George Stephanopoulos Defends ABC Debate Peformance

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 here.

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.

[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!

[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.

[unenrolled]

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

[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?

[buffalo66]

Curious George, the monkey sized moderator, and his sidekick Charlie "The Man in the Yellow Hat" Gibson are so out of their league as journalists that they almost look FOXnews look credible. As a political junkie I usually make ABC's "This Week" as part of my Sunday talk show circuit. However, after last night's debacle and the subsequent Stephanopolus hubris, I have lost all respect for George (never had much for Charlie to begin with) and will now skip his show. He's damaged goods as far as I'm concerned.

[Mattie]

wow, what a nasty post, you must be part of the politics of hope and change!

[GorgeWags]

I found it quite reasonable, under the circumstances, and HOPE a travesty like last nights debate will not happen again, and my respect for Stephanopoulos has been forever CHANGED.

[Aleka]

I have to applaud that one. Very good!

[Mollye]

They did ask tough, but important questions. The majority of critism is coming from radical Obama supporters.

[08timefortruth]

If they were going to ask Obama tough questions they should have ask HC the same like what she knows about some of the "shady" characters pardoned by Pres Clinton in his last days in office. They might want to ask about her brothers Hugh and Tony Rodham, ask about Marc Rich and his wife, ask about pardoned drug dealer Carlos Vignali; ask HC why her senate campaign treasurer, New York attorney William Cunningham III, helped obtain last-minute pardons for two Arkansas tax evaders, Robert Clinton Fain and James Lowell Manning. Even more intriguing, the pair were referred to Cunningham by Clinton's New York campaign guru and fixer Harold Ickes.(Sound familiar) Ask about the fraud charges that are pending against the Clintons. Don't these issues have an impact on a candidates character.
http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/02/23/pardon/index1.html

[Robespierre]

Actually, there are a lot of repubs who are looking to cross over in the GE and wanted a good look at the two dem candidates. More than likely we will have a dem prez in January. And a lot of repubs will vote for him.

[NewtC]

I'm ashamed that an established network like ABC would stoop to silly questions reflective of the same old divisive Republican tactics that serve only to detract from the real issues while increasing your ad revenues. Yes, we need to know the character of our candidates. We already know that Obama is patriotic, whether or not he wears a lapel pin. What we"ve learned from your is a lot more about your character. You"ve failed us miserably, and you should apologize with the fortitude that both Clinton and Obama showed last night.

[Durango]

Anyone who questions ANY candidates patriotism is despicable.

[Durango]

And today a Rueters cameraman was killed by an Israeli tank.

Not to take sides on Israel/Palestine, but that man was a JOURNALIST.

Showing a courage Mr. Stephanopolus will never have.

Get out of your expensive New York City Apartment (or wherever the hack lives.)

Try and live up to the same standards in reporting the truth that that poorly paid cameraman had.

You aren't fit to share the same title with him.

[whitegoldwielder]

Unlike most of the media pukes, George didn't just fall off of the turnip truck.

[Ariadne]

He should just say Mickey Mouse made me do it.

[ReportThis]

Stephanopoulos is in denial. I hope the Trustees at Columbia U. were watching -- and fire him from his teaching position.
What a twit.

[gnoice]

Is that a Pledge Pin? A Pledge Pin? On your uniform?? Drop and give me twenty!

[JerryTheAngel]

George S is like a drug addict or alcoholic in denial. Of course he is going to say this. After the 20 previous debates, there was no outcry and criticism like this one. And the only ones who are claiming it was a fair debate are so biased that their opinions are meaningless. So for no reason, thousands and thousands of people are criticizing you but none criticized moderators for the previous 20 debates. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? lmao

George sounds like a convicted murderer who claims every witness that implicated the murderer is lying and only he, the murderer, is telling the truth. He is like almost every politician that can't admit it when they are wrong and make a mistake or know they have and lie about it. The Clinton's taught George this valuable lesson very well, indeed. I will never watch This Week again and I have been watching it for years.

[BlackbirdHighway]

There is a war going on in Iraq. People are losing there jobs and unemployment is going up. The price of gasoline is going sky high. People are losing there homes. The fed is spending billions bailing out rich people. The dollar is going down the crapper. The environment needs help ASAP. Bin Laden (anybody remember him, 911 ring any bells?) is STILL out there plotting against us.

And people are asking about a damn flag pin? WTF? Will all those problems go away if our politicians were a F*CKING FLAG PIN???