IT IS WHAT ABC DIDN'T CARRY THAT MAKES ME NUTS

Yesterday I wrote something that was critical of MoveOn and their "petition" concerning the ABC Presidential debate.

"Debate moderators abuse the public trust every time they ask trivial questions about gaffes and 'gotchas' that only political insiders care about. Enough with the distractions--ABC and other networks must focus on issues that affect people's daily lives."

The ABC debate moderators are not even that, and the ABC people did a horrid job in doing what it was that they did. Nevertheless I would ask "what is the public trust" they are talking about?" I do not approve one little bit about how the "debates" are conducted but "public trust...?"

ABC is obliged to serve "in the public interest. Convenience and necessity." This still entitles them to make and present "bad" programs, and debates poorly conducted. People expect more of ABC, and it is sad that they did not get what they expected.

"...Enough with the distractions--ABC and other networks must focus on issues that affect people's daily lives."

I did not like what ABC did, nor do I like what is done every Sunday morning on Meet the Press. Having said that, I will defend the right of ABC to do whatever it is that they do "badly" and their "right" to focus on whatever issues they choose to focus on.

If MoveOn wants to do "the petition thing" let them do it. They could ask why the Network News on ABC, CBS, and NBC broadcasts are more like "magazine" shows and contain so little REAL NEWS.

Let MoveOn ask why all four Broadcast Networks do not carry documentaries about our Wars, National Debt, Domestic Spying and other minor Constitutional violations, among so many other things?

ABC ran a very inept and ill conceived debate.

t is what they don't run that makes me crazy.

Norman Horowitz

Comments

[filmex]

As to the hype regarding the Weather Underground...

Speaking of which, isn't it about time that someone notes, while calling the Weathermen a "terrorist organization", that they were unique in the history of revolutionary movements?

What other "terrorist organization" made it a point never to hurt human beings? What other organization attacked buildings and objects, usually after closing when no one was around? What other "terrorist organization" in history carried out a campaign war versus inanimate objects in an attempt to halt a war?

What other organization managed to go until their dissolution (in 1976) without having ever killed an innocent human being, having only managed to kill three of their own members while constructing a bomb?

Why didn't George S. wonder aloud why Mr. Ayers never served any jail time? Ask why most members received clemency under the draft dodger amnesty provision? Why pretend that the Weathermen were Al-Qaeda?

No, better to just label them a "terrorist organization" so the historically illiterate American populace can be duped yet again (a la WMD) into believing the Weathermen were the second coming of the Baader-Meinhof group. Disgraceful performance, ABC "News".

[SMP]

If you want to debate..lets debate some real personal issues.....

Clintons involvement with Nafta....ie Mark Penn/ Bill Clinton...Columbia/Canada
I for one, do not accept that .."she differs with her hubsand and sometimes he makes mistakes" And she still kept Mark Penn on her staff.

Hillary has NEVER answered a question "honestly" unlike Barack, who has given the world a full explaination of Rev.Wright.

Hillary, on the ABC debate, said something that deserves a repeat... and I quote..." You cant pick your family (mother,father,siblings,blood relatives) but you can pick your pastor, friends and associates"

Now I ask you, in view of the above statement, she is still associated with Mark Penn and still stays married to Bill, ( literally runs her campaign off his "coattails")

How is it that she still involves herself with those above and others with shady pasts?? The double standard she projects is hypricratical, common sense should tell you that.

WE have lost way too many jobs in American due to unfair trade practices.

You know people....WE CANT GO BACK TO THE 1990"s.......we can only go forward !!!

[ThatsNotFunny]

It's hypocritical to defend ABC's right to put on bad programming without also defending moveon.org's right to complain how bad it is.

[desmirl]

The major networks don't want to broadcast controversial material. They know that the great masses of unwashed want their "Survivor - wherever" and "Big Brother," just to mention a few of the diversions available.

[stellanoir]

Watching the deterioration of any shred of REAL journalism in lieu of the emergence of infotainment, alleged "reality TV," toxic celebrity obsession, and overwhelming corporate influence, has been an affront to our collective intelligence.

I was listening to a local show on Friday during which the host was still wondering why Obama wouldn't wear a stupid flag lapel pin (most likely made in China) or explain why he wouldn't. Obama has clearly elucidated his aversion to faux patriotism.

I had seen a report online that an Iraq vet gave Obama one of those pins and he happily put it on for a while.

"Stepontopofthis"'s inane questions about loving America or believing in the flag were completely idiotic. As if. . .degrees of love are measurable or flags might actually be ephemeral in nature.

One of the only old school journalists left, Bob Schiieffer summarized the flag pin stupidity really astutely this morning.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/20/ftn/main4029438.shtml

Here is what George should have asked McSame this morning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCrJB8dwTrA

If only.

Thank goodness for the internet or we would all be utterly clueless.

[dexxjones]

great post norman. personally i think that new york times article this morning is only the tip of the iceberg and explains much about what is wrong with our media.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html?_r=2&ei=5090&en=196b27df83cc255c&ex=1366344000&adxnnl=1&page=&oref=slogin&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1208700641-xbiX8Ey8i5ATVFwIHcypzQ&pagewanted=all

[teribeaugez]

I was just watching Reliable Sources address the debate, and yeah, I think we can all agree the "flag pin" question was a bit much, though I didn't realize "the women on the street" who asked the question was actually someone the NY Times quoted about this, but all these other questions really were legitimate. The media has focused on the Rev. Wright and "bitter" remarks ad nauseum, and this IS the first debate held since these issues came up. But the larger point is that of the other 20-something debates, many of them focused rather harshly on Clinton's negatives. This ONE debate was more focused on Obama's, the front runner's, negatives, and the whining is deafening - just deafening. I think that highlights pretty starkly just how great the bias in the media really is. And let's face it, if he had actually performed well, no one would be saying a word, other than to praise how he tough he is.

This entire argument highlights IMO a greater issue, the liberal media's overwhelming favoritism toward Obama, and that's actually the more substantive issue here. When Clinton was the front-runner, that was the "excuse" for her getting the majority of the hammering. If Obama makes it to the general election, you can bet he's going to get roughed up plenty and that these issues are going to come up again.

So . . . he can cry me a river. He's sure never complained about be the liberal media's darling.

[runswithscissors]

"the liberal media's"

This is an oxymoron, and it drives me nuts to hear it. And btw I agree with you that Obama has been babied quite a bit, but only when compared to Clinton. The only thing conservatives hate more than a Democrat is a Clinton. The real free ride has gone to McCain, and it will continue to be that way because despite what O'Reilly and his parrots say, our media is NOT the slightest bit liberal.

[DavidJames]

Norman,

An interesting point. Perhaps the problem isn't the networks but instead a unhealthy competition to the bottom with the cable networks.

To get the networks to act more in the public interest we need to eliminate the unfair competition of cable. All we need to do is cut off our cable. Has anyone else noticed how good HD broadcast TV is? Now is a time to get an antenna for Digital TV.

Regards