The World reacts to the WORST DEBATE EVER

[Barrymores Ghost]

Suffice it to say that last night's Democratic Presidential Candidate's "debate" proved itself a complete disgrace to the ABC News organization. They did a horrific and nearly criminal disservice to the millions of voters of this country who care about real issues that affect their daily lives.

Given the current economic state of our nation and our standing around the world, one might think there would be enough pressing questions of import that the two contenders could answer, without being forced to slog through ABC "News'" tabloidistic minefields and indulge cheap and tawdry questioning from two moderators who, incidentally, should be fired immediately from their posts.

Shame on Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos. I would expect this sort of disgusting display from the likes of Hannity and Hume; it actually made me physically ill to listen to these two. They succeeded in nothing but lowering the crossbar of discourse in this country yet another rung, at a time when America can ill-afford such perverse carelessness (or malignant stupidity) from the Fourth Estate.

Right now, Edward R. Murrow must be rolling in his grave.

Well, apparently, we here in DU are not the only ones who share these sentiments:

(from MoveOn.org)
1. "Clinton-Obama Debate: ABC Decides Top Issues Facing Americans Are Gaffes, Flag Pins and '60s Radicals," Editor & Publisher, April 16, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3580&id=12457-2722777-_c06xl&t=6

2. "Worst. Debate. Ever." The Guardian blog, April 16, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3582&id=12457-2722777-_c06xl&t=7

3. "Philadelphia Debate Thread," Chris Bowers, OpenLeft.com, April 16, 2008
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5195

4. "In Pa. Debate, The Clear Loser Is ABC," Washington Post, April 17, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3581&id=12457-2722777-_c06xl&t=8

5. "The Debate Debacle," The Philadelphia Inquirer blog, April 16, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3583&id=12457-2722777-_c06xl&t=9

[izquierdista]

1. Can I submit a debate question??

Candidate A: If you were a clam, and you knew a red tide was coming, would you leave, even if you knew it meant abandoning your fellow clams?

Candidate B: A follow-up to the question I asked candidate A. What are you specifically planning to do about all the clam shells that are found on our nation's beaches? And be specific, please.

If any network executives would like my resume for an anchor job, they can private message me.

[Barrymores Ghost]

3. God, you're GOOD.

I'm going to co-opt your questions, if you don't mind. I may, or may not, give you any credit.

[woolldog]

4. well done!

:rofl:

[Scurrilous]

9. K & R

:thumbsup:

[ExPatLeftist]

5. That is far too issues-focused for the US media.

Sorry :(


BTW Glad to see another ex-pat here, and the name and avatar remind me very much of my time in Central America... Keep up the good fight. :thumbsup:

[ExPatLeftist]

2. K&R Thanks for the links!! nt

[Barrymores Ghost]

6. De nada...please pass this post around if you could. Cheers! n/t

[canis_lupus]

7. Instead of Gibby and Snuffleupagus

Maybe they should have had Barbara Walters asking questions ...

"So tell me, Senator, if you could be any element on the periodic table, which would you choose?"

[DerekJ]

8. One of the comments:

I am not an American and didn't see the debate, and would certainly not watch it -- EVER. I am becoming more and more antagonized by the pettiness and childish animosity that characterize American primary politics. I began by loving Obama and respecting Mrs Clinton. While I still love Obama, I have become sickened by the spitefulness of the attacks on him. While I naturally hope that Obama will win, I doubt if anyone could win after being brought down by Bill and Hillary. What a pair of gollums they are! Bloodless vampires motivated only by money, power and spite. They would even be unwelcome in a cemetry on Halloween night.

Because the Clintons have decided that they can't win, they are determined to make sure that Obama will not win. The ultimate loser is, of course, the United States. Not that the Clintons could give a damn.

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