The ABC News Debate: As Bad As FEMA's Response To Katrina

Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to ABC's Pennsylvania Democratic debate

Last night, we witnessed the television journalism equivalent to FEMA's response to the Katrina disaster. And the faster we realize that's what happened, the faster we'll be able to save the socioeconomic fabric of our society.

The Katrina-level storm that is rocking America has only just started to come ashore. And saving the voting public -- and, by extension, the rest of America -- from drowning in a sea of irrelevant and, at times, false information is going to require that America's journalists be heroic in their efforts.

Regrettably, last night we did not see two heroic journalists in action. We saw two buffoons. The voting public was not served. It was played with. The National Enquirer meets the presidential election process. The insane concept of "policy discussion as food fight" - that Jon Stewart so memorably challenged with his "You are hurting America" comments to the hosts of Crossfire in October of 2004 -- formed the central core in the minds of one of America's marquee news anchors and of the host of a major Sunday morning news show.

Yes, indeed. You did a heck of a job last night, Charlie and George.

Think my Katrina-level storm analogy is extreme? It's not. And I think the 80 plus percent of Americans who say our country is going in the wrong direction would agree with me.

Economically, we're now past the scenario in which people are losing their homes. As the New York Times reported on Tuesday, chains such as Zayles jewelry, Foot Locker, Ann Taylor and others are closing 100 or more stores in malls across the country. Sharper Image, Fortunoff, and Lillian Vernon are just three big businesses that have filed for bankruptcy. When you go to the mall, it's going to look very different in the months to come.

High oil prices are forcing food prices up across America, and growing corn as an alternative fuel source (rather than for food) is impacting food prices across the world. (By the way, in 2006 agricultural economist Lester R. Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute predicted this would happen.)

Then there are the effects the Iraq War is having and will have on America. The readiness of our Army is so low, we can't handle a new military situation of any significant size. There is the Three Trillion Dollar cost of the war and how our economy will handle that.

There is much more... from how many kids are dropping out of high school... to the lack of funds for infrastructure repair... to our "broken" Constitution (thanks to the Bush administration's abuse of executive power).

Gee, you'd have thought that - given they were broadcasting from The National Constitution Center - either Charlie Gibson or George Stephanopoulos would have raised the subject of restoring the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.

But I guess I should have known that wouldn't happen when Charlie started the evening by welcoming his audience to the "National Constitutional - not "Constitution" - Center".

When Charlie couldn't even get the name of where he was right, that should have clued us in to the quality of what we were about to hear.

Taken separately, each of these topics could have been the subject of an entire debate. But combined into an overlapping and interrelated whole, they make up the macro, "perfect storm" topic of the dangerous place in which America finds itself as it approaches one of the most critical elections ever.

But what came up instead was what was on Charlie and George's "Enquiring minds". Not what was on the minds of the voters.

The Rev. Wright, non-existing Bosnian snipers, "bittergate", will Barack and Hillary take Mario Cuomo's advice and run as a joint ticket... and let's not forget what Charlie Gibson thinks is "all over the internet": whether Barack Obama wears an American flag lapel pin! And then there was George Stephanopoulos's specific "right wing" moment: Asking Barack if - essentially - the fact that he has some sort of social contact with a former Weatherman (and now respected member of the Chicago civic community) somehow disqualifies him from being president.

By their performances last night, you'd think Charlie and George don't know that 67 percent of all Americans believe "traditional journalism is out of touch with what Americans want from their news."

Or maybe they know but just don't care. After all, when you make the kinds of salaries they make, you can lose touch with the concerns of ordinary American.

Or maybe the march of time since corporate restructuring at ABC first forced its news department to make a profit (written about in a book by former CBS News reporter Tom Fenton ) has finally succeeded in dumbing down the skill level of the professionals such as Charlie and George to such an extent that this is all they were capable of producing.

If that's the case, then we have truly reached the "Heck of a job, Brownie" moment in television journalism. And it may be what's true.

I'll end this essay by saying that - as angry as I am - I know that every failure is an opportunity for renewal. From this catastrophe, television journalism can still - at least potentially - recapture its former greatness. Edward R. Murrow may no longer be with us, but there is still time for the heads of the major network news divisions to realize that this is a Katrina-like situation for America's civic landscape. There is still enough time for heroic measures to be taken.

For guidance, I would suggest they start with Al Gore's landmark book "The Assault On Reason". Richard Dreyfuss in preaching on the subject of civic education as well.

Perhaps a a coalition of American civic and journalism leaders could demand the creation of a bi-partisan, emergency effort to raise the standards of broadcast journalism.

Will this happen? I don't know. (Wal-Mart helped deliver drinking water to New Orleans, when FEMA was not able to do so. Maybe some business leader will rise to the challenge we face today in a similar way.)

But what I do know is that last night should be a huge wake up call for everyone who cares about America's future.

America was not served by what ABC News did last night.

And, in my opinion, American will not survive this Katrina-like, systemic crisis if the political reporting and debate moderating in the weeks and months ahead does not rise to the heroic standards that these times demand.

It is time for the buffoons to either change their ways or go.

It's time for heroic television journalism to rise from the ashes of last night's primary debate disaster.

Addendum:

To help inspire people to know we CAN have heroic television journalism -- even on ABC News -- below is a brief video of Barbara Walters remembering the late, great Peter Jennings (from the memorial on Larry King Live in Peter's honor).

Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to ABC's Pennsylvania Democratic debate

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Comments

[RoseMerry]

Ultimately, let's remember what ABC is good at. I love "Brothers and Sisters" and "Lost". But no more network TV news for me!

I suspect they all serve a multinational cabel of national mindcontrollers. Better to read more trusted sources.

[Boris]

Does anyone remember that AL Gore purchased flight time on an airliner to remove medical patients from New Orleans to Minnesota? Did the MSM cover that? Did they cover the fact that FEMA tried to stop him using FAA rules?

Do you really think this is a free country?

An informed electorate is the essence of democracy.

"Disinformation' does not help democracy.

Oh yeah, what was that about Briney's underwear again? Oh, tonight is some reality show!!

The only reality show we need is real news, but with things going to hell, its just too depressing.

[SonnyBono]

Since it has been pointed out numerous times that neither George or Charles were wearing their corporate issued US flag lapel pins - the questions to ask these two men are: Why do they hate America? Why do they want the terrorists to win?

The problem with George is that when he looks in the mirror, he sees Bill Moyers.

George, I know Bill Moyers and you are no Bill Moyers.

Charles looks in the mirror and sees an aging overpaid news reader but doesn't notice since his glasses have slipped off.

[RI]

Thank you! Let's have some constructive response to this ridiculous situation. Beside your worthy ideas, here are a couple more:

How about a boycott of ABC? I certainly am.

What about a way to monitor the slant and quality of news coverage? Like a “Consumer Reports” magazine of news? Challenging to make it neutral, but worth the effort.

[CynAnne]

... That boycott may be moving higher up the corporate chain than just ABC, RI - Disney (who owns ABC) has broken the hearts of THOUSANDS of children (and the parents who spend thou$and$ of dollars with Disney) by closing the safest and most enjoyable on-line game in history, known as VMK (Virtual Magic Kingdom). A summary of the dismal decision can be found at: www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-10106 - I've been to several of the petition sites, and read dozens of letters from angry parents (many of whom play VMK as well) of these heartbroken children, many of whom suffer with disabilities, and even terminal illnesses. I hope Disney considers these many, many children, for this decision could cost them more than just a large drop-off in revenue this coming summer (many of the letters I mentioned were from parents informing the Disney Co. that the families were cancelling their already booked vacations, in direct connection to the closing of this amazing game)..! :( ...

[ljmck]

What do Gibson and Stephanopoulos make, anyway? Anyone know?

Patrician poseurs.

Do they get overtime for traveling to the hinterland of Pennsylvania and spending an evening with their lessers?

They were not practicing journalism Wednesday night, so it seems to me they're fair game.

Grumpy me would like to know what their salaries brought them for those two hours of inanity.

Insiders?

[ArchAngel]

"Patrician poseurs"

Nicely said!

[SemperVeritas]

Gibson makes an estimated $8,000,000 a year as anchor of ABC's evening news program.

That wouldn't make him an "elistist" ... would it?

[Sloane7]

Does anyone know how ABC now views their actions around the debate? Does anyone have the inside scoop because I would really like to know if Charlie and George still think "they did a heckuva job". They know now that no one was fooled - do they regret it or were the rating more important than the loss of viewers longer term?

[circles]

I believe Hillary had inside knowledge of exactly what the questions were going to be before the debate. Her jump-all-over rebuttal to questions like Ayres were a bit too suspicious.

[zenmatters]

Obama Gets It

Obama gets it. He is unusual, visionary. He understands that our only hope is the middle class coming together, regardless of our differences. But he faces an uphill battle. The old politics of division and hate, the politics that have gotten us into this intractable situation where nothing is being done, is still admired by the vast majority of Americans; the idea that you fight for what you want and you smash your adversary.

And that works, and it has worked for the last seven years . . . but it hasn't worked. What happens is that you eventually destroy each other, and this is happening as we slowly destroy our country. It began simply enough with a few pundits using conflict, dissention and division in order to get TV and radio ratings, but now the hate is everywhere, even on our highways where we are becoming a country of road rage haters, not much different from the terrorists that we are supposedly fighting.

[NanWhit]

In this whole article, you failed to mention the slanting of the news on the cable channels, like MSNBC and CNN. New media need to go back and study the way newcasters in the earlier days reported the new. Just the fact without the spin!! Thank You, Nan

[Ozarks]

"Perhaps a a coalition of American civic and journalism leaders could demand the creation of a bi-partisan, emergency effort to raise the standards of broadcast journalism". A lofty Goal, Mr. Bryant but economics not dreamy "demands" is going to change the landscape of journalism. When ABC, CBS and NBC see their evening broadcast numbers dwindle , due to things like that fiasco debate debacle headed by two clowns who belong in clown suits at Disneyland rather than posing in suits as journalists, will you see these corporate profit driven alleged "news agencies" change their ways.
It is already happening at CBS where Katie's $15 million salary has acted like a black hole to funds for any type of reliable news feeds. The next thing CBS may do is cancel its evening "news" broadcast and ABC with its goons like "Charlie" will soon follow. Hopefully, then these corporations will realize that propaganda news and yellow press crap that has worked during the Bush Admin will no longer be profitable and they will change their ways to compete with the real news now happening on the internet.

[Sunburst]

Hilary :

A fool just writes her BS in a different language .
Needs to remember when she is in BS up to her ears to keep her mouth shut.
The best defense against logic is ignorance.
Failure is the only opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
People are not dumb, they see things as they are.
The ones that yell the loudest lie the loudest.
Don’t complain if you don’t get what you want. Just be thankful you don’t get what you deserve.



Obama
Your strong character is brought out by change. Go man!!!
Don’t just reach out your hand, extend your arm to the people. They can’t get enough of you.
People know when they have a good thing.
Your friends know all about you and still love ya. No one is perfect.
Every solution will breed a new problem. Your the man to handle it.
You a person who cares and listens. Your people need you.
You have a warm heart. You’re not a hot head.
Your love for the people will illuminate all of us.
Life is a reality to be experienced. You’re doing great dishing it back.
Remember stumbling is not falling.
The key too success is to keep up in all areas.
It’s time for rapid change and you are our man.
You have proved who you are by your actions. Hilary proves who she is with her mouth.

[RoseMerry]

Wait a minute - just wait a gawddamn minute. Many, many people DIED in New Orleans. In one of the greatest examples of institutionized racism in American history, a city was left unto itself and ignored by our government - in fact the military was used to STOP people from getting to the city. People with no where to go where turned back by armed troops. A priority was wholesale taking of guns, inviolation of the Second Amendment.

The Superdome was a nightmare, a cesspool of feral monsters feeding on the innocent. Police went rogue and joined in the crimefest.

And a great, great city still has years and years to recover.

It reminds one of the greatest disasters in our nation's history and made so much worse by the inaction of the people with the power to help. Perhaps intentional inaction.

This little squeak on TV the other night was nothing and will be quickly forgetten and deserves not a single sentence in the history of the U.S.

Where as New Orleans in the aftermath of Katina needs to be studied, investigated, and recorded for a long, long time.

Get some prospective , please! This is like comparing a Little League game to World War II.

[Steven G. Brant - Huffpost Blogger]

You've made my point for me, RoseMerry.

Thanks to media incompetence, thousands and thousands of people (4000+ US military and countless thousands of Iraqis) have DIED in Iraq... and who knows how many have died here in America for lack of education, health care, etc.

This "perfect storm" has been brewing for a while... but now, as we are faced with the challenge of choosing New National Leadership, the American people need journalists who act in the best interests of America's civic health and well being.

Thank you for your perspective. You confirmed what I am saying without realizing it.

[RoseMerry]

"What we have here is a failure to communicate". I never intend to make any points for you, Mr Brant. Rather, I wanted to point out what a travesty it is to compare one of the worst disasters in American leadership to a low rated TV show that will be forgetten soon. Nuff said. We got rules here and I should not continue.

[PrdAmerican]

American lives are on the line...if we fail this election, if we as a nation cannot unite and defeat the right wing assault on this nation, there will be more wars...we're already prepping it for Iran, which would prove far bloodier than Iraq. If we continue down this path, the "tent" cities will only grow bigger...swollen with families who will face not only hunger but disease as well. Should we face another catatstophic event there won't be national guardsman to tend the effects of the disaster because our last line of defense (the guard) are sitting in a desert half way around the world. The congress and senate are lame ducks, unable to move past political lines to achieve any results beyond discussing steroids...

This debate was like the outerband of a hurricane that is barrelling down on this nation....it was a symptom, it was a wake-up call, and if American's do not take action to protect OUR own interests and those of our children then we will face the full consequences of this perfect storm.

[Sunburst]

Years ago feuds were settled with swords and pistols. This is what 62 people in this park would like to do to
ABC, Hannity, and O’ riley are the most hurtful stations on the air. They like to kick people when they are already down.
Anybody can walk into an interview, and say hear me roar. I’m the best candidate for the job because I am more aggressive, professional, intellectual, best team player,

ABC needs to reimburse people that had to get baby sitters and taxis.

I refuse to believe any thing Hilary says. She just turns me off and others.


Worst Debate for any presidential race!!!!!!!


Hilary :
There is nothing more shameful than one establishing themselves on lies. That’s our Hilary.
She thinks were all fool- proof. Will believe anything she throws at us.
Her faults are her own. She committed them. Now she can take her punishment.
Excuses will serve a tyrant.
She’s a very dull person to listen too.
Every one suffers for the wrong they do. There is no remedy.
Gossiping and lying go hand in hand.
Some people have just enough imagination to cloud their judgement.

[DNCCritic]

I believe the most important difference between the candidates is how they handle pressure. The job of the president is not easy. Being able to handle pressure, answer tough questions, deal with problems daily......is what is important. Any format that challenges them and allows the voters to see how they handle it is a peep into the future of one or the other.

On a political note, I think the reason Obama was so unprepared is because he's not handled these issues in press conferences. He's been in a type of a cocoon of sorts. One good aspect to that is that you don't trip up so much. One bad aspect of that is you don't sharpen your answers.

[zozosmom]

Your guy bombed in a debate and you compare this to hurricane Katrina? The Obama propaganda is catapulting here at HuffPo. I don't even think the far right has ever gone in for such narcissitic hyperbole. Your guy can't answer the questions. He was unmasked as a potential dudd for the general election. It's his fault and no one else's. Except maybe for the Obama-loving media who rode the hope train to this dead end. Karma sucks, doesn't it?

[MPeter]

Anybody sensible would think that the two baffoons at ABC would be canned but, not a chance. They will stay just like Wolfie, Hannity, O'reilley, Limbaugh all all the stupid talkingheads on the TV circuit. It is indeed the loss of 'sense and sensibility'.

[rinpochet]

What pseudo-debate were you watching? He remained calm, collected and reasonable while three people were hurling garbage at him. He showed remarkable restraint and courage under verbal fire, the qualities I want in a president.

Hillary showed herself, again, to be nothing but a bottom feeder. Can't wait until they send her packing back to NY. Good riddance!

[Ozarks]

Bombed in a debate!!! If you expected Obama to come prepared for 45 minutes of tabloid questions on flag pin, a 40 year old meeting with some guy, the Rev Wright (again) and "bitter" taken out of context instead of Iraq, Colombia, Nafta, the economy, gas prices, financial collapse of Bears Stearns then you want a president who appears nitely on Entertainment Tonight and such shows so as to talk about Brittany Spears latest car crash or which actor got drunk and other alleged meaningful national news

[WAstateliberal]

So typical of an Obama hater to completely miss the point of the article. The writer is not complaining that the "debate" was unfair to Obama. He was complaining that it was a joke; a pure theft of publicly owned airwaves. This article is not about Obama v. Clinton. Yet Clinton supporters have become so irrational they can't see anything except in terms of whether it is for or against their candidate. A critical reading of this article reveals that he is defending BOTH Clinton and Obama against this infotainment hit job posing as serious journalism on airwaves that WE own.