ABC Decides Top Issues Facing Americans Are Verbal Gaffes, Flag Pins and '60s Radicals (E&P)

[jefferson_dem]

Blowback Cometh...

Clinton-Obama Debate: ABC Decides Top Issues Facing Americans Are Verbal Gaffes, Flag Pins and '60s Radicals
By Greg Mitchell

Published: April 16, 2008 10:15 PM ET

NEW YORK In perhaps the most embarrassing performance by the media in a major presidential debate this year, ABC News hosts Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous focused mainly on trivial issues as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama faced off in Philadelphia.

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the health care and mortgage crises, the overall state of the economy and dozens of other pressing issues had to wait for their few moments in the sun as Obama was pressed to explain his recent "bitter" gaffe and relationship with Rev. Wright (seemingly a dead issue) and not wearing a flag pin while Clinton had to answer again for her Bosnia trip exaggerations.

Then it was back to Obama to defend his slim association with a former '60s radical -- a question that came out of rightwing talk radio and Sean Hannity on TV, but delivered by former Bill Clinton aide Stephanopolous. This approach led to a claim that Clinton's husband pardoned two other '60s radicals. And so on.

More time was spent on all of this than segments on getting out of Iraq and keeping people from losing their homes and other key issues. Gibson only got excited when he complained about anyone daring to raise taxes on his capital gains. Yet neither candidate had the courage to ask the moderators to turn to those far more important issues.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003790556


***********

A statement from Obama campaign manager David Plouffe: “Tonight we saw a real choice between the old politics of point-scoring and distraction and a politics that focuses on bringing us together to actually solve the challenges we talk about every single election. Continuing the theme of her campaign, Senator Clinton used every single opportunity she had to launch misleading attack after misleading attack against Barack Obama, which is why polls show that most Americans think she’s running the most negative campaign and don’t believe she’s trustworthy. Barack Obama spoke about the issues that actually matter in people’s lives, like how he plans to end the war in Iraq, cut middle-class taxes, help people stay in their homes, and provide a secure retirement for our seniors. That’s why more Americans are putting their trust in Barack Obama to bring about the change we need in Washington."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/16/905137.aspx

[Lucky 13]

1. Barack asked them SEVERAL times to focus on the issues and stop dwelling in gaffes.

The writer of this article got that part wrong.

This debate was awful. 30 minutes on tabloid garbage. Unreal. Gibson and Stephanopolous should be fired. I'm not exaggerating.

[jefferson_dem]

3. Good point.

You are correct!

[jasmine621]

21. But ABC decided tonight was the night to STOP giving BO huge passes.

These are real issues becaus folks like DUers keep harping on all the petty stuff when it concerns Hillary. Now that the bullshit is being thrown at Obama, all of a sudden it's unfair, tabloid, garbage. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, is it too tight?

[Lucky 13]

25. Yeah. It is.

Maybe the coverage up to this point hasn't hit me as "wrong" because they've been harder on Hillary than my guy. Ofcourse we notice it more when our candidate is the subject of attacks. I'm more than willing to admit when I'm wrong and I think I've been wrong about this.

What we gossip about here in GDP tends to be minutia because we are talking about this stuff 24/7. We disect EVERYTHING and analyze every move Barack and Hillary make. And we freely do so in part because in the end, we're all on the same team here. The things I say in GDP aren't the things I say to my conservative parents or undecided voters. GDP is an outlet for our frustrations, but I don't think it reflects what the American public really wants to talk about.

The general public relies on M$M coverage of debates, speeches, etc. to learn about the candidates and, largely, debates in the past have focused on the ISSUES. Last night was outrageously focused on petty stuff that the average joe who just lost his job and is struggling to make ends meet DOES NOT CARE ABOUT.

Asking him an extended question about why he doesn't wear a FLAG PIN? That's NAZI-ish!

They asked Hillary about snipergate for the MILLIONTH time.

I feel they both were sabotaged in this debate right from the start. When you start off talking about GARBAGE, it's not a good sign.

The point is that every democrat should be pissed off about this debate. We got cheated out of our candidates discussing the real issues and have been mired down by the MINUTIA that Gibson and Snuffy are obsessed with. This was a right-wing hit job and everyone knows it. I'm glad to see they are getting called out.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Excellent

It was fascinating to see Charlie Gibson trying to make the world safe for the 15% capital gains tax, wasn't it?

The author has a great point; somebody should have lashed out at those mods. They were asking for it.

[Tribetime]

7. how many times did gibson try to interrupt Obama

but,but, but. I was thinking this ass is concerned about the investors profits, while most people are struggling more and more each day to make ends meet.

[BeyondGeography]

13. It was a window into the greedy, heartless, obtusely out-of-touch soul of the American ruling class

of which Charlie Boy obviously fancies himself a member. He should be skewered mercilessly and eternally for his performance on that single question alone.

[Jane Austin]

4. I've never seen a debate where the moderator

interrupted a candidate (Obama) and badgered him with a bunch of statistical arguments.

Appalling.

[TahitiNut]

20. I'd like to see a tally of the number of times Obama was interrupted by Gibson, Steph, and Hillary.

It was like a fucking 3-way tag team. Appalling. Then go ahead and tally the few times (if any) Hillary was interrupted by anyone. ABC has become a Faux Nuze affilate, it seems.

[Jane Austin]

22. Worse were the types of questions they asked Hillary

and Obama.

They asked Hillary open-ended questions, like "Will you bring the troops home quickly from Iraq" and allowed her to answer them uninterrupted, looking "Presidential".

They asked Obama Tim Russert-style questions, quoting him on something he'd said before, then throwing up a troublesome hypothetical that Obama could not answer without looking defensive.

They did this over and over, and when it looked like Obama could handle a question easily, they would throw arguments (of dubious truthfulness) at him.

It was transparently an ambush.

[depakid]

23. And shallow, spurious ones at that

trying to resurrect supply side economics.

I would LOVE to see Krugman have a go with that....

:rofl:

Whatever else I thought about Charles Gibson, he's now confirmed that he's none too bright.

[jasmine621]

5. But it was ok when ABC wanted to talk about Bosnia and Clinton gaffes. nt

[FrenchieCat]

6. They conveniently forgot the "screw 'em" whites comment.

Now why was that? They knew about it, cause it was reported by Jake Tapper earlier today.

[GoesTo11]

8. No, that was stupid too

The word debate will have to be redefined for dictionaries. Maybe there should be a new word like ABC-bate.

[RevCheesehead]

14. LOL!

ABC-bate
D-bate

and if they get really good at it,
Master-bate.

[Blue_Roses]

16. more like

ABC-bait. this was a joke and I wish I had those two hours back.

[high density]

11. No it wasn't

You didn't read the editorial, clearly.

[AteAlien]

9. big K and R nt

[Why Syzygy]

10. Obama repeatedly called for a change in the line of questioning. The writer has that point wrong.

[RevCheesehead]

12. Sounds to me like Charlie & George succeeded in knocking each other out.

No wonder NBC and MSNBC are gaining in the ratings. :eyes:

[bigbrother05]

15. As Rachael Maddow said, it was a 50 min.

warm up act for Hillary and the Republicans

[crankychatter]

17. k/r JD - my ignore function is toast - you're a breath of fresh air

:-)

[TahitiNut]

18. "most embarrassing performance by the media in a major presidential debate this year" Amen

One does NOT have to be an Obama supporter (I'm reluctant at best) to be appalled at a network with a PUBLIC LICENSE to use the PUBLIC AIRWAVES being so despicably trivial and tabloid in dealing with a Presidential debate. The public was disserved.

[FrenchieCat]

19. This reminded me of 1984.......

[Scurrilous]

24. K & R

:thumbsup: