ABC News Discusses The "Debate Over The Debate"

Following what many news outlets and viewers labeled a disaster of a debate, ABC News decided to address its critics by discussing the "debate over the debate" on its evening news cast Thursday. Charles Gibson, who along with George Stephanopoulos endured heckles from the debate audience at the end of the program ("the crowd is turning on me"), began the segment by noting that last night both Clinton and Obama showed they could "take a political punch." But the real blows today, he acknowledged, "were being aimed at the debate itself and the questions it asked."

Was this to be the beginning of a thorough airing of self-criticism from ABC? A string of mea culpas? An apology to viewers by Charles Gibson? Not exactly. Watch for yourself and let us know what you think of ABC's discussion of the reaction to the debate

ABC News

Comments

[barackobam]

Still, we want a response from Ariana Huffington: is it or is it not true she greenlighted the Mayhill fowler comments including releasing the cell phone recording. What does she think about the severe damage she has done to the Obama campaign?

[realtalk]

Apparently the Woods Board only met 4 TIMES A YEAR, for half a day. That it!!! So people want to crucify Obama, to destroy his character, for sitting with 10 OTHER PEOPLE on the board of an ANTI-POVERTY charitable organization, which he only attended 4 TIMES A YEAR!!!!!

If THIS is what the media, and politicians in this country are using to destroy a good person's character, a man who has been working for the people of his state for 12 years. If THIS is what others are willing to use to label a man who is a good human being. I am overwhelmed with the sense of hopelessness for this country.

[Trinidad707]

Since when do candidates moan and complain about questions in debate. This is a first! ...I guess Obama campaign, really doesn't wwant any tough questions asked of their candidate, as we already know he has no platforn to run on...Oh yeah HOPE......­..........­gee I hope I win the lottery!

[Syncere]

Since Hillary brought up the Saturday night live comedy in the debate and started cryin bout how she always got the first question then , bipolarly said she doesn't mind it immediately after. um NEWS
FLASH: IF YOU DONT MIND IT WHY ARE YOU COMPLAINING.

ABC WAS DUMB FOR THAT and most likely wont be hosting a presidential debate. TMZ could've done it better. just sad

[AnotherIADem]

Haiku

A B C debate
Gibson and Stephanopoulos
SNAFU or FUBAR?

[milo9]

The issue is that the media, in it's customary fashion, is carrying water for the Republicans.

[independentrepublicrat]

You deal with George and Charlie by blackout: Enough with the phone calls and web comments at ABC. DO NOT WATCH "ABC WORLD NEWS" OR "THIS WEEK"! Period. Not everyone has the big brother annoyance of being a Nielsen family (and you should consider yourselves thankful) but don't worry about not having that annoying azz spybox in your home; just don't watch them at all. Don't have them on your TIVOs or DVRs because these services are also monitoring viewer activity. Don't listen to anyone who tells you it doesn't matter unless you are a Nielsen household because cable companies also track customer activity. We should all just erase George and Charlie and not just for a day but at least through the election. This is how to change the wayward path of media heading towards FauxNews like behavior.

You express disapproval with ABC by making Couric #2 and relegating them to the bottom position where their gutter tabloidism belongs but CBS certainly deserves the first place spot on evening news and Sunday morning because they remain the last holdout during this political season as the only fair and balanced network for political and election coverage.

[larose501]

Hit menu go to auto channel memory / add/ delete put in 07 and hit delete! get disney too!

[Slagfish]

Charlie reminds me of a guy who has soiled his pants, but think everyone is smelling his after shave lotion. Keep it up, Charlie. Soon you, Snuffy and ABC will be totally irrelevant

[gobarackgo]

A real journalist would have taken this story himself rather than handing it to another reporter. C'mon Charlie. America wants to hear what you have to say for yourself. If you won't do it for us, do it for the ratings!

[OneTruePatriot]

Broadcast network news has become a clown show in general. They (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN) stopped being about "news" many years ago (arguably FOX was never about news). Today they have no news gathering organization at all. They simply buy the 1 or 2 minutes of news they do each night from AP or Rueters. The rest is all "production". It has more in common with MTV than news organizations of the past. It's all swooshy graphics and process stories about missing blondes. It improves their revenue stream in the short run but anyone who watches this crap thinking they are getting good information is a damn fool.

[AMERIKA]

Who cares about the issues lets elect a president who wraps himself in the flag. HA! On the other hand, lets agree that politicians who wrap themselves in the flag should be burned in it.

[drzoon]

charlie is a likable guy.. but don't forget. he's really a morning show guy. its not like he is peter jennings or ted kopple. and we all know that george carries his own "lightweight" baggage when it comes to the Clintons

we get the news we deserve.

[HelpMeJebus]

It is this kind of bad journalism that helped us get into the Iraq war.

[harriscrl3]

Yes and the kind of Journalism that brings this country dangerously close to Fascism.

Carol

[GeorgeGlass]

God, do I miss Peter Jennings. And Ted Koppel.

There's now no point in watching ABC news. Brian Williams, here i come!

[Wisconsin08]

So much for contrition.

[roncraw]

Don't you fools know a Messiah is not to be questioned.