Democatic Presidential Debate - Petty over Policy
Did anyone watch the debate last night? I did and was more than annoyed with the questions. It seems to be simply nothing more than hit pieces and non-policy questions. The word “petty” comes to mind. Well - apparently I wasn’t the only one - Via Americablog - here is a great round up. I was disappointed in what I saw as another blown opportunity by the media.
TPM: Looking around other sites, I guess I’m not the only one that thought this debate was unmitigated travesty. Maybe the embargo on debate rebroadcast was a pro-human rights stand.
From FDL: Well, that was really, really horrible. Charlie Gibson and Mr. Snuffalupagus fed Clinton and Obama nothing but gotcha questions. Torture never came up, China never came up, unchecked executive power never came up, and it was 50+ minutes in before they asked any questions that could be considered remotely substantive or issues-based.
Atrios: Aside from the lack of policy questions, so far this “debate” has been played entirely on wingnut ground. If BillO and Sean Hannity hosted it the questions would’ve been the same. In a general election debate it would make sense to get questions from the right like that, but in a democratic primary it’s just fucking stupid.
DKos: The questioning in tonight’s debate–—mostly straight out of 1988—was an abomination. Gun control. 60’s radicalism. Inflammatory black pastors. Respecting or disrespecting the flag. Taxes. Being out of touch with the military. Affirmative Action. I’ll bet if they had more time, ABC anchors Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolus would probably have gotten around to asking Obama and Clinton about Willie Horton and Piss Christ.
Editor & Publisher: In perhaps the most embarrassing performance by the media in a major presidential debate in years, ABC News hosts Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous focused mainly on trivial issues as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama faced off in Philadelphia.
OpenLeft: Halfway through the debate, not a single question on any policy issue had been asked, it was obvious that this debate was prime-time hit job on Obama. The questions so far have been why he doesn’t wear a flag pin, whether or not his pastor loves America, why he can’t win, and how many people were offended by his bittergate comments. Except for Clinton being asked about why she wasn’t trustworthy, and both of them being asked about their vice-presidential choices, that has been the entire debate. As Master Jack said in the comments, nothing on Iraq, nothing on the economy, nothing on health care, nothing on housing, nothing on global warming, nothing on torture. This is nothing but a prime-time hit job on Democrats, although mainly a hit job on Obama.
Tapped: Seriously “does rev. wright love america as much as you?” Really? REALLY?!!! Also, “what will you do when clips” of Wright “play over an over” on TV? [… A woman asks if Obama “believes in the American flag” because he doesn’t wear a flag pin. Charlie Gibson says that questions about the flag are “all over the internet” — along with Pamela Anderson’s sex tape, cats with bad grammar, and Rick Astley. Journalism at it’s finest.
Huff Post: Why in the world George Stephanopoulos felt compelled to ask Barack Obama if Reverend Wright “loved America” after he had already been made to give another recitation of his repudiation of Wright’s remarks is a question that simply defies the imagination. What sort of sensible answer can be given to that question? It would require astral projection to properly gauge another man’s emotional state. And if you want to ask Hillary Clinton to account for the odd contortions she advanced on the matter of her Bosnia recollections, just sack up and ask. Don’t hide behind the additional, pointless cruelty of a random voter’s scoldings that Clinton lost their vote. What a wholly superfluous pile on! And the flag lapel pin question came with this admonishment from Charles Gibson: “It keeps coming up, again and again.” Well, no shit, Charlie! It keeps “coming up, again and again” because the media resolutely refuses to obtain the necessary courage to stop doing so.
Related posts:
Mark me down as being glad I forgot the debate was on the TV, and I wound up watching something on the Food Network.
I have read many of the above reviews this morning, and I think Atrios is right. It is time to call the ABC switchboard and complain.
More importantly, I think it is time for regular people to start boycotting the major news organizations. I saw somewhere that a group was trying to organize a boycott, wherein each news organization would receive a letter or phone call saying that they would no longer subscribe to the newspaper (or watch or listen to the broadcasts) until certain things improve … the example I saw wanted more coverage of President Bush admitting that he has authorized torture. I plan to write my letter to the D&C later today. (Darn, I can’t remember where I saw this…)
Since the questions were so stupid and petty, the debate would have been a good opportunity for Democrats to turn the tables and push back. Nothing major — something like, “we’re halfway through this thing and you haven’t asked one question about the mortgage crisis. Don’t you think people care about that?” I would have loved to see a little of that, because the media are such weak bullies. A little push back and they become a lot more careful.
Unfortunately, it would take both candidates to do that, and the first half of piling on Obama fit into Clinton’s short-term agenda so she happily went along with it. That’s why her actions during the last few weeks are so poisonous to the party. It isn’t that she’s “fighting hard” — it’s that her mudslinging adds legitimacy to the cheap shots that have become the bread-and-butter of mainstream media coverage.
Remember, this is the same liberal media that gives McSame a pass, yet wonders if someone’s Pastor loves America.
I really wish they visited more of the policy aspects and diffrences. I mean, were folks in the later primaries really watching the early debates?
No, now we’re in, “my lapel pin is better than your lapel pin”
[...] RochesterTurning turns in a report of the national blog media’s take. For national print media’s take (like they’re ones to throw stones) see here, here and here. And happily, commenters on ABC’s website also decided to take the network to task in their blog comments. [...]
I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry in my entire life. This debate was not only incredibly disrespectful to the candidates, reducing the debate to the level of gossip, but also was an incredible slap in the face to every American dealing with the harsh realities of the war, lack of health care and the collapsing economy.
[...] we have presidential debates dealing with petty issues like stlo7 posted earlier today, when we have a current president who thinks this is a monarchy, when we have a county executive [...]
Since the questions were so stupid and petty, the debate would have been a good opportunity for Democrats to turn the tables and push back.
I agree. And I think we saw some of that from Obama, though not as much as I would have liked.
I think we need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that the national media is “liberal” or has a “liberal bias.” Most folks how pay attention to this stuff don’t think national media have been liberal for a long time.
This is the news boycott I was thinking of. But I can certainly call ABC and tell them I will not be watching their network news any more because of the incredible lack of substance and policy in their debate questions last night.
[...] would just like to pile on a little bit more in regards to Stlo7’s post this AM. If only George Stephanopolous and Charles Gibson had been in attendance, in Las Vegas, [...]
Oh, come on! Do you really think it was a “blown opportunity,” stlo7?
I don’t understand where this question is coming from. Where do you see “blown opportunity”?
In the literal sense, it was a “blown opportunity” as stlo7 says in his post, because the opportunity for people to learn more about the candidates’ substantive positions was missed.
However, ABC probably looks at it as a win, because they think the gutter is where they get ratings, so they went there.
Yes. Blown opportunity to perform their job as the 5th estate. That is the standard to which I hold the media - what the media should be.
That said - I agree with Rotten’s comments which apparently were written at the same time with regards to ABC.
[...] still disappointed in ABC. No substance, nothing.  Basically a whole lotta [...]
[...] the past few days, we’ve had a lot of discussion (here; here) about the despicable performance of the moderators in Wednesday’s Democratic debate on [...]
Yeah, Rottenchester got where I was coming from. Blown opportunity from our standpoint, but the gutter is where it’s at for ABC! The media and republicans are banking on the fact that a majority of Americans are stupid! Just look at that lady who asked about the lapel pin–go look up her history and ask yourself why she’s not asking more sensible questions!
Glad you got where I was coming from as well.
Actually, check out the history of the lady and the lapel pin question….