Journalists Slam ABC Debate Tactics

We, the undersigned, deplore the conduct of ABC's George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson at the Democratic Presidential debate on April 16. The debate was a revolting descent into tabloid journalism and a gross disservice to Americans concerned about the great issues facing the nation and the world. This is not the first Democratic or Republican presidential debate to emphasize gotcha questions over real discussion. However, it is, so far, the worst.

For 53 minutes, we heard no question about public policy from either moderator. ABC seemed less interested in provoking serious discussion than in trying to generate cheap shot sound-bites for later rebroadcast. The questions asked by Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mr. Gibson were a disgrace, and the subsequent attempts to justify them by claiming that they reflect citizens' interest are an insult to the intelligence of those citizens and ABC's viewers. Many thousands of those viewers have already written to ABC to express their outrage.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[PauletteRevere]

The print journalists prove again how superior they are to what we see on television.

I expected to hear the widespread criticism of ABC News covered by broadcast media on Thursday. The silence (especially by the "best rightwing political team on television") was deafening..

[verlaine]

Media critic and flaming douchebag Howard Kurtz defends disgusting Dem debate moderated by Gibson and Stephenopolous.

Kurtz Stays Above The Fray
http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/kurtz_stays_above_the_fray_1.php

[Maifmart]

Who expects talking heads for corporate media to present facts when talking about capitol gains?

[scaramouche23]

edit: "there" messages should be "their" messages

delete: "sit" from phrase "sit I'll sit it out"

and, of course I meant "very" not "vey"

[Ramirez]

Obama's secret weapon: the media


From Politico:
***
"The shower of indignation on Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos over the last few days is the clearest evidence yet that the Clintonites are fundamentally correct in their complaint that she has been flying throughout this campaign into a headwind of media favoritism for Obama.

Last fall, when NBC"s Tim Russert hazed Clinton with a bunch of similar questions"a mix of fair and impertinent"he got lots of gripes from Clinton supporters.

But there was nothing like the piling on from journalists rushing to validate the Obama criticisms and denouncing ABC"s performance as journalistically unsound. . . . The difference seems clear: Many journalists are not merely observers but participants in the Obama phenomenon."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9718.html

[PauletteRevere]

Hillary has never faced a 43 minute (or even 10 minute) barage of negative questions (rightwing talking points against her) like Obama did on Wednesday.

That kind of attack on HILLARY would have covered....Bosnia...NAFTA (sending a secret message to the Canadian government)....Doing the same thing with Colombia....Bill and Penn receiving money for lobbying for Colombian trade....if she and McCain have coordinated their strategies....her missing 2007 tax return....earmarks....library donors.....misstatements about the hospital death....mispeaking about her role in No. Ireland and trip to Africa with Joe Wilson.....why Bill pardoned the Weather felons....Kyl-Liberman....asking if Bill can be trusted not to embarrass America again....Whitewater....Travelgate.....why she lied to the country and blamed Republicans for Monica when she knew better.....

This is what 43 minute attack on Hillary would have looked like. Not three or four difficult (and perhaps, not terribly important) questions, interspersed with 3 or 4 difficult (and not terribly important) questions to Obama, as with Russert.

The ABC debate clearly had an agenda (even "tracking down" the PA woman who made her anti-Obama feelings known in the newspaper and giving her a chance to badger him about lapel pins!!!!)

Democrats would be equally outraged If this had happened to Hillary. (And Clinton's campaign would be far more vocal--especially if a questioner had close personal and professional ties to OBAMA.) Hillary's refusal to criticize ABC's travesty just adds more questions about her integrity.

[creasybear]

Oh nice spin. Pin Lapels. The nicely frame question about Wright? The Underground connection noise? And the forty minutes of barrage of attack while Clinton gets nothing but just one tepid question slung at her. No real questions about her lies? Her negative campaign? The Irish peace blubber? Her husband counter Bosnia lies?
Ok. ABC did an excellent job right? Why can't you people just swim above this strong tide of bigotry and be REAL for just a sec! I am not an Obama-sympathizer but that debate SUCK beyond reasonable doubt. Those two morons didn't behave like Journalists. They acted like the normal hacks of Fox. Even Hannity would have been alot more devious in presenting his questions and attacks.

[drzoon]

did tim russert as one freaking question about "flag pins"? i mean... that was just the last straw

[independentrepublicrat]

Katie Couric should have been #1 during this entire election season because she hasn't allowed biased political reporting and if a reporter attempted to take a live swipe she reigned his comment in with the opposing argument. That is how it should get done, no spin just facts. You express disapproval with ABC by making Couric #2 but CBS deserves the first place spot on evening news and Sunday morning because they remain the last holdout during this poltical season as the only fair and balanced network for political reporting. I say this as an Obama supporter who watched MSNBC though they shilled for Hillary (and continue to do so like the other networks) from the beginning. Despite Olbermann's newfound clarity, he has been partial towards Billary up until Hillary's McCain-and-I-would-make-good-presidents-
but-Obama-has-a-speech-coupled-with-Politico's-she-can't win-the-nomination-based-
on-math-article.

Save the guff because I enjoy Olbermann but he really was shilling for Hillary like everyone else for most of this primary process but he is still the best. Tamryn Hall (could improve by losing Jonathan Capehart FOREVER), Andrea Mitchell and David Shuster remain anti-Obama but I still hold that their hours are three of the five only worthwhile hours on MSNBC...Olbermann and Matthews leading the way round out the five of course. So my three successive posts are not about being pro-Obama.

[independentrepublicrat]

You deal with George and Charlie by blackout: Enough with the phone calls and web comments at ABC. "DO NOT WATCH ABC EVENING 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.

[KMan1]

That's what I'm talking about! Well I mean you said it but that is what I would have said if I got here first. :)

[independentrepublicrat]

Look people, I posted months ago that CBS was the only network (cable networks included) that had not sold out and was presenting the most unbiased political news. I wrote about it several times on this website. You all enjoy the bias and political hits that anchors and pundits perform because you continue to watch them.

[marko77]

George S. and Charles G. are clowns who bow at the feet of the likes of Karl Rove. How else to explain acting like complete jack-asses.

[hippybaby1970]

edit: that was meant to say " deal with"

[hippybaby1970]

ABC, how do you think we will deal corporations like yours when we take power?

[TheRebel82]

ABC got their asses handed to them after that debate.

Worst. Debate. Ever.

[patriotscholar]

Hey, Gibson, read this:

U.S. Flag Code (4 US Code 1)

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

[verlaine]

Charlie Gibson is an effete preening sissy

George Stephanopolous is Hillary's cabana boy

Hillary is a lying sack of excrement

[ljsfolly]

Is there anyone who feel the National Constitution Cneter got their money's worth out of co sponsoring the ABC debate? I just really noticed that fact and it amazes me that the center as not complained about the content. Anyone notice any constution questions? Maybe it was bathroom time for me when they asked/

[biglover]

Clintonista4eva has been flagged for abuse - 3 times. Kick the bumb out of here

[victoriajubilee]

Sean Hannity ,the nazi was praising George Stephanopoulas and Charles Gibson on his show all day yesterday and today . Keep up the protest against ABC THROUGH THE WEEKEND UNTIL AT LEAST MONDAY, NO LETUPS ,LET THE PORNOGRAPHIC SLIMEBALLS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. I GOT HOME FROM WORK EARLY WEDNESDAY JUST TO WATCH THE DEBATE. AND THEN THAT. BY 10.05 PM ,I JUST IGNORED THE DEBATE, I KEPT THE TV ON BUT WAS TUNED OUT. I AM STLL PISSED.

[scaramouche23]

I honestly believe that Sean Hannity has a mental condition. I've never seen such an hateful personality. Oh, I'm sorry, Bill O'Reilly. But, these so-called religious guys sit there and spew hatred all day long (I'm talking about Fox News..from morning until night). Colmes is the only one that I can identify with but I can't watch the show because of Hannity. I tried, but just couldn't watch more than 5 minutes. It's just too hateful to me.

[ann1]

I bet Charlie and George felt mighty proud of themselves.......until the emails poured in!

[MuchMadness]

Hillary should be happy that a bunch of lefty journalists are upset. It makes Obama look too liberal. Clinton can make the argument to superdelegates that she is moderate enough to defeat McCain.

[PauletteRevere]

Yes, those Democrats in the newspapers are a real bunch of lefty kooks. Fortunately, we don't have to see and hear them on television.

I wish there'd been more great questions from Sean Hannity! Now there's a real journalist!

[anghiari]

Hillary can't beat Obama with the lefties,black folks, young folks and moderate Republicans whom mcCain has scared with his Iraq scenario staying home if Hillary is the candidate. And they will walk away from a Hillary clinton nomination.

[Yansher]

I hope that ABC never get to host another debate ever again.

[Opus007]

Not likely the candidates would agree to it after this debacle. ABC really slit their own throats. TWhat idiots- it's only the biggest election in decades. They will get passed over for the election returns also.

[timothydcraig]

On NPR this evening, ABC defended the debate on the basis that Obama had received a free ride in prior debates and that media coverage has been slanted towards Hillary. I take this to be an admission that ABC purposely slanted the debate. If ABC wanted to correct the bias they should not do so by being biased themselves. Rather their responsibility is to report and call out bias as they see it. As it now stands they are admitted shills for Hillary.

[PauletteRevere]

That's a pretty amazing "defense". I thought journalists jobs were to ask important questions, let the candidates discuss issues, and hope the American people become better informed in the process.

I guess the real job is to pick one side that you think needs help (for whatever reason), and go all out attacking the other guy.

Yes, real "spirit of Edward Murrow" there, ABC. (Well, of course, Murrow was an icon at CBS. I doubt either Gibson or Stephanopoulos care about the ethics of professional journalists anyway.)

[Sardonica]

Oh my god - shocking. Truly, truly shocking. We need to hear this report. Do you remember any details? The name of the NPR journalist who reported it? Or the name of the ABC shill they talked to?

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

I actually watched ABC news tonight thinking that there might be an apology or mention of how poorly their debate was received, not only by the regular viewers, but by their peers in journalism. I give ABC too much credit in thinking that, don't I?

The blow-back from this debate is not about whether one supports one or the other candidate. It is about the erosion of integrity and credibility throughout television journalism. This election may prove to be one of the most important in the history of our nation and we are allowing tabloid tactics from those that we used to trust to be our watchdogs. Remember Walter Cronkite? From his mouth to our ears, we knew we could trust him.

This open letter to ABC was a breath of fresh air and I commend The Nation for maintaining it's integrity.

[scaramouche23]

Amen to that.

[kae]

This has nothing to do with Hillary or Barak hate! SHUT UP!

ABC held a debate that would have been better hosted by the twits at Entertainment Tonight ot Access Hollywood. This letter in The Nation is perfect. Maybe this is the only way to fix journalism in america. Call out the corporate tools and shove their noses in the very shit they've been feeding us.

[who38]

"Flag pins" may turn out to be MSM's "McCarthy Moment". Sure hope so.

[iPolitics]

If you watch the evening news skip ABC (mini Faux News)

Brian Williams: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#23490196

Katie Couric: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/eveningnews/main3420.shtml

[Syco]

Don't watch Katie

[matthewshappy]

Great letter. Thank you!