ABC World News covers their awful debate: Misleading description on their web story
By John Amato Thursday Apr 17, 2008 12:30pm
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You would think ABC would cover the bad publicity they received from their Democratic presidential primary debate---take their lumps---hopefully learn from it and then move on. (The real MoveOn has a petittion and action alert against the network.)
However, if you read their story about it online---ABC tries to make it seem like they really got a mixed reaction to their silliness:
Blogosphere Buzzes With Both Criticism and Praise for Line of Questions
ABC News has heard from thousands of angry viewers. At least some of the negative reaction came from Obama supporters, among them the liberal group MoveOn, which has mounted an action campaign to send a message to the network. One viewer wrote, "This so-called 'debate' will be shown to my communications students as an example of what shoddy journalism looks like."
"Shame on you, Charlie and George," wrote another viewer. "We deserve better." But some were more positive.
Was that really the case? I don't think so.
ABC never even gave an instance where the blogosphere praised the debate in their piece. They inserted a few positive comments to try and balance it out and make it seem like the blogoshere was split over their coverage. For shame. The debate Wednesday was so horrendous that it caused a ton of criticism from members of the MSM. Stephanopoulos defended his work as a conscious choice to focus on "issues" that had come up since the last debate, deflecting whether those were the issues that mattered.
"People also take into account...how candidates handle controversy," he said. "That's what campaigns are about, as well."
Steve Benen wrote this for C&L yesterday:
E&P’s Greg Mitchell called it “perhaps the most embarrassing performance by the media in a major presidential debate in years.” The Washington Post’s Tom Shales called it “step downward for network news,” and noted that the moderators delivered “shoddy, despicable performances.” Will Bunch noted, “Quickly, a word to any and all of my fellow journalists who happen to read this open letter. This. Must . Stop.”
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Who screwed up the debate..."Not ME".
The media has turned into a Family Circus cartoon.
Gibbie and Stepphie are nothing more than partisan hacks and shills. They're a disgrace to journalism.
Mixed reaction: bad and worse.
ABC continues to forge ahead in its determined quest to find new ways to suck.
Liberal AND Proud @ 1:
GAH! I really, really, really HATE Family Circus!
Look - do you really expect these people to shamefully lower their heads, and apologize to us, the viewing (American) public?
NEWSFLASH.
The TV is not made FOR us - it is made BY corporations, which have AGENDAS to push to the public.
Think of TV "news" as basically a corporate PUBLIC RELATIONS, and there you have it.
They can't even tell the truth when cover the reaction to the debate.
Watch their ratings and you will get the real answer.
My prediction. Olbermann ratings go up bringing up MSNBC overall. ABC down, CBS down, NBC (network) down...guilty by association. Blow back will be newspapers down slightly (cause there ain't much to give up, no one reads anymore).
Hopefully this raises the temperature in the pot and the ingredients will start to bubble over. Then the chef masterminds of this clusterfuck will be in deep doo doo trying to put out the fire that they started in the kitchen.
The debate was very instructive. The issues they want shelved is the economy, the war in Iraq, and health care. So..oo, it seems clear what the Democratic strategy should be.
In 2004, the GOP managed to shift the focus from Iraq to Vietnam and Kerry. A similiar ploy can be expected this time around.
So we can point out:
(1.) Economy, in the toilet caused by borrow and spend, causing a devaluation of the dollar. High gas prices are caused in part by devalued dollar due to GOP abandonment of fiscal responsibility. McCain wants to drive deficits higher. Stagflation is emerging as well as the tax of inflation.
(2.) The war in Iraq. Voters need to decide, knowing what we know now, would you repeat another Iraq. I believe McCain has said he would. Voters need to decide if there is a judgement issue here, and whether or not the focus on the war on terror should have remained Afghanistan, where Bin Laden was located.
(3.) Health care. While the US spends half the worlds expenditures on military appropriations, millions of Americans are uninsured. For the rest of us, medical costs are rising faster than inflation. The rest of the so called "1st world" nations provide national health care. What candidate best represents voter's interests?
The list can, of course, go on and on, but these items can fit within the average American's short attention span, and fit within the sound byte. Corporate media, representing corporate America and not Americans, hardly care about the average American person, especially as our corporations become foreign owned. But, as ABC helped point out, those items being trivialized are exactly the issues that the spotlight needs to be continually shined on. So, between now and November, we need to focus on these issues.
Technically true but misleading. "Some" was Bobo Brooks, David Broder, and some (yes, there's that word again) Hillary cultists. Since "some" is defined as "at least one", of course it's true. It's just incredibly stoopid.
Ha! They make is sound like there was a balance of positive and negative comments about the debate on the abc message board. If anyone was paying attention, and apparently, people are paying attention, easily MOST of the comments were directed at the shameful tone and questions of the debate.
Right at the end of the debate on ABC's site before they scrubbed it, one paragraph started, "The debate quickly turned to Sen. Obama's 'bitter' comment..." See how they made it seem like it just happened on its own and they had nothing to do with it?
So when NBC/MSNBC do it, it's fine. But when ABC do it, it's not.
Got it.
How about do the fair thing and call out EVERYBODY for it?
Olbermann has morphed into Obamamann, Rachel Maddow & MSNBC pundit crew Obama-phites, and the debates moderated in the past by CNN & MSNBC were much worse than this.
So when every network accepts to stop backbiting and allowing thier "unbias" to erode, then fine. Other than that, it's open game.
Liberal AND Proud @ 1:
Wow, that's a really great way to put it!
Self criticism? Won't happen. The real elitists are these beltway hacks who smugly sip cocktails with their peers and collect their huge paychecks from Bristol-meyers, Frito-Lay, Disney, Exxon, Phizer and Eli Lilly.
The bubble they live in is just as impenetrable as Little Bushs'.
God that's so Bush.
Everybody's pissed and you somehow turn it into a positive.
Fuck the media.
Obama should wear a flag lapel pin that's about 2 feet tall just to shut them up.
He might sound for a while like James Carville eating a bowlful of nutria because the pin will be in front of his mouth, but there you go.
at times like this it is always fun to look at a story from the past.
[background for the unaware: disney owns and dominates abc and abcnews]
ABC Shelves Report on Parent Disney
"ABC News has rejected a report by its leading investigative correspondent raising questions about hiring and safety policies at Disney World, the Florida theme parkowned by ABC's corporate parent, the Walt Disney Company."
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E2DE133AF936A25753C1A...
this is the norm for the msm, not the exception.
sorry for the O/T...
This is why the Thugs and the Dems need to get out of the 'Debate' business. And the MSM. It's a load of self serving bullshit. Talk about distractions.
GIVE THE CANDIDATE IDEA EXCHANGE FORUM (these aren't debates) BACK TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
Dr. Squid @ 18:
Thanks Doc...for that gawd awful mental picture....I will blame my nightmares on you, from this day forth! LOL!
mike @ 4:
True that.
When you read the comments on Politico.com the righties there are defending the debate and actually implying that Obama is weak because "he couldn't answer the tough questions" (seriously!) And on Tweety's show they were talking about how Obama just didn't seem with it and was bored and then they added that he needs to buck up for the tough debates ahead with McCain (yeah, right!). I was screaming at the tv! I cannot believe that those clowns believe the crap they spew. Obama wasn't bored, he was pissed and annoyed at the idiotic questions (flames) that were being asked much like most of us tortured people who had to watch it. I had to change the channel.
Anyone with any brains knows that Obama will totally dominate McSame in any debate, hands down. Hopefully, though, by then they will have reputable commentators who ask legitimate questions that will answer voter's questions.
Under the guise that all publicity, bad or good, is still publicity, you may safely bet that ABC and Disney execs are laughing hard. They put forth their right wing political agenda, and now they're not only basking in the volume of publicity they're receiving, but their agenda is being repeated by every blog and "news outlet." They've achieved, and continue to achieve more than they ever dreamed.
When Disney/ABC decided to air the controversial movie about the war on Iraq, in which Clinton, not Bush, was to blame, it should have raised a big red flag. It didn't. We shouldn't have forgotten, but we did. All this debate proves is that the ABC news department is nothing more than a shill and voice for a profit-driven corporate America, regardless of the cost to the American public.
SM @ 14:
What? Are you from our planet earth?
americangoy @ 6:
And then they blame us saying that is what the American people want. It's all BULLSHIT, it's pretty sad when the hard hitting news is coming from three Comedy Central shows, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and South Park.
Of course they're defending their drivel. If they admit that they are useless, then people will tune them out. Of course, we can see for ourselves that they're useless.
Yeah geo's question about whether rev wright loved america as much as sen obama does...was totaly relevant and addressed some many issues for me. And charlie's crazy fantasy crap about making the loser the vp choice was riveting...This kind of crap has to be stopped.
When the MSM gets overwhelming criticism for promoting their agenda, it's spun as "both criticism and praise".
But when the public overwhelming supports a candidate's comments that the MSM had decided to condemn from their ivory tower (such as Obama's comments during "bittergate"), it's spun as "The public is overwhelmingly insulted", or "people are very upset" over that candidate's comments.
Disgusting. I've made up my mind - no more ABC for me. And I will start boycotting other networks that pull this crap.
The press can't lose for winning. "Gee? Were we bad? Let's do a show on that and sell ads"- MSM.
We are permitting these businesses to use OUR broadcast channels. And we provide shelters and subsidies. I suggest that they have to get our support- voter style- to continue the privilege.
I so loooove Bill ... if Hillary had ONLY brushed off her shoulders when she got picked on the way Barack did, instead of whine.
justabill @ 7:
The article is simply a reaffirmation of what I have been saying for two years.
Middle class voters will hide their racism behind any excuse they can find or be given. This country will NOT put a black man in the White House, nor will they elect a woman. All you Hillaryites out there, enjoy the free ride you've gotten. You complain of mysogyny NOW. Should your candidate win the nomination (and I believe she has damaged herself too badly with all her negativity to win it), you will see her accosted EVERY DAY with implied and direct sexism on tv, radio, newspapers, the corner water cooler...EVERYWHERE. It will be masked under concerns about "the Clintons", but the real concern will be clear.
Barack was exactly right when he spoke of race and gender in this nation. He was exactly right when he spoke of working class bitterness. Unfortunately, we remain too immature as a nation to see beyond our physical differences to understand that the majority in this country, of all colors, religions and both genders, are fighting an economic war against the elitists class in this country and that they will use our predjudices against us, our own PUBLICLY OWNED assets, the airwaves, and if push comes to shove our own military against us.
"I know he spent all day yesterday complaining about the hard questions he was asked. Being asked tough questions in a debate is nothing like the pressures you face inside the White House. In fact, when the going gets tough, you just can't walk away because we're going to have some very tough decisions that we have to make," remarked hillary.
When pressed, Clinton continued the criticism, adding, "When the going gets tough you can't run away. And it's going to be tough going to deal with these hard problems; getting out of Iraq in the right way, turning the economy around, getting universal health care, ending our dependence on foreign oil. The special interests are going to be a lot tougher than 90 minutes of questions from two journalists and we need a president who is going to be up there fighting everyday for the American people and not complain about how much pressure there is, and how hard the questions are."
hillary clinton ladies and germs.
every week i find myself disliking hillary more and more.
if those are "tough" questions that a prez candidate should have to answer, then she should have to answer questions about monica lewinsky, paula jones, and all the other clinton-bimbos. fair is fair, even for the clintons.
Breaking News! New Gallup Poll: Obama 47%, Clinton 44%.
Dr. Squid @ 18:
I suggest a tattoo...shows more dedication.
Corporatism = Fascism.
We are in a fascist state.
The Corporate media has everything to protect, everything to sell, BUT nothing to tell.
Even the AP reported that negative comments outnumbered any positives by 8-1. 8-1. Some praise.
This is typical of the corporate media, what they did on the reaction of the debate is what they do with all issues. What I like to call the "earth is flat controversy" 98% of the people know the earth is not flat but 2% think the earth is flat. To make a viable controversy they will talk to both sides and give each equal weight. 90% of viewers thought the debate was awful but you frame the issue like it was 50/50 by searching hi and low for a positive comment and give it equal weight. The same way they give Republican lies the same weight as the truth.
SM @ 14:
these are commentary shows, they're allowed to have opinions. (bill o'reilly and the cats at fox also "pretend" to be objective but everyone sees through it. they're conservative, and they too are allowed to be, just as olbermann, maddow, et al. are allowed to support Obama, in my opinion.
but a debate is supposed to be objective and impartial. that's the difference.
...But some were more positive. Like... err.... mmmmMister Flopsie, the talking sock! You liked the debate, didn't you Mister Flopsie.
"Yes! I thought it really grought khorward the issues that Angericans care ngost agout! Garrack Oganga needs to address the issues ogh his gitterness! Negher ngind the enghironngent or the econongy."
More from our political analyst Mister Flopsie, the talking sock, after these messages from our masters.
RayC @ 39:
Sounds like the global warming "debate".
Ron @ 35:
If he wins PA, what will the media excuse be?
Ron @ 35:
but then there's...
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1818813120080418
"Obama has expanded his national lead in several polls. A Reuters/Zogby poll released earlier this week put it at 13 points, and a daily Gallup tracking poll had it at 7 points, down from his high of 11 earlier in the week."
hillary really needs to hurry up and drop out already. she's totally scratching mccain's back.
SM @ 14:
I call bullshit!The media is slanted and you can't tell which way..period..thats why you can't tell your girl has destroyed herself
and the media has treated her like a baby ever since the infamous crying act.Bill,Hillary and EVERYONE in MSM agreed if she lost Texas she was through......
Face it...she lost Texas and the MSM called it in her favor LONG(almost 3 weeks) in advance of the results and to this day continues to say she stopped his momentum,only she can win big states,battleground states,and continue to rais electability problems when her negatives are nearly double his.
goat hussein sage @ 42:
Global warming.
The Constitution
Executive Power
Executive Privilege
The role of the Congress
The role of the Courts
Patriotism
Homosexuality
Religion
Race
Gender
should I go on?
Bill Clinton knows a thing or two about keeping his uniform off.
Ok
War
War Powers
Diplomacy
Democracy
Separation of Powers
Separation of Church and State
States Rights
Obama's lead nationally cut to 3 points since debate.
Gallup
"Gulp"?
more...
Public Education
Social Programs
Choice
Healthcare
Private Property
Bankruptcy
“People also take into account…how candidates handle controversy.”
When may we expect tough questions for McFlipFlop who is a walking controversy then? Or is that completely different?
And there are things on that list that ARE relevant to this election, of concern to the general public and were overlooked...and those that weren't overlooked were paid lip service and demagogued.
Samson- @ 34:
OMG!!!! Hillary is going to implement Dennis' health care plan?! Sorry, I was watching last night's frontline episode where at the end they showed clips of Hillay, Barack, and McSame and they stated no one was really talking about health reform.
But yeah, ++ on your comments, totally agree.
Roket @ 51:
So, Senator McLame, tell us how much you love your beautiful wife...
goat hussein sage @ 42:
or the intelligent design debate, or the public or private health care debate, or the abortion debate, it doesn't make much difference about the truth or the evidence you can find 20% of Americans that believe the lies and if you frame the debate you can make it seem like there is wide spread disagreement when there is not. It is not the object of the right to win debates they wish to muddy the waters enough to make their points seem viable.
I doubt the criticism that the msm are receiving will change their mind. Their job is to keep the American public uninformed. They've already been bought. It's going to take a lot more criticism from us to make them tell us the news we need to know. Their job is to not tell us the important news. The msm are in cahoots with the republican neocons that put us in the mess we're in. If Hillary and Obama agree to another debate, it'll be more of the same.
Roket @ 51:
I doubt Mr.MaGoo will ever answer for anything if the MSM has its way.
He is same old same old job security for them.
ABC is online
Would praising themselves count?
This debacle of a debate was as helpful in bringing useful info to the public as the Iraq war is in bringing democracy and peace to the Middle East.
Shame on ABC and both moderators. Despicable to say the least.
i had an interesting conspiracy theory occur to me last night. what if back in 2004 ABC deliberately outed that Bush national guard memo knowing full well it was a fake and would be almost immediately revealed as such? they did that damn "path to 911" documentary and now with this fake debate they've pretty much revealed themselves to be republican fetch-it boys and when you think about it, that fake memo insulated bush from all controversy about his avoiding going to vietnam.
dennis @ 49:
Monica,
Izzat you?
D.G. Bowman @ 2:
They're yellow journalists, much like the rest of their ilk.
mike @ 44:
Well you saw what she did to Bill's face...
clytemnestra @ 32:
Hillary's less than Obama, because she doesn't have dandruff?
ysbaddaden @ 63:
good one!
i have to admit my own quote there is putting an image in my head i'd rather not have.
'If he can't stand up to this, how can he stand up to McCain in the Fall?'...
Why no treat McCain similarly then? Why not explore his so-called "gaffes" for weeks on end? They'd seem more relevant, as they exposed his lack of knowledge on basic national security issues. Or his blatant politics/money corruption? Or his marital infidelity?
Why not help poor John, too?
mike @ 60:
I think people should start giving MSM so many bogus news tips they wont know what hit 'em.
I know....we could call it a campaign of disinformation...unless that name is already taken...which I doubt....huh?......oh...
dennis @ 49:
Dennis, it's very late in the fourth quarter, Obama has the lead and is coasting. This primary is over Dennis...be like Joe Scarborough and pull out any poll that justifies your stance. Hillary has two choices....the right thing by stopping this party destruction by giving up and supporting the winner, or continuing this scorched earth crap and helping McWar. Accept your defeat or destroy the party. PERIOD.
Here is a poll of what people really think of the ABC he-said-she-said "debate"
Site:http://bp1.blogger.com/_MnYI3_FRbbQ/SAjIDQP-TyI/AAAAAAAAAqU/p9YURPLTEcA/s1600-h/poll.png
And these beltway media stars say Obama is "elitist" and "not connected to ordinary American's concerns"? Project much?
Left&Left @ 68:
Then there's the 'Hail Mary' pass...
I see the trolls are here to attack Hillary again. Please delete their comments. One cannot discern between trolls and Hillary-hating obamans so one must assume they are all trolls, eager to promote division and hatred.
I'm still waiting to decide whether I will prefer HRC or Obama. At this stage I hope Obama will begin separate himself from Hillary in some way. Unfortunately he is not doing so, instead he is generating noise as a way to mask Hillary's advantages.
Note to Howard Dean. If Michigan and Florida are not brought into the national picture I will not vote for president in November. If and only if Michigan and Florida are included will I vote for the Democratic nominee, whomever it is. You have generated this unfortunate situation for your own agenda. Suck it up, fix it, or you stand to wear the mantle of having destroyed the Democratic effort to save this country from tyranny. Scream about that.
dennis @ 49:
Geez, if Shillary somehow gets the nomination which Republican will people vote for?
I don’t know what all the fuss is about, but then I didn’t bother watching the ‘debate’ because they have long been worthless for judging anything important. But to be fair and balanced I believe the following ‘character questions’ should be asked of mcSwain.
1. Did you call your present wife a trollop and c*nt?
2. Did you have an adulterous affair at any time in your first or second marriage?
3. Did you physically assault a congressional colleague?
4. Have you attended church every Sunday for the past 8 years?
5. Do you denounce, renounce, abjure, and condemn Pastor Hagee’s damnation of Catholics and all other works of the devil?
6. Why were you the only pow to betray your country while at the Hanoi Hilton?
7. How many millions does it take to be an elitist?
8. Did you marry for money?
9. Why wouldn’t your wife lend you enough money early in the primary so you wouldn’t have to go begging for public financing? Doesn’t she believe you will win?
10. Who handles the finances in your family and how often do you visit all of your 8 homes?
11. How do you tell the difference between a Sunni and a Shia ?(this is a trick question, not really a way to judge an old man’s eyesight)
12. Does Lindsay Graham have sleepovers at your house and if so, how many doors down the hall?
13. If Sen. Lieberman’s wattles have pups, will you give them a good home?
14. Do you have nicknames for all your friends, enemies and body parts like the current prez and did you call your wife a c*nt? Oops, did we already ask that? Well, didja?
Cat Atomic @ 66:
But the media is treating McCain the same. Recently AP reporters asked McCain the exact same questions as a the ones Obama got in the debate.
"You made a vague reference in your speech to senator Obamas comments recently about working class voters. Do you think the senator is an elitist?"
"If those comments are elitist, which you say they are does that make him an elitist?"
"You’ve worked with him for a couple of years, you ever see uh.. elitist behavior?"
Your out of touch. I'm out of time.
galmud @ 73:
Why, Senator, do you think Obama does not wear a flag pin?"
jimbo @ 71:
Good post, Jimbo.
jimbo @ 71:
this just in! if you support obama, you are not entitled to an opinion. :D
's alright, jimbo, I'll vote for ya'.
Otay @ 69: