ABC News Discusses The "Debate Over The Debate"

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Huffington Post   |   April 17, 2008 06:25 PM

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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

 
 

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- barackobam See Profile I'm a Fan of 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?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:17 PM on 04/20/2008
- realtalk See Profile I'm a Fan of 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.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:53 AM on 04/20/2008
- Trinidad707 See Profile I'm a Fan of 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!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:28 PM on 04/19/2008
- Syncere See Profile I'm a Fan of 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

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:33 AM on 04/20/2008
- AnotherIADem See Profile I'm a Fan of AnotherIADem

Haiku

A B C debate
Gibson and Stephanopoulos
SNAFU or FUBAR?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:10 PM on 04/19/2008
- milo9 See Profile I'm a Fan of milo9

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

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:06 PM on 04/19/2008
- independentrepublicrat See Profile I'm a Fan of 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.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:06 PM on 04/19/2008
- larose501 See Profile I'm a Fan of larose501

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

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:18 AM on 04/20/2008
- Slagfish See Profile I'm a Fan of 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

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:20 AM on 04/19/2008
- gobarackgo See Profile I'm a Fan of 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!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:02 PM on 04/18/2008
- OneTruePatriot See Profile I'm a Fan of 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.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:56 PM on 04/18/2008
- AMERIKA See Profile I'm a Fan of 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.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:21 PM on 04/18/2008
- drzoon See Profile I'm a Fan of 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.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:17 PM on 04/18/2008
- HelpMeJebus See Profile I'm a Fan of HelpMeJebus

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

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:06 PM on 04/18/2008
- harriscrl3 See Profile I'm a Fan of harriscrl3

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

Carol

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:16 PM on 04/18/2008
- GeorgeGlass See Profile I'm a Fan of GeorgeGlass

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

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

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:05 PM on 04/18/2008
- Wisconsin08 See Profile I'm a Fan of Wisconsin08

So much for contrition.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:58 PM on 04/18/2008
- roncraw See Profile I'm a Fan of roncraw

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

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:43 PM on 04/18/2008
- LucieLee See Profile I'm a Fan of LucieLee

That was quite smug of Charlie Gibson, and self-righteous of ABC News. I would love to voice my disdain for the comments by former President Bill Clinton...about the "whining" thing....Is he kidding??? That little snippet speaks for itself.......Now, if ABC News is having this attitude about the spectacle they passed of as a legitimate debate.....they are still undeniably.....clueless~

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:41 PM on 04/18/2008
- Pollypolitics See Profile I'm a Fan of Pollypolitics

I thought the debate questions were more than fair game. What showed was that Obama is used to the attitude you express: He is not to be questioned.

That won't work.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:08 PM on 04/20/2008
- Marlyn See Profile I'm a Fan of Marlyn

The MSM's idea of NEWS is to talk about themselves.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:29 PM on 04/18/2008
- PLUMPLUM See Profile I'm a Fan of PLUMPLUM

Same ABC that gave Imus a place to rest his frizzy butt after he was fired by CBS and MSNBC.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:14 PM on 04/18/2008
- Ping See Profile I'm a Fan of Ping

After Ted quit Nightline, and since there is no Monday Night Football, I have completely stopped watching ABC. Unfortunately they own ESPN, that's ok, I stopped watching ESPN years ago. But ABC did at one time have a formidable news division, but now ABC News is just a bunch of clowns. Charles Gibson reminds me of Brit Hume, old white stupid and racist.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:56 PM on 04/18/2008
- flyguy14222 See Profile I'm a Fan of flyguy14222

As has been said before; where was all of the sniveling when Russert went for Hillary's throat? If this the best Barry has to offer he is in even bigger trouble than I thought!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:54 PM on 04/18/2008
- Dustee See Profile I'm a Fan of Dustee

Hillary has the Clinton News Network, you know they are pro Hillary all the way. At least msnbc/nbc is a tad more balanced. But CNN loves Hillary (except for Jack Cafferty

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:37 PM on 04/18/2008
- ApolloniaCreed See Profile I'm a Fan of ApolloniaCreed



Don't pretend like they have been harder on Clinton in these debates. I keep hearing this foolishness about Russert, but no specifics... and I don't recall them ever spending almost an hour in any debate on these type of non-issues. They sept an hour on foolishness and the said out loud, they had one-minute left for gas prices... you should be offended no matter who you are supporting.

I recall a CNN debate in which they changed the rules on a "candidate to candidate" question mid-way through. After Sen. Obama had already posed his question to Edwards, the moderator (Wolf Blitzer I believe) came back and said something to the effect of "my fault you only get to ask one of your opponents". And for that not to be enough, they got sidetracked on another issue, Obama asked Edwards a question and they took that to be his debate question... Oh, it was subtle but it was definitely in Clinton's favor. And the Obama campaign didn't even blink or mention it... I was upset about it, but I never heard a peep about it in the media.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:25 PM on 04/18/2008
- Ping See Profile I'm a Fan of Ping

Hillary Clinton got asked 3 questions in a row and she complained. She showed everyone she was not Presidential material during that debate.

Obama did a great job in the last debate. He took it like a man, and the day after he was still smiling. That's what winners look like. Obama looks like a winner, Hillary looks like a wiener.

Obama 08.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:02 PM on 04/18/2008
- Grannysue See Profile I'm a Fan of Grannysue

I'm not sure but I believe ABC/Disney are also affiliated with Washington Post, Rupert Murdock, Faux News, this is what happens when LARGE corporations own so many entities, the slant is obvious and Charlie and George aren't newspeople, their paid talking heads who do the Clintons Bidding. I mean how many close ups of Chealsea and Rendel doe you need to see during one debate?????

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:36 PM on 04/18/2008
- flyguy14222 See Profile I'm a Fan of flyguy14222

Why state something if your not even sure it is true?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:58 PM on 04/18/2008
- portwes See Profile I'm a Fan of portwes

Flyguy, some things you don't need to research: is the Pope a Catholic, does the sea contain water, is Bush a moron?

He states it because it is true, a self-evident truth.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:38 PM on 04/18/2008
- Ping See Profile I'm a Fan of Ping

That's what the Clintons do.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:05 PM on 04/18/2008
- OckhamsElectricRazor See Profile I'm a Fan of OckhamsElectricRazor

George was pandering to his former boss and Charlie slipped back into his fluffy tabloid morning show mode. Both have bright futures at Fox News!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:12 PM on 04/18/2008
- WHATISTHIS See Profile I'm a Fan of WHATISTHIS

LETS BOYCOTT ABC!!

LETS BOYCOTT ABC!!


LETS BOYCOTT ABC!!

LETS BOYCOTT ABC!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:09 PM on 04/18/2008
- WHATISTHIS See Profile I'm a Fan of WHATISTHIS

THIS SHOULD BE RATED AS THE WORST DEBATE OFF ALL TIME

FIRE THESE TWO SCUMBAGS!!!

I WILL NO LONGER WATCH ABC

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:09 PM on 04/18/2008
- flyguy14222 See Profile I'm a Fan of flyguy14222

Of course, because pampered Barry was picked on! Get real.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:55 PM on 04/18/2008
- netgecko99 See Profile I'm a Fan of netgecko99

Their pointless attack on Hillary re: Bosnia was just as bad - tabloid journalism with no merit.

How on earth is that more important than warrantless wiretapping, the FISA bill, Supreme Court nominations, executive privilege, trade with China, and all the other issues that never got brought up in the debate?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:55 PM on 04/18/2008
- Rashomon See Profile I'm a Fan of Rashomon

His name is Barack. Please at least be respectful of the name he has chosen. We don't call Muhammad Ali by the name Cassius or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by the name Ferdinand.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:05 PM on 04/18/2008
- Ping See Profile I'm a Fan of Ping

Obama was elected. Clinton was picked.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:05 PM on 04/18/2008
- JRandomPoster See Profile I'm a Fan of JRandomPoster

It appears that ABC considers any publicity good publicity. Bad debate? Sell commercial time and add banners on the website talking about it. No matter what, ABC makes money hand over fist, and we get the feeble excuse for a debate that we saw.

Also - I note that ABC is still gunning for Obama in their discussion about the debate. Managed to get Wright's name on the air again - but no mention of Hillary saying that "yes yes yes" Obama could win, etc.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:08 PM on 04/18/2008
- Dustee See Profile I'm a Fan of Dustee

I only went to their website to file a complaint. I don't need to be there for anything else, unless I'm pushed.

That said, MoveOn.org has an online petition about their so-called 'debate'.

http://pol.moveon.org/enoughdistractions/?rc=homepage

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:10 PM on 04/18/2008
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