The blogsphere is filled with the shameful Obama bashing by the troika of right-wing ABC news anchor Charlie Gibson, former Clinton administration high executive George Stephanopolus (aka “the shrimp") and of course their adored candidate Hillary Clinton.
After spending four beautiful days in the Pennsylvania country of Lake Harmony, I told my wife when we were returning today that I wasn’t going to watch the b.s. that ABC news was going to stage. As it turned out, I did myself a big favor, rather than waste my time listening to two so-called “journalists”, Gibson and Stephanopolus throw the Clinton-designed kitchen sink questions at Barack Obama. But I decided to listen to Keith Olbermann’s analysis after the Obama inquisition. Then I went to the important blogs to see what happened.
On the ABC news, which already has more than 6000 comments, the two ‘murderators’ are being shellacked for their Obama bashing. Writing in http://www.mydd.com, Todd Beeton said he felt like having a shower to wash off the stench, I guess, from the questions directed at Obama.
Although it was somewhat redeemed in the final half hour, I feel like taking a shower after that debate. It was tabloid hour on ABC, and certainly Obama did get the bulk of the more disgusting questions. Check out this post over at ABCNews.com: over 4,000 comments, the bulk of which seem to just rip ABC.
As for the candidates’ performances, neither was particularly inspiring and neither had his or her best night, although Obama did get plenty of opportunities to plead for an end to the issues of distraction and division and to call for a new style of politics and seemed to be the conscience of the audience as he called out the moderators. I think Clinton was stronger during the last half hour but not enough to tip the balance in her direction; certainly not enough for this to be a game changer.
It would almost be a shame for this to be the last debate, to go out on such a poor note.
What did you think?
Ben Smith of http://www.politico.com uncharacteristically called the debate a gang-up against Obama.
So, who won, who lost, how did Obama hold up under what was basically a public enactment of Clinton’s case against him.
AND: Didn’t those quotes from the Constitution really set the tone?
ALSO: How much money will Obama raise off his supporters’ perception that this debate was unfair?
Well, as he asked, how much would you be contributing to mitigate against this travesty of an inquisition against Barack Obama? Go to his website and contribute your $10, $50 or $250. Yes, there is a need to show that people are not happy about a troika ganging up on one individual.
Greg Mitchell, who is the Editor of Editor & Publisher, writing for The Huffington Post in an article, entitled “The Debate: A Shameful Night for the U.S. Media,” said:
In perhaps the most embarrassing performance by the media in a major presidential debate in years, ABC News hosts Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous focused mainly on trivial issues as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama faced off in Philadelphia. They, and their network, should hang their collective heads in shame.
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 was 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. The travesty continued.
More time was spent on all of this than segments on getting out of Iraq and keeping people from losing their homes and—you name it. Gibson only got excited complaining that someone might raise his capital gains tax. Yet neither candidate had the courage to ask the moderators to turn to those far more important issues. Talking heads on other networks followed up by not pressing that point either. The crowd booed Gibson near the end. Why didn’t every other responsible journalist on TV?
TalkingPointsMemo’s Josh Marshall called the debate a “unmitigated travesty.”
I guess I’m not enough of a Gibsonologist. But I guess there’s a history of Gibson knowingly spouting off with his complete lack of comprehension of what sorts of incomes most Americans make.
Continuing Debate: 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
It is becoming patently clear that the MSM media is out to get Barack Obama. Yesterday, it was the so-called Chris Matthews College Express devoting most of the time asking Senator McCain questions only about what Obama said or what he didn’t say. Today, it is Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolus. Forget the blowhards at False News Network.
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