George Stephanopoulos Defends ABC Debate Peformance

Politico:

Despite criticism, ABC's George Stephanopoulos defended his performance in last night's Democratic debate, which he co-moderated with Charles Gibson.

"We asked tough but appropriate questions," Stephanopoulos told me by phone this afternoon.

When I asked whether questions about flag pins or Bosnia are actually relevant to voters, he replied: "Absolutely."

"The vote for the president," Stephanopoulos said, "is one of the most personal" decisions that someone makes.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[drzoon]

oh and george? this isn't a personal choice we are making. that's not even close to the paradigm. this is a choice about the future of this country and do we survive as a wealthy and moral country.

a lot of things have changed since you knew what was going on with getting folks elected.

we want a white house that is getting something done... not busy hiding women from the president!

[drzoon]

george...

did hanity have any questions on the issue of a trillion dollar war and how in the world are we going to pay for it?

did he have any questions about the issue of how in the world do we really compete with china and the rest of the world? how do we put the genie back in the bottle.. in regards to low (competitive?) wages?

how about.... terrrroorrrisim? how do we really fight it? with guns? or ideas? either answer is good... as long as we get a chance to ask and answer those questions!

flag pin? are you kidding me?

the flag pin is about how we have become divided. how "the flag" (truth: i'm a vet) has been used to divide us by politicians.

george? did you think the flag pin was an issue of patriotisim (sic)? if you did/do... you are an (insert favorite word for "idiot")

[DocJerome]

Both Charlie Gibson's and George Stephanopoulos' credibility as a journalist is shot. ABC's spot as a respected news organization is essentially over, much like most of MSM. People will essentially scour the internet for news and form opinions after researching stories that they are interested in. This marks the end of serious journalism on television, as networks are caught up in sensationalism for the purpose of ratings. Add to that, the added competition of news sites and blogs on the internet, and the pressure is really on for them to stand out. Their solution is to report gossip and promote propaganda to compensate, appealing to the basest instincts of it's viewership.

[polcomm]

All the criticism misses the point. Obama will have to answer these questions in the general election and his peformance last night was not promising. Instead of killing the messenger, Obama supporters should be asking themselves why their candidate was not more prepared. They think George was tough, wait until the general election. When Russert was hard on Clinton, no one on this Post said anything. But now, it's Obama's turn, and his totally ineffective performance is not very reassuring for Democrats. The Emperor really has no clothes and there is no reason to blame the moderators for that. Obama has a lot of questions he has not answered and a lot of baggage. Hillary does also, but she admits it. Obama supporters just got a peek at what the November election is going to be like. When Obama crashes and burns in November losing 40 states, Clinton supporters will just be smiling knowing she can go for the nomination in 4 years, and this time, the left wing, which has taken over the Democratic Party (like 1972), will not be a factor.

[unenrolled]

Looked like Clinton was the only one that was prepared for the question, but we should have know that. George the Clinton offspring

[DocJerome]

Come hard with questions on the issues, not rumor and character assassination attacks using select people in his life, no matter how insignificant a role they may or may not have played in shaping his philosophy. WTF? Do you even know the difference?

The general election will be no more tougher than this. Sen. McCain is a horrible debater, and knows less about the economy and who it is that we are or are not fighting in Iraq than anyone running, Democrat or Republican this election cycle. His campaign has more lobbyists on it than any other, and he is close to even more dubious characters than anyone still in the race.

The old model of politics you speak of just does not apply here. Too many people are involved and too many have a vested interest from a grass roots level for, distractions of the sort you are banking on to derail this awakening.

[Rockville]

The Question: "Does Pastor Wright love this country as much as you do?" is a question that no person can answer for another person. If this is indeed the kind of question that would be asked in the general election, this country is in worse trouble than I could ever have imagined!

[Mooyizz]

Obviously this guy is a stupid as you can think he is

[Solja]

Coming from a long line of Clinton surrogate liars, that's easy to assume. He was part of the Administration when ol' Slick Willy was out there lying to our face about Monica Lewinsky. He helped them cover it up, then they tossed him aside. He resigned, I thought, because he had some integrity. Now I see I was misled.

I knew about Charlie's reporting against Obama since he comes on out here in the midwest. I turned him off months ago, and any time I see him on the screen, the channel will change again. I can't stomach his tabloid reporting, and now little George is in the same boat. He can't, and shouldn't, be taken seriously any longer.

[dyspeptic]

Count me as another one aghast that somebody who would plan, execute and defend that senseless Jerry Springer bullwash they called a debate has a teaching job at Columbia. Are they kidding?

The tape of that event is exhibit A in the case for the moral bankruptcy of the fourth estate. Unbelievable.

[Squawkencluck]

All the bile thrown the direction of this debate is missing the mark a little.
Shills or not, who among you is depending on the television media talking heads to deliver you the truth?
What the debate proved was that ABC and FOX aren't so different. Is this a shock?

Lets not all run aground on hyperbole. George S and Chuckie G are, without question, even more out of touch than our candidates. They are willfully out of touch precisely because they are salesmen. They sell a product called "News". All the networks sell news, even the cables and the precious and delightful Olberman. Everyone is a Hearst.

Stupid questions. No engagement on issues. Irritating and predictable. It was to debate what porn is to sculpture. It excites and shocks but ultimately was empty and we left the debate with less than we had going in.
CNN (not exactly the height of intellectual analysis) started because ABC/CBS/NBC couldn't both deliver information AND sell advertising. CNN has become the wrong response, but had the right premise.

I miss I.F. Stone.

[totalliberal]

["I miss I.F. Stone."]



A little less cerebral, I miss Ted Turner.

[macphilms]

Clinton shill George S. was a disgrace, and Gibson is an out-of-touch, pretentious boob.
Obama had an off-night, but he still was the only one on stage with any class at all.

[debwarot]

He was moderating a debate in which one of the debaters was the spouse of his former boss. He absolutely believes flag pin questions have value in a presidential debate. Need we say any more?

[totalliberal]

In case anyone still has any delusions about patriotism and who Gibson and George work for, watch this clip as it is all explained too Howard Beale by Ned Beatty.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_AI8mC8XucY&feature=related

And this was written 32 years ago.

[txshldm0007]

BOYCOTT ABC

BOYCOTT STEPHANOPOULOS AND HIS SUNDAY SHOW

[atomicrob]

Stephanopoulos is an ass. Period.

[miles120]

I bet David Brinkley is turning over in his grave.

[rosal]

I didn't know an IQ of 25 will give you a job at ABC. Soldiers dying? People loosing jobs? Gas at $4.00 a gallon? People loosing their houses? All this is irrelevant. What is really important is to buy and wear the flag lapels made in China. And what can be more important than talk about what a guy did forty years ago?
This is what happens election, after election. The worthless media, and the corrupt politicians talk about all "important" issues like this, and good and decent people fall for it. And Bush wins two terms. Is it going to happen again? NOT THIS TIME. This time we will be smarter than that. This time we will show them.

[SharonB]

Stephanopoulos also defended the Clinton's actions in some highly questionable activities when he was their Press Secretary.
Georgie Porgie Puff-Puff, when on earth are you gonna quit pi$$ing on America's leg and trying to get us to believe it is raining?