenue doesn't always go up after capital gains tax cuts

During the entire Bush administration we've never had a year that was as good as the best year under Clinton. Capital gains revenues have been way down.

[underpants]

66. Exactly

the odd part is that this line of "reasoning" is born from the same people who don't think the government can or should be involved in any of this. Magically the feds are all powerful and can create wealth through the incentive of cut this one tax rate.

What a load of crap. Both of them should have thrown this right back in his face.

[bjobotts]

106. Precisely. Was Gibson trying to get Obama to debate him or what?

[bjobotts]

107. The debate was supposed to be between O & C not the moderators

[Supersedeas]

41. ABC is not different than the rest of the superficial media-POLICY is not what they do bt commercial

breaks -- the Networks are just Ad agencies or distribution units for Ad agencies -- surfaces are all they sell.

[Lena inRI]

42. Let this begin the end of privatized election debates. . .

. . .surely I'm not the first person to say this:

How did political hacks in the guise of network moderators GET TO CONTROL QUESTIONS for candidates? END THIS AND DEMAND THAT ONLY THE PUBLIC SUBMIT QUESTIONS AS ORDINARY CITIZENS TO BE ASKED THROUGH NEUTRAL WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF VOTERS OR SOME SUCH.

SEPARATE CORPORATE NETWORK MODERATORS FROM PUBLIC ELECTION DEBATES. . .LIKE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

Are you hearing us Dr. Dean. . .Vice President Gore. . .lead a BOYCOTT of network controlled debates. . .NEGOTIATE for televised debates ONLY IF QUESTIONS ARE OF, BY, AND FOR THE PUBLIC.. . .

otherwise, just have bus tours and town hall debates with local coverage.

This CHANGE is within reach far more easily than getting any improved public funding bill through Congress.

Let the revolutionary change. . .TAKING BACK THE COUNTRY begin with this!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[saigon68]

45. Nice HTML

[BayjanDem]

43. I went to the ABC message boards

WOW, they're getting killed for this farce. 9 out of the 10 posts I read ripped CG and GS. Whether you support Obama or Clinton, or even if you're undecided you have to be scratching your head at what you watched last night.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

44. Last night's "Freak Show" on ABC

Some folks may have seen last night's "debate" on ABC last night.

What a sorry excuse for "news" ever that wasn't on FOX! Let this remind us how mainstream media was a full partner in getting us into an illegal immoral war and a full partner of the govt/corporate corruption that has devastated our country.

Oliver Willis shares his view of the debacle:

ABC's Hannitized Debate
Published April 16, 2008 in 2008 Election.
So ABC's debate moderator - Stephanopoulos - goes on Sean Hannity's radio show, and Hannity essentially hands him opposition research and the ABC "journalist" just repeats it in the course of a presidential debate. Yeah, the media's liberal.

>> ABC Hosts Heckled After Debate: "The Crowd Is Turning On Me"

>> The Debate: A Shameful Night for the U.S. Media

http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/16/abcs-hannitized-debate/


Andrew Sullivan describes the debate very aptly:

After The Freak Show
16 Apr 2008 10:55 pm

Matt:

I had thought the Clinton campaign couldn't sink any lower, but thus far she's really just been giving us the full GOP. Listening to her talk about Barack Obama is like reading a Weekly Standard blog post.

Josh Marshall:

Looking around other sites, I guess I'm not the only one that thought this debate was unmitigated travesty. Maybe the embargo on debate rebroadcast was a pro-human rights stand.

Dave Weigel:

I don't think the 40-minute early Obama pile-on was bad for him. I think the following round, where he seemed rattled and reliant on his script, was bad for him.

To believe it's worth junking the Clintons and giving him the nomination, a Democrat needs to think Obama is at least as resilient as Hillary. And he can take the attacks, but he can't get past them.

Taylor Marsh:

The truth is that Gibson and Stephanopolous asked questions that have been on people's minds, but nobody else in the media had the spine to bring up.

Mark Hemingway:

And the winner is...McCain in a landslide!

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/04/debate-reax.html

[rpannier]

47. gibson and stephanopolous should have been showered with pink slips during the debate

It's amazing that idiots like this have the jobs they do.

[ToughLuck]

50. ABC Executives..you are on notice

We have had to endure these bullshit debates for months, I am glad the crowd booed..they should have thrown a tomato at George and Charlie.

[The Blue Flower]

52. Yes, but...

I agree wholeheartedly, HOWEVER, it seems to me that at any time, a candidate with strong leadership ability could refuse to answer pointless, stupid questions and turn things around. Such as: "Considering x, y, and z, which are critical to America's well-being and future, why are you raising such a stupid question? I'm going to talk about x, y, and z. I dare you stop me." If Cinton and Obama can't demolish the frame that the R's create, then they're not doing their jobs. This is as good a time to practice as any. They could and should have had their Howard Beale moment on national television last night.

[JeanGrey]

54. This won't hurt Obama, but we should ALL be ashamed.

Does anyone think this is not hurting our chances? I had a friend who told me she was so disgusted at the entire democratic primary season she may not vote. Lord god - let's just continue to screw this up.

[NOLALady]

65. "She may not vote"

If we get McCain because some choose not to vote, I can guarantee they will vote in 2012.

That is, if we still have a right to vote.

[JeanGrey]

119. Yeah after Hillary makes sure McCain wins and screws us

for four more years. I'm so sick of this.

[CherokeeDem]

55. Great List of Names, EMails and Phone Numbers....

on another tread about the debate. Just sent this to Peter Salinger, head of ABC Election coverage. Post 11 on this tread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5546205

Mr. Salinger:

I have been a political activist for almost 30 years and I have watched many debates during that time, from national debates to local election debates, and never have I seen a more despicable performance by moderators than I saw last night. ABC had the opportunity to raise the bar here and actually discuss the issues with the candidates. Instead, you choose to be petty, abrasive, argumentative (Gibson took the capital gains issue personally, didn't he), I dare say, "tabloidish". The need to quote the Constitution to the public speaks of condescension on your part for your viewers ability to understand what is at stake here. Gotcha journalism is not something to be proud of; however, you took it to extreme and proved there was nothing to be proud about. The fact that Stephanopoulos was influenced by a biased right wing pundit to ask a question of Senator Obama just shows the very serious lack of ability on ABC's part to grasp what the public really wanted and needs to hear. In case you still haven't figured that out, we need to know what are these candidates going to do to solve the serious issues facing this country. Yet the debate was almost an hour old before anything of substance was asked.

I am certain had Peter Jennings still been alive this debacle would never have occurred. The reputation of ABC News was seriously damaged last night and I, for one, will never watch coverage by ABC of any news event again . Come of think of it, I don't watch any ABC shows at all. I suppose the entire network is in trouble, especially since Wolf Blizer is beginning to look like Edward R. Murrow in comparison. That is sad.

ABC News owes an apology to the citizens of this country for failing to provide the true journalism we deserve.

[dixiegrrrrl]

59. I just sent off an e-mail with cc"s to the ABC folks

wonder if yelling at the FCC would do any good?

[Shoelace]

109. ohhhh, thanks for that, just email Salinger

told him how shoddy they ran that debate. Thanks for the addies.

Here's Salinger's email addy for those in a hurry:

[e-mail]

[L0oniX]

60. What ever happened to throwing rotten tomatoes and eggs?

[LeFleur1]

62. The Debate (So to Speak)...

The questions got better after the first hour (which stunk). But by that time, many viewers had probably given up and gone away.

These TV people should never be called interviewers and should never be allowed to ask questions during a political debate. They have a vested interest in conflict and that's exactly what they try to create.

For the first hour they were asking questions based on sh** they made up in the first place and broadcast. When "these people" (broadcasters) find some ridiculous thing and blow it up to keep their own jobs, that is when those silly things became issues. Usually, we can hope, they are only issues in the fake little world of the broadcasters. The problem is that they don't recognize that we recognize their fictional slant on things. Our media has been just as incompetent at their jobs during the past eight years as the Bush administration has been incompetent at running the government. I wanted to hear what each candidate had to say about policy. I didn't want to hear about crap the media made up in the first place to cause conflict.

[L0oniX]

67. Agreed. I wanted to hear real questions about the economy, health care...

environment, social security, defense, education, trade equality, war, Iran, truth and fairness in the media, energy, the deficit, housing, immigration, torcher, corporate influence of our government, ...etc.

[KansDem]

69. Are you kidding??? Have you seen the price of food these days?

;)

[stillcool]

75. really...these days one should..

only throw food after it's been digested.

[L0oniX]

154. LOL

[lib2DaBone]

70. FUCK CHARLES GIBSON AND HIS FLAG PIN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kTctirEPns

While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A plastic flag, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
Well, I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel.

Chorus:
But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

Well, I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me,
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free."
Well, I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said.
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead.

Repeat Chorus:

Well, I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see.
So, I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree.
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...

"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."

[Lorien]

72. The debates should be on PBS, hosted by Moyers

Bill Moyers may be a Dem, but he doesn't coddle anyone and he knows how to ask a meaningful question in a respectful manner. He's also not going to give anyone a pass if they give a non-answer to his questions. That's what the people need to make up their minds this time around.

[ooglymoogly]

95. This was a dem debate

and should have been moderated by dems; Not pug fruitcakes and just for the record Cuddle Bum ain't no democrat.

[Lorien]

120. Doesn't matter. You still don't want a moderator

who can't be objective. Moyers can.

[Cronopio]

77. Is there a person in corporate media that doesn't play the victim card when questioned? nt

[Joey Liberal]

78. ABC is PATHETIC! n/t

[Seabiscuit]

84. It seems Obama supporters are angry that the hosts asked questions of Obama that

they didn't want asked.

They weren't kind to Hillary either, for that matter.

Our candidates better get ready for the big time after the convention. The right-wing media assholes are just sharpening their knives with this debate - by August they'll have all their knives sharpened and ready to slice and dice up whoever the Dem nominee is.

End of story.

[Mandate My Ass]

87. Not "end of story" by a long shot

If you care about lapel pins and Reverand Wright, you'd have loved it. For the rest of us who want to hear reasoned debate about the burning issues of Iraq, healthcare, education, outsourcing, the environment, inflation and a host of other problems- IT WAS GARBAGE.

[Seabiscuit]

89. Of course it was garbage. But my point is it's nothing compared to the garbage they're

going to dump on our nominee during the general election.

You don't actually believe that CNN, FOX, MSNBC will be any better than ABC when it comes to the presidential and vice-presidential debates, do you?

[Mandate My Ass]

90. Obtuse much?

guess so.

[Seabiscuit]

91. WTF?

:wtf:

That's an un-called for smear.

[ooglymoogly]

96. Obtuse much?

[Seabiscuit]

98. Kerplunk. Buh-bye:ping:

[kevinbgoode]

92. Is there some law which requires people to talk to the wingnut media?

They'll make up the stories on their own anyway. Hell, I'd rather open an account and have people funnel money to the candidate to run their own one-hour policy shows. After all, if Pat Robertson can get away with buying time on stations for political commentary, we surely can raise enough money to do the same for a campaign season.

Nothing would be more fun than to see the right wing reporters banned and yet still reach the public with one-hour conversations directly with the American people - without the media's edited interference. After all, if they sell Pat Robertson television time, according to my local station, they have to sell someone else time.

Neither Democrat should accept any "debate" moderated by the corporate media.

[Seabiscuit]

104. I agree. As long as the Repukes control the television media, there should be no debates on

any of their channels.

Better to have PBS and local non-affiliated stations handle it.

[Dr Fate]

103. My take is that any DEM should oppose non-issues and distractions.

As you say, they weren't kind to Hillary either...

We agree that this is the tip of the iceberg either way...

[TankLV]

108. let me guess - they finally asked hard questions about obama - awwww

the obamababies can't handle it and are now whining...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[peaches2003]

113. The point is they asked idiotic questions for the entire first hour

that did not concern issues that affect the voters. They were questions that had been asked and answered to death of both candidates. The first question was "Would each of you pick the other for VP?" It went downhill from there.

The BIGGEST loser of the night was Gibson who used to be considered a journalist with integrity.

[TankLV]

115. In other word, obama couldn't handle the idiotic questions, either...

awwwwwww...

I think I have a tissue someplace for ya...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Hissyspit]

117. Obama did fine, but he shouldn't have been asked shit questions

and neither should have been Hillary. Hillary looked bad jumping in there and reinforcing the right-wing talking points.

But I guess you are all right with Sean Hannity coming up with the questions for our presidential candidates.

[Telly Savalas]

160. So you think that debates should be about flag lapel pins?

You're not that much of an idiot are you?

[devilgrrl]

118. Yeah, questions about lapel pins - they're SO pertinent and NEED to be asked.

:nuke:

[amandabeech]

155. Yup.

Obama looked pissy.

His supporters acted like, well, like they act around here and like the followers of false messiahs and dictators often act. God forbid someone rough up their candidate a little.

I voted Edwards, by the way, even after he dropped out. He can take the heat.

[bjobotts]

102. The only people thinking they did a good job is the right wing repukes.

[bjobotts]

105. They did what they set out to do...demean the candidates with pettiness

[TankLV]

116. keep that delusion...no matter what the REALITY is...

[Hulk]

112. I would pack rotten tomatoes next time if I had a chance to go.

What a disgrace. Those two bozos should be tarred and feathered.

[swag]

122. US network faces backlash after Democratic debate

Source: The Guardian

American television network ABC was accused of bias and triviality today in the wake of the latest debate between Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

American television viewers and media commentators lashed out at the network, decrying the format of the debate, which they complained amounted to a venue for the candidates to reiterate political attacks rather than delve into substantive policy disagreements.

The network was also criticised for a perceived slant against Illinois senator Barack Obama, particularly because moderator George Stephanopoulos worked in President Bill Clinton's White House as an adviser and aide.

By mid-morning today, readers had left more than 12,300 comments on the ABC News website, most of them attacking the programme.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/17/uselections2008.usa

[Bumblebee]

123. Damn well deserved!

[zonmoy]

124. substantive policy disagreements???????

do they even have any non-substantive policy disagreements.

[blm]

128. They have the most SIGNIFICANT policy difference Dems can have - Obama is an advocate for

open government.

Clintons have already proven they side with the secrecy and privilege of closed government. Those many outstanding matters in GHWBush's illegal IranContra, Iraqgate, BCCI and CIA drugrunning operations did not deep-six trhemselves throughout the 90s, did they?

[bdamomma]

125. too bad we couldn't have BBC moderate for these debates.

would certainly shake up alot of people without the BS.

[godai]

126. Good that this continues to get coverage. ABC needs to apologize.

I'll not watch ABC news, even though my only alternative at that time is Katie Overpaid on CBS. I had already noticed some slanted stories on ABC before this, with Charlie adding biased voice inflections and incredulous expressions, particularly in stories regarding Obama.

[AlinPA]

132. Yes. Gibson should be on Access Hollywood or something like that. His

evening news is awful, as you say his "voice inflections" and "incredulous expressions".

[stubtoe]

127. I'm glad now that I missed it - it must have been awful.

Over 12K negative comments - looks like ABC shot itself in the foot big time.

[amandabeech]

156. As these things go, and I'm old enough to have seen plenty of them,

it wasn't that bad to an Edwards supporter. Obviously, Obama's fans felt differently, but the general election and the White House will be worse.

Obama needs to learn how to deflect questions that he doesn't like with a smile on his face as though it hardly bothers him at all.

He didn't really pull that off last night, but it is a skill that would serve him well in the future.

[calimary]

129. So great to see this is getting attention!

Excellent! It's also pretty damned gratifying that so many people responded. If ABC got 12-thousand and some people calling and complaining, their own demographics and research specialists are going to know that this means many multiples more people feel the same way, but just didn't weigh in for one reason or another. That's how it works at any radio or TV station with the ratings. Calls and comments from those who do give a damn enought to speak up are considered representative of many times more people who can't or don't.

K&R!

[brentspeak]

130. Charles Gibson is a guy who Brit Hume considers to be an "excellent journalist"

And vice-versa.

That about says it all.

[NJmaverick]

131. Damn those Brits, they are all Obama supporters

:evilgrin:

[ryanmuegge]

133. Bias and trivality from the media? Big fucking surprise.

Douche bags.

And goddamnit, no offense to Hillary supporters, but will she get the fuck out of the race, so we don't give the news networks more opportunity to have our candidates destroy each other?

Jesus Christ. We're going to lose this fucking election.

[goose4739]

137. You're right

If she's toast, she's toast. Let Obama take on Grampa by himself. That's our best chance.

[Preston120]

134. I'm surprised, only 12,300 of us complained.

[swag]

135. It's way past 15,000 now, and I, for one, can't even view the comments any more.

Can anybody here view the comments?

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/comments?type=story&id=4666956

[Ganja Ninja]

136. I think most people consider it like talking to a brick wall or worse.

:banghead:

[RamboLiberal]

138. Debate Moderators Under Fire For 'Gossipy Trivia' Questions

Source: WTAE-TV (ABC Affiliate Pittsburgh)

PITTSBURGH -- At least 40 minutes into Wednesday's debate between presidential hopefuls Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the two were grilled on character-esque issues rather than questions about the war, economy or health care.

But it's not the candidates catching heat about the latest debate -- rather, the moderators.

A video of ABC News' Charlie Gibson being booed is buzzing around the Internet Thursday.

"We'll take one more commercial break. We'll come back and say goodnight. Stay with us," Gibson said, ending the debate while the crowd shouted and booed him. "The crowd's turning on me. The crowd is turning on me. We'll be back in one minute."

ABC said the crowd was booing the commercial, not the moderators, but that's not what most people attending a debate watch party in Pittsburgh told WTAE Channel 4 Action News anchor Sally Wiggin afterward.

Most of the crowd agreed that the debate focused too heavily on character issues, particularly dealing with Obama.

Read more: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/politics/15913576/detail.html

---

Video of ABC Prez Westin trying to spin this. http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/15912069/index.html

Whoa - I think their affiliates are pissed as well.

[annabanana]

139. I wish they'd stop calling them "character issues". It has nothing to

do with their character. It has to do with gotcha tabloid divisive crap and it doesn't belong anywhere except alongside the supermarket checkout with the kidnapped alien monkeyman babies.

[TwilightGardener]

140. Sally Wiggin! My husband met her once, as a journalism student

on a field trip to the WTAE studio. She was very cool and abrupt. Pittsburgh never changes. Too bad both Bill and Patty Burns are gone...

on edit--oh yeah, on topic: I'm glad to see that the Pgh group thought the debate questions were crap too.

[depakid]

141. "their affiliates are pissed as well."

Negative effects on their revenue streams....

I let Kashi Foods know that, although I like their products, part of all of my purchasing decisions rest on whether or not a company is a good citizen, which in turn is reflected in who they choose to support with their advertising dollars.

[bunkerbuster1]

142. Hostile Crowd Turns on Democratic Debate Moderators

Source: Fox News

Critics are panning ABC News for its performance at the Democratic presidential debate Wednesday night. Even moderator Charlie Gibson recognized that it wasn’t going well.

Many media critics gave ABC poor reviews, arguing that the debate focused not on policy, but on gaffes by both candidates that have made the news in the last few weeks. The debate was the last to be held before Pennsylvania voters go to the polls on Tuesday to determine who will get the majority of the 158 delegates from that state.

Among the worst offenses to media analysts and viewers was the number of commercial breaks taken, including one just minutes into the two-hour telecast, immediately after Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made their opening statements.

Gibson later earned jeers for taking a break shortly before the end of the program. Boos could be heard, and Gibson threw up his hands in defeat.

Read more: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/17/hostile-crowd-turns-on-democratic-debate-moderators/

---

Two words: Fox News.

Ok, some of it's catty professional jealousy, but I'm still glad to see this story up on the right wing website's homepage. Serves ABC right.

[Cant trust em]

143. They're probably concerned that ABC is cutting into their market share

Now there are two news organizations that are interested in stirring up bullshit against democratic candidates.

[Warpy]

144. However, they're right about that "debate." It SUCKED

Gibson needs to retire in humiliation for being talked into that shameful performance, pushing "gotcha" questions to try to trip them up, GOP style. This is NOT what people are interested in these days, people who are suffering from too many years of conservatism holding wages down and pushing prices and personal debt up.

Lets hope there is enough of an outpouring of total disgust with Gibson, Stephanopolous and their toadying to the right wing and its favorite talking points to get us a real debate before this thing is over.

We deserve nothing less and wonder of wonders, we finally KNOW IT.

[bunkerbuster1]

145. Sure. But still, good to see them running a story like this.

They didn't have to, after all. I'm sure Murdoch's inclination is to just paint this one as a disaster for the front-runner so they can run another twenty fictional stories about the Democratic party being in "chaos."

[tanyev]

146. If only the crowd had been better prepared with tar and feathers.

[Liberal Gramma]

148. rotten fruit, ripe tomatoes, cream pies

Had they known, they'd have come prepared.

[tama]

149. Surströmning

Nothing would beat open can of surströmning, the famous Swedish fermented herring (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming), as a weapon of choice for skillfull and determinated demonstrators. It is a... w e a p o n ... o f ... m a s s ... d e s t r u c t i o n! PURE UNMERCIFULL EVIL!!!

[tularetom]

152. i dunno about that - I'd put a balut up against anything

A fermented duck egg with a fully developed duck fetus inside.

Very popular delicacy in southeast Asia and especially in the Philippines.

I still have nightmares about that aroma.....

[rasputin1952]

147. They get their chance to torch ABC, after their remarkably lousy

"debates"...:D

FOX "NEWS"...an abomination.

BTW...IMO, the "debate" stunk...it was a hit job.

[Bozita]

150. WOW! I get to put Fauxnews on DU's "Greatest Page"

Recommended

[Supersedeas]

151. yes, Chuck and Stephie -- even below the level of a FOX News

[pattmarty]

153. They should have stormed the stage and tarred & feathered them and ran them out of town.

[E-Z-B]

157. From the York Dispatch:

Just when it seemed the campaigns of Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York were about to put behind them the daily snipings over who among Pennsylvania voters were "bitter" and who weren't, along came Wednesday night's debate in Philadelphia, where it was the debate moderators who just couldn't let the issue go.

http://yorkdispatch.inyork.com/ci_8958009

Hanover Evening Sun:

ABC News drew both impressive ratings and a heap of complaints about how Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos moderated the Democratic presidential debate, criticism that Stephanopoulos on Thursday called a sign of how much people care.
By Thursday evening, more than 16,800 comments were posted on ABC News' Web site, the tone overwhelmingly negative. A prominent TV critic, Tom Shales of The Washington Post, said Gibson and Stephanopoulos "turned in shoddy, despicable performances."

There was some positive feedback, with columnist David Brooks of The New York Times giving ABC News' performance an "A."

http://www.eveningsun.com/news/ci_8962798

[T Monk]

158. tv fuckfaces show fingers not on pulse of crowd

[Buns_of_Fire]

162. "I'd like to direct this question to both candidates:

Boxers or briefs?"

[Name removed]

166. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.