Obama Attempts to Brush Off Tough Debate

Well when they asked him about his remarks he reminds me of one of my children it is always well she did this .Hillary did not go out to San Fran.and tell a well off crowd about the low information voters all the party’s have to deal with . She didn’t sit in a church that has a pastor with a bad message. No fault insurance anyone

The debate would have been better if Gibson and Stephanopolous had acted like journalists and not like scandal-sheet editors. They wasted my time and cheapened our political discourse. I’m deeply disappointed in both of them, and in ABC.

The debate was terrible. ABC News should be ashamed of their effort in this debate. How can you say who won when the debate rarely touched on issues that matter?

Sen. Obama continues to take the high road. His response to the disgraceful all-time low media spectacle ABC put on last night is surprisingly moderate. ABC has sunk to the lowest level – masquerading republican smear propaganda of the most ludicrous kind as a “debate”. Clinton and Stefanopoulos were tag teaming and unwittingly helping Disney’s Republican agenda. This whole affair is first and foremost a sign of the complete demise of ABC News. Disney should stick to animation and leave journalism to the professionals!

Did anybody review the questions those 2 bozos (Charles and Stephanopoutsos) were asking? What a disgrace to the Network. ABCinquirer debate. 2 thumbs down on Gibson

The moderators’ performance was disgraceful. What a debasement of the political discourse. If these trivialities bear on larger issues of character, etc., then fine–get to the point. But there are momentous issues facing the country. Get some perspective.

Worst Job of Journalism by two clowns, with their tabloid type questions.
This is Network News???? Are these the questions people care about? I think not.

Obama mangled his words again in the debate last night.

I notice that almost all the news media believes Obama was tentative and rattled. Check them out.

Hey Obama zombies, you had no problem with the media bias against Hillary and laughed when she brought it up. Now how does it feel? You do know what karma is right, or does Obama need to give a speech on that too. What goes around comes around! The honeymoon is over isn’t it. Oh I’m sorry am I treating Obama unfairly should I stick to criticisms that he has prepared for, well just blame Gibson and Stephanopolous. ABC it’s about time that someone asked both the candidates real questions and decided to make the debate reflect the general election.

AS A LONG TIME POLITICAL ANALYST I CAN SAFELY SAY THAT it is quite clear that the media wants a protracted Democratic campaign, simply because this means more months of work and of not so news-worthy back and forth between the two Democratic rivals. It is clear from the shift in the media position that the only way to ensure this is by helping Hilary Clinton to win Pennsylvania. The notion of the Democratic contest being a dramatic cliff-hanger is a game of make-believe. The real question is why so many people are playing. The answer has more to do with media psychology than with practical politics. Journalists have become partners with the Clinton campaign in pretending that the contest is closer than it really is. Most coverage breathlessly portrays the race as a down-to-the-wire sprint between two well-matched candidates, one only slightly better situated than the other to win in August at the national convention in Denver. The media are also enamored of the almost mystical ability of the Clintons to work their way out of tight jams, as they have done for 16 years at the national level. That explains why some reporters are inclined to believe the Clinton campaign when it talks about how she’s going to win on the third ballot at the Democratic National Convention in August.

He whines to much for my liking…for cripes sakes, this is the big leagues and he is vying for the Presidency of the US..if this is the best he can do with his answers from someone within his own party, and should he get the nomination for our party, then God help us, we are in deep trouble.
He is not ready for prime time and no matter how you cut it, that isn’t going to change. So, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and maybe in another (8) years, you MIGHT be ready for prime time.
A freshman in college on a debating team could have done better…Sorry Barack, you got a D l

Juvenile debate, pompous Charlie, comical Georgie, made for a rediculous facade of a debate. ABC should be ashamed of what their station portrayed as a debate which could affect the future of this country.
Question: How much was paid to Georgie? He should be fired. Free TV? If this is an example of free TV debates, going to Comedy Central would be preferred. Sticking with Cable is the route I will chose to get my political fix.
Shame on ABC, Charlie and Georgie.

I love this: “Obama tried to brush off a rough performance after Wednesday night’s debate on ABC.” Nice attempt to take attention off what the rest of the U.S. is saying: That was the worst moderated debate in history. The performance issue wasn’t with Hillary or Barack, it was with ABC. If you are going to ask “controversial” questions, at least spread them out. Obama answered five of such rehashed questions, Hillary got one. Nothing about Penn, or Columbia Trade agreements, or her attacks against Obama. Then a bunch of talk about capital gains taxes, just so Charlie and George could ensure his millions stays protected next year. Nice Republican station ABC is. And listen: Nobody other than Republicans gives a crap about Wright or Rezko or Ayers. Obama’s answers are more than satisfactory on it. We’ve been hearing them for months. Let’s talk about Iraq, the economy, and health care. Or is that a conversation the Republicans/ABC don’t want to have?

Obama’s recent elitist comments are fair game in a debate–especially when they came from a man who’s stock-in-trade is his effective speaking abilities. Brushing off his past comments spoken at a time and place when he thought they wouldn’t be repeated back in PA, won’t help him win in Pennsylvania or nationally.

“Journalists” Gibson and Stephanopoulos have falled below Geraldo Rivera to about the same level as Perez Hilton. But since ratings are up, I’m sure neither one cares.

Sandy
Bet you make that judgment based on Obama’s inability to retain his composure. Now be honest, exactly what questions were more pointed for Obama than for Clinton. Or, isn’t Obama just not used to explain his questionable background. When an eloquent speaker stammers and stutters, it’s because he’s embarrassed to participate in the discussion.

Shame on you ABC. That was not a debate. It was an ambush!!How come questions weren’t asked about Nafta and
Hilary’s advisor’s role in the CC Columbian trade deal? I thought I was watching Fox News!!!

the first thing I did after watching the debate was cancel abc nightly news on my tivo.
Who lit chelsea clinton and directed the camera to cut to her all night? Someone preparing for a dynasty? And apart from the rehash of old controversies Obama has proven he’s past, the barbed questions thrown only at him- one after the other, without letting him answer– and the softball lobbed “You told a story about bosnia– how can I get your vote back??” please!! I have never seen such biased MSM coverage in my life. And such disrespect towards a candidate. She had less time because they were on the attack, and doing her campaign’s work, as well as McCain’s and Karl Rove’s, I hope the American public prove more intelligent than their so-called journalists on ABC. I think they will, and show out of touch the Clinton’s and their surrogates on ABC via Fox news were last night. I have never been more demoralized in my life.

I can’t believe that a major news organization delivered what they did to the American people last night and we are not outraged? How did a lapel pin question and answer going to help me when I have to take my son to the Doctor next week without insurance? I am so sick of all this petty garbage when people like me get up everyday and cringe at the difficult times we are experiencing. My issues are REAL, what we saw last night was soap opera drama.

Up until last night I was a die-hard ABC News fan. I watch GMA every morning, and Charlie Gibson every evening. No more. Last night was pure tabloid media. Why not give the candidates the opportunity to debate the issues important to the voters? Will ANOTHER explanation for Rev. Wright’s sermons keep your home out of foreclosure? Will asking for an explanation of HRC’s Bosnia remarks (again)keep your gas tank full? I am tired of the political garbage, and disappointed in ABC News is promoting it. I guess it is CNN here on out.

As a white university professor, I, along with my children and grandchildren, am honored and privileged to be part of this great history in the making and vote for Sen. Obama. Now, will America rise to the occasion and embrace this great change and truly unite, showing the world that ONLY in America this can happen, and that it really is the land of the free? Or, will those whose better judgement is clouded by petty prejudices and misconceptions continue the divisive tradition of ‘Us’ and ‘Them’, propagated by the media and by those politicians who firmly believe in their politics of divide and rule and public deception?

The questions asked by Charles and George were poor. They should have focused far more on the economy, healthcare and Iraq.

ABC, You have made a mockery of journalism. Good bye.

Ah come on, ABC…
It was a debacle and your spinning is as clunky as a 1962 Whirpool.

I’m a Clinton supporter and even I thought that debate was a sham. Terrible, if anything they just mobilized a more voracious group of supporters for Obama. Good job ABC!

Mr. George Stephanopoulos,
Are you still on the Clinton payroll?

All flash, no pan. All hype, no substance. Vapid rhetoric forces the chickens to come home and roost. I want a president who is more than something in a quantum physics formula.

Last night’s debate was a waste of time. The moderator’s were nothing more than tabloid journalists.

Ms. Susan Jacoby commented that Bush and Co. “pulverized” the wall of separation between “church and state.”
Last night Mr. Gibson, Mr. Stephanopolis, Sen. Clinton, and to a lesser extent Sen. Obama created a whirlwind that totally obliterated that “wall.”
They proved what I long suspected: this is a nation for the rich, by the rich, and of the rich.

We are not worthy.
We are not worthy.
He is The One.
The Obamessiah has arrived.
gag…

Look at the polls!!!! Overall view is that OBAMA CLEARLY WON against THREE juvenile, snotty-nosed opponents. Get real ABC. You are a joke.

ABC stands for “A lot of Bull Crap. That’s exactly what the moderators were shoveling at Clinton and Obama. I’ll NEVER watch another debate on ABC again. Charlie and George were simply terrible. ABC is history in our house. I’ve blocked it.

The question isn’t can Obama brush off the outcome of the debate. The question is, “Can ABC ever recover its credibility as a news organization as the result of hosting an evening with the National Inquirer’s Editorial Board”?
Regardless of who one chooses to support in this contest, ABC News insulted your intelligence last night.
A vast majority of Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track. Critical issues abound. There is no shortage of substance to discuss and debate.
Last night’s efforts took the nation nowhere and enlightened no one.
There is no rational defense for what ABC News did last night. Absolutely none.

It was shameful for George Stephanopolous to have spent valuable air time to give such importance to a clip of someone asking why someone does or does not wear a flag pin. Is George that shallow to suggest that the wearing or non-wearing of a pin is a measure of loyalty and patriotism? I am reminded of the number of courageous Dutch during the Nazi occupation who chose to wear a yellow star to neutralize the stigma to Jews who were forced to wear the yellow star. Perhaps we should all wear the flag pin to neutralize the right-wing attempt to define themselves as more patriotic because they wear the flag pin, and some others do not. Shame on you George!!

Everyone is commenting on how much Sen. Obama stammered and stuttered during the debates,and looked unsure or caught off guard, I for one think that he did an awesome job considering every word that comes from his mouth is dissected and dismantled to fit Hillbilly’s agenda to discredit him. He had better think before he opens his mouth since everything he says is charged directly to his heart and not as a mistake.

Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos are buffoons. The only thing I learned last last night is that neither one of them should be called a journalist. With so many problems facing this country, it’s amazing they took so much time dwelling on the trivial. Thanks for the worst debate in history. This was probably the lowest point in network news history, but at least the debate reaffirms why I never watch Charlie Gibson’s newscast. Pathetic!

Maybe Senator Obama can’t brush off last night’s debate, but I can brush off ABC. YES I CAN !!!!!!!!!!!

So where are those prominent Pennsylvanian Clinton backers who were going to switch sides today???
They seem to have gone theway of the 50 superdelegates who were going ot endorse obama after Texas.
AWOL.

The ones who really had the worst performance were the moderators. I was disgusted by the pathetic questions to both candidates. They just vomited up the same insignificant issues we are all sick of hearing about instead of asking questions that would give us real insight into the candidates. Fortunately we can get that from other sources. ABC took part in the dumbing down of America that seems to be the major networks’ mission these days. Disgusting.

The type of questions asked during the first 45 minutes of the debate were unnecessary. What a waste of time asking questions about MESS that we have been hearing about before. I want to hear about issues such as POVERTY, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, THE ECONOMY, not about Bosnia, not about Rev. Wright, not about the word Bitter. The debate that ABC hosted was a bunch of Bull.

I just hope this overflow crowd will open their eyes and see what kind of a person this man really is before it’s too late for our country and our world.

Why is NOBODY (moderators or candidates) talking about illegal immigration?!?!??

That so-called “debate” was a complete and total disgrace. ABC should be completely ashamed to have aired such a slanted piece of garbage. Anyone who questions the candidates’ abilities to answer the “big questions” or speak out of the “big issues” after watching that drivel must be on crack. There were no issues! An hour of commercial-laced, kicking-a-long-dead-horse questions from a Clinton staffer and croney-at-arms, followed by another hour of useless and shameful baiting. What the hell was that?? ABC News should be embarrassed at such an unprofessional production.

I was disappointed in the performance of the moderators. Yes, both candidates could better explain choice of words or relationships maintained and the like. Yes, too much talk of hope and more needed on plans and solutions and experience. But did we need 45 minutes?
I would have enjoyed a more detailed discussion about the economy, national debt, rebuilding our infrastructure, education, energy independence, health care, social security, foreign policy, rebuilding/retooling/re-energizing our armed forces, child care, environmental protection standards, safety of our food/water, national health promotion incentives, obesity epedimic, to name a few…

It did look as if George and Charlie were handed the questions by Howard Wolfson prior to the start of the debate. It’s a shame that what had once been the home of Ted Koppell is reduced to the home base of a former Clinton staffer and an old man who thinks wearing your glasses like Ben Franklin makes you sound like him. Two in-the-tank hacks trying to help Hillary to the nomination. Based on the polls, it seems the majority of the public judged it to be the sham spectacle it was.

Were you TRYING to make Hillary Clinton look bad? Obama’s whole narrative in this campaign has been to call her an attack dog – and you just spent an hour it look like she was.
Shame on you.

P Graber
Bush them shoulders off bro. Just chill. It will all be okay. God is good.

Anyone who wants to know a candidates position, can go to their web site. If people can take the time to come on here and complain, then they should go to the website and see where the candidates stand. This debate was about character, electability and issues. Obama has had alot of press lately about his associations and his bitter comment. These are questions he will have to answer if he gets to the General Eleciton. Charlie and George were asking questions about things that are on peoples minds. They then covered health care, the economy, the war, raising taxes. I think the Obama supporters have been so busy watching stations like CNN and MSNBC that have been so bias for Obama, that they thought he would get another pass during this debate, which didn’t happen. He finally was asked the hard questions and he must of thought he would get a pass also because he didn’t seem prepared.

Just to be clear, I am in favor of media going after Obama, that is fine and is great part of the vetting process, but only when it is about issues that matter to the country. Flag pins don’t mean a damn, the bitterness gaff comment doen not mean a damn, Rev Wright story was studied and analyzed for weeks, where is the beef in the debate. Attack his position until the cows come home if you like even if it is unfairly. But to make insinuations through false questions Like this weather underground guy and hope you make a headline .. is pathetic

I’m a McCain supporter. However, I think the debate conducted by both Charles and George did the PA. voters a complete disservice. I expected controversial topics to be discussed on both candidates but what was not expected was a 45 minute one-sided attach machine on Obama. I think if the controversial topics are going to be discussed, there should have been a fair and balanced analysis. Example: Where was any questioning on the Mark Penn conflict of interest fiasco towards Hillary?… This was an extreme example of clearly tilted bias towards Obama by ABC… That is not what the voting people of PA. was expecting and certain voting Americans in general….

Gibson and George moderators was not of professional moderators. they were more like editors of an enquiree paper.
so unprofessional and not of no substance the worst debate I have seen. they acted
like agitators and I believe it was a disappointment to the American people. They heard about Rev Wright,Bosnia, so
what!

With all of the problems in the US and around the world I really think Charles and George did a disservice to the American people with their questions. Wake up media. Talk about the real issues

Hillary is desperate. She could care less about what anyone thinks. All she cares about is money and fame. There are a lot more skeletons in her closet because she is so much older and enteched in politicking. Another thing I hate is whether it’s Hillary or any politician they can’t seem to tell the difference between what a misstatement and a lie is. She obviously lied about Bosnia. What else will she embellish? There is only one person so far that even closely comes to telling the truth and that is Obama. Face it folks she is desperate and can not stand losing. One other point……..if she is so tired and it takes her 30 min to get ready what happens at 3 am? What misstatement will come out ……….not to mention it will take her at least 30 min to have a press conference. (It took Pres. Bush 7 min to respond to his 3 am call and it was the middle of the afternoon.)

I rescheduled my evening to watch the big political debate on ABC. I sat down waiting for well thought out questions, but they never came.
The debate started with reruns of false Internet rumors and the same old stuff about Obama’s lapel pin or church. Hillary had to admit she lied about Bosnia even though anyone with an IQ over 50 would already know that.
What very poor questions for a debate. What a waste of airtime and my evening!

Did, perchance anyone look at the viewer polls this morning? ABC, NBC and YES, even FOX had Obama as the winner, though it was pretty close on FOX.

Finally ABC did a fair job, which CNN and MSNBC have not been doing. Obama cannot just “hope”, “play nice”, “unify”. There’s a lot of things wrong with our country for an inexperience candidate to play second-guessing.

Obama’s free ride is over. FINALLY! ABC News should be congratulated for being the first debate to actually both candidates good questions. Obama folded like a cheap tent under the pressure and Hillary stood proud and strong.
Well done, George and Charlie. I respect you both for having the guts to be fair unlike corrupt NBC/MSNBC.

The flag question was meaningless? SO why did Obama tell a bold faced LIE when he re-responded to it?

I think Charlie and George did an excellent job of confronting the candidates and asking them to respond to what has been all over the media for weeks. I was pleasantly surprised. Both candidates have spent a great deal of time choosing euphemisms to explain away their actions, spin things, and re-direct attention. How about a refreshing “I lied”. Perhaps if either candidate had spent a significant amount of time in the past outlining specific strategies for addressing the economic challenges we are facing (or anything else for that) then perhaps there could have been a worthwhile debate. Again, good job Charlie & George, too bad you did not have better “Debaters” to work with.

Charlie Gibson reminded me (yet again) why I watch Brian Williams every night and NOT him. Who cares about flag lapel pins when people are losing their houses; gas prices and food prices are skyrocking and our military men and women are dying in Iraq!!! ABC – you lost me for good now.

For once the Darling of the media was not spoonfed softballs.He stammered his way through most of the debate , hogging up time (Charlie was alert and noted the imbalance in time).Now whine whiine.Wonder what the dear boy will do,if he is nominated when Rovian tactics are slammed against him?

Ever since Tim Russert (from that ego-strutting network) took it upon himself to be the deliverer of “makin’ it right again” by demanding Barack Obama’s head (and testicles) on a plate, Charles Gibson and George (“Barack, do you get your ‘cool’ because you’re a black man?”) Stephanopoulos sent in their back comic-page application for their journalistic decoder rings, and took a swipe at Obama themselves. Do you THINK that his BLOOD looks any darker, travels any faster than yours? You allowed Hillary to “get by” on her Bosnia comment, but you want Barack to DENY EVERY PERSON IN HIS LIFE just so you can have your pound of flesh? Hillary is about a step away from attempting to sing the spiritual “Ah Been ‘Buked” (her reference to her ‘baggage’, and everyone going through it), and that won’t bring her any closer to a Black woman; in fact, putting Maggie Smith (her former chief-of-staff while the Clintons were in the White House) on her campaign was a convienent way to make sure Maggie wouldn’t talk. It doesn’t matter for whom I decide to vote -after last night’s idea of a debate, I’ve seen and heard enough.

The debate last night was a joke. I expected to hear about issues, but had to wait at least 50 minutes in before the disgraceful commentators decided to briefly touch on the issues after an hour of tabloid tv. Shame on you ABC news. George S. bias was very evident in his pouding away at Obama as his loyalties are still with the Clintons. Well he could forget about that job because the Clintons are never getting back into the white house.

I can’t believe how ‘bitter’ you Obama people sound. Your guy got his clock cleaned and it is not ABC’s fault but his own. His poor judgment by having friends like Rev. Wright is not going to go away and will only get worse if he gets the Nom. Stop your whining – you still have MSNBC/NBC and CNN in the tank for Obama.

Jan E
It’s Obama’s own fault. He glossed over and ran away from these issues in the past and it was altogether appropriate that his foot be held to the fire. Every time he’s questioned, he goes into the attack mode and only addresses the issue when pressed to the extent that it becomes a national event.
And this is a uniter who is advocating a different kind of Washington?

I turned the channel to the baseball game shortly into this joke of a “debate” … the tone was more akin to a TV tabloid show than a major news network. Oh, right, it was ABC…

The performance of the moderators was the worst thing about the debate.
If the people want to make this coming election like the previous elections about John Kerry’s purple hearts and G.W national guard duty then congratulations for all us for this terrible democracy.

AmazonTraveler “The flag in the lapel, the hand over the heart during the national anthem and your preacher shouting out “God Damn America” is what plays in middle America and we are the ones voting. ”
So that is what you are voting on .. I cannot top what you said. So you are taking responsibility for all the crap we are in now form the GWB administration? and you want us to agree with you …AGAIN??

I just never thought that it could happen on ABC. However, I saw and heard with my own eyes and ears. I had a lot of respect for Charlie Gibson. Not so much for George S. I now have no respect for either. I am surprised that a Senior News Leader like Gibson stooped so low during last night’s debate. I don’t know how ABC is going to overcome this one. I am not going to watch the ABC Nightly News, any more. I trusted Gibson. Last night’s debate was a waste of time, for the most part. It focused on nonrelevant issues that have nothing to do with the economy or healthcare. It looked like the old political games were trying to be forced as norm. We will have someone in that doesn’t play the old dirty game of politics. He’s learning how it is done, only to keep up, but, once in, Obama won’t play those stupid, mind, money, time, energy wasting games. America Loves You Obama. You are above the mess and will be able to clean it up when you are elected. I do believe it. And, so does most of the rest of the U.S.

And yet he wins in all the polls.

Mr. Obama, crying time is over and if the lady put you in your place, take it like a man. She is not your advisary in the Republican party, she is your contemporary in the Democratic policy. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Kudos ABC for the most impartial debate to date. Obama finally got the same scrutiny as Hillary Clinton has been under since day one. And he didn’t stand up very well at all.

I congratulate ABC news, Josh Gibson and Stephanopolous for the questions. Obama didnt get his softball questions that the media was giving to him in the past… now he is getting the tough questions and he stumbled miserably at it. I guess that is what happens when you dont have a prepared speech in front of you. Good job ABC now we see the truth behind the candidates. Finally a debate where the tought questions we need answers to comes out.

merne111
what was wrong with it?

“ABC Attempts to Brush off Debate Backlash”
Good luck with that one. When your ad revenue plummets over this, I suggest you make up the losses by gutting the “news division”, which serves no useful purpose that anyone can detect. Just hire actors to read AP wires and punch it up with some snazzy graphics.
I’ll be watching downloading all my episodes of Lost from now on. Your sponsors are on notice.

Please, simply make a group post claiming how you all used to love George and Charlie and ABC and now hate them and how bad the debate was.

How dare you ask Obama about his relationship to a bigoted church. How dare they ask about bigotry like “typical white person”. We just want the economy fixed, no time to worry about hate. It’s starting to remind me of Germany in the 1930′s.

How come all the Obama supporters think the debate was bad. Could it be their candidate was reduced to a stammering fool when he became pressed to show substance? Yeah, substance!

Great debate, didn’t change the channel once. Hillary won. Obama bumbled and needed a teleprompter and has only himself to blame.

ABC’s debate was no better than sleazy tabloid type journalism last night. That was shameful, and lends truth to everything that is being said about us abroad. Obama held his own in the face of ridiculous questions, but I agree that he was uncomfortable. I would be very discouraged if he had appeared right at home like Hillary did. The attacks were very republican-like (read as twisted, cruel, ignorant, and outright lies.) I would expect no less from HC, her campaign is being run just like GWs was, next she’ll start questioning the legitimacy of his kids to sway voters. She is dispicable, and ABC should be ashamed.

I say, great job, ABC! Just because the Obamaites want to pretend that these issues wont be the main focus of the general election, the fact is they will and will, in the end, lead to a republican win. Regardless of where each of us stands, THAT, and that alone, should be the issue for every democrat.
I have serious issues with Obama, that are continuously belittled. I am tired of being called racist, poor white and confused, uneducated, or even a Regan dem. I did not vote republican ever, but I will; that is a fact. I will, because I can not, do not, believe that Mr. Obama understands or respects me as an American or as a voter, let alone as a long-standing democrat.
I cried when Regan was elected twice, when both Bush’s were elected, and I will cry again when McCain wins, with my vote, but I cannot opt out and not vote( that is fundamentally against my beliefs as a citizen), and I will not support a man who continuously and repeatedly belittles my opinions, who does not answer honestly, and who associates with too many people I cannot understand.
If he cannot win my vote, he certainly will not pick up many republican votes, let alone the the votes of people like me. Without these votes, there is no way that dem.s have anywhere near enough to win. This is reality. I am so sorry that winning now is so important to Mr. Obama and his supporters that they will allow this to happen; that they continue to support this disaster.
I fear where we are going as a nation.

Presidential debates should be taken seriously, it should not be about who you like or if they are the same color as you, ABC did a very poor job and am embarassed for them, We are suffering in this country, people are loosing their jobs and their homes, and all ABC moderators are thinking about are gossips and rumours, or maybe it is the fault of the executives at ABC who send out moderators with no clues of the meaning of Presidential debate.

shame on abc worst debate in history but
it was a great supprise to see the atack on obama,it was so small of them and showed their IQ

Flag lapel pins.
Really guys? Haha, you suck.

All the polls say he won because all of the Obamabots are clearing their files and cookies and voting over and over and over!

After analyzing the debate last night. I’ve decided to vote Obama. I like neither candidate, but Obama is the better of two evils. I agree with most of the bloggers. The debate seemed to be completely one-sided

Obama’s campaign is ahead in only one aspect, they have an awful lot of bloggers who sit in front of their computers and “vote” on the polls (“all of them”) and say Obama won. Then they go on all the sites and make comments critical of ABC. This is the nastiness that Obama’s campaign is. This would be laughable if the presidential campaign were not so important. Just saying Obama won does not make it so, Obama lost, and a lot of voters are seeing just how incompetent he is.

Come on complainers. Obama acted like a juvenile. Stop blaming ABC for his ineptitude.

Anyone who wants to know a candidates position, can go to their web site. If people can take the time to come on here and complain, then they should go to the website and see where the candidates stand. This debate was about character, electability and issues. Obama has had alot of press lately about his associations and his bitter comment. These are questions he will have to answer if he gets to the General Eleciton. Charlie and George were asking questions about things that are on peoples minds. They then covered health care, the economy, the war, raising taxes. I think the Obama supporters have been so busy watching stations like CNN and MSNBC that have been so bias for Obama, that they thought he would get another pass during this debate, which didn’t happen. He finally was asked the hard questions and he must of thought he would get a pass also because he didn’t seem prepared.

ABC News ought to be ashamed of the way they handled the debate last night. George and Charlie acted more more like reporters for the Enquirer. And how is it not a conflict of interest for Stephanopolous to be a moderator? And all those pans to Chelsea every time she smiled. I hope the electorate is smart enough to see just how smarmy that whole deal was last night.

What is everyone complaining about? It was a great debate, best so far. Obama lack of experience and vulnerability were on full display. He’s a fraud. McCain has this wrapped up, will probably win 40 states.

I thought I was watching an episode of Gerry Springer! I think that was the most unprofessional job by moderators in supposedly a serious format. The first 45-50 minutes was truly pathetic in the lack of questions from the moderators, it was like they were trying to dig up dirt rather then question either candidate on the important issues the American public are truly concerned about. I do not know who controls content for ABC news, but they really, really should get out of the news business and into talk/gossip show business, really would reall be good at it! As for the moderators, they really belong in show business, I think Edward R. Murrow, Fred Freindly and other people from the past noted fro their journalistic integrity would be furious with such shallow questions without substance to the candidates, it really was a waste of my time. I hope ABC never does another debate, it was truly a wasted 90 minutes for me.

ABC, last night debate really sucks, bored and biased. It was like watching Rush and Hannity shows. I wished i never watched this misleading debate…..

ABC is manipulating the news! The slant is becoming obvious and that’s how the US got stuck with GWB!

drae:I feel exactly as you do. I have said for years I would never vote Republican, but you can be sure that if Obama is nominated, which looks likely, I will vote for McCain.

Obama’s “weak debate performance”??? He showed admirable restraint when asked petty tabloid questions again and again. Voters have decided already whether they think that Wright is an issue — look at the polls. And flag pins?? As Bill would say — give me a break!

I’ve seen Obama be tough when he has to. Almost all the polls and debate report cards give him the better ‘score’ for the debate. Instead of bragging or being arrogant over this, he choose to show humor. Whatever he does is wrong, to the rigid Clinton-hate-howlers. I’ll be so glad when this is all over and they can stop spewing; talk about brain-washed.

the debate should be a critical embarassment to ABC-”Tabloidism” I certainly will not watch ABC anymore! Whoa!!!!!! I feel both showed their true colors: Hillary showing her true experience with Washington, same old dirty politics she was very comfortable in the debate because she embraces dirty politics. Obama kept his vision of hope alive. I love that Obama doesn’t sell his soul to the old politics. Rock on Obama-I am so very proud to be an Obama supporter!

Worst debate questions ever. Didn’t realize ABC News was the National Enquirer.

Obama proved last night that he is not such a great orator after all.
He lost the Ohio debate too.

We’ll just be needing George Stephanopolis’ head on a platter of course. It’s not like it’s being used for anything.
Posted by: John in SD | Apr 17, 2008 4:02:48 PM
GREAT POST, John!!

Too funny! ABC news has to get it’s questions from FOX now. Can come up with your own questions ABC?

It was embarrassing to watch the mediators ask such silly questions. Now I know why I watch MSNBC and CNN, they don’t speak down to the public. Do the executives at ABC really think the American people are that stupid?

I thought I was watching FOX. The most sorry questions ever

I thought I was watching FOX. The most sorry questions ever

WOW! Congratulations ABC on the new “George and Charlie Show”. Interesting format. Two ex-journalists debate with candidates using irrelevant questions. I think it will be a big hit with your parent company Disney and prove that their strategy of transforming news into entertainment was wise and beneficial to the ratings.

ABC should be ashamed of these questions. A sad decline in journalism. What is wrong with a question such as, “Senator, what is your analysis of. . .?” (Fill in the blank with any number of pressing domestic and foreign policy topics.) I felt like I was listening to questions that had been formulated by Republican hacks to fit a Republican frame. And Gibson’s manipulated statistics on Cap. gains taxes vs revenue were an outrage.

Someone please tell Obama that we don’t need more arrogance in the White House either.
He only shows this side of him in front of his followers and a teleprompter.
Face to face, live, one on one with direct uncomfortable questions, he wimps out. Shows his true cowardice side. ( I think he is afraid of Hillary)
You’ll see the same for sure if he makes the nomination and faces the republicans.
Don’t be fooled, we’re only just now beginning to see who the real Barack Obama is. A typical ordinary (arrogant) politician, capable of all he accuses his foes of being.
Please don’t let the media sway you, make up your own minds.
Peace.

What does he think of us? Idiots?

If Obama can’t handle this, he’ll never be able to handle the republicans. He should just man up and just admit he had a bad night, no one is perfect, but to play this wounded victim role is really unattractive and unbecoming of a leader. Do your history, this is a picnic compare to the founding fathers. The job of President is tough and he needs to stop whining.

When 2008 began, it was impossible to find a non-partisan analyst who did not project a big year for the Democrats. George W Bush barely scaled 30% in the polls, the Iraq War was deeply unpopular and the economy was weakening.
Moreover, both of the top Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, appeared to have substantial advantages over a deeply divided and often unimpressive Republican presidential field.
The Democrats, we all said, would clearly have to try hard to waste this opportunity. Well, they, with the help of the media, are trying very hard to do just that.
And the party’s history of losing competitive elections in the modern era suggests they have the experience to do it again. John McCain won twice on 4 March. He locked up the GOP nomination, and he got his fondest wish, too – a continuing marathon among his Democratic opponents that keeps them warring with one another rather than uniting and turning their money and troops against him.

YOur poll says obama won 3-1
YOur article says he got roughed up
So you saying he won overwhelmingly but he got roughed up…
Just dosent look good ABC- and than with Clinton’s former advisor facilitating. Do you think we are 3rd graders?

obama had plenty of opportuinities to attack hillary on bosnia e.t.c but like a wise president, HA he restrained himself, that is the kind of good judgement we need from the next president, good judgement and common sense!

Please attack a candidate based on his own values, not those of his pastor, a person they sat on the board of a non profit with. It shows me how scared the Republicans and Clinton supporters are running because all of the attacks leveled against Obama are not about him, but about various people who are loosely connected to him (exception rev. Wright). However, I am a catholic and do not agree with some of the teachings of my church. As my priest would conduct mass and often admonish many things that I do not believe are wrong and took radical stances on many issues, I never walked out because church is about a community. You may not always agree with the ideas of the priest, but it is about more than thay individual.

svsolis,
Yeah, they get an email of the daily talking points. today is attack ABC day
note how many use the same language such as the word “tabloid” and how they all just loved ABC and the moderators until last night.

was the reporting this malicious when JFK broke through to win?

The debate lats night was a farce. ABC News disgusts me.

I think the questions that were asked in this debate were irrelevant. I wanted to hear you ask questions about what their plan is for the following years. No one asked about the economy. It was almost like that wanted put Barack on trial for people he had relationships with. This was just a huge waist of my time. I was very disappointed.

Kevin, i agree with you, obama will never win the general election in November. I dont think i could ever vote for this man. I would say im more independant rather than rep or dem, however i would vote democrat if i trusted this man at all. I trust Hillary and feel she would be the perfect Person for the job..
Go Hillary!!

I won’t vote for hillary because she is not honest, it’s that simple

That was like being invited to a party for several hours, and then for the first hour, have the room throw crap in your face. Interesting tnat they chose George, a former Clinton person, to ask the questions. And Charlie is no longer my favorite newsperson, and ABC news will not be watched here again. And what in the world was that question, among the other “Good Lord” questions, about the flag pin? How could that have anything to do with the running of this country? Obama wil survive this, because the truly sightful people will see to it.

It looked to me as if Hillary knew the questions before they were asked. One might wonder if George [who worked for the Clintons] might have prepared her for them.

That was like being invited to a party for several hours, and then for the first hour, have the room throw crap in your face. Interesting tnat they chose George, a former Clinton person, to ask the questions. And Charlie is no longer my favorite newsperson, and ABC news will not be watched here again. And what in the world was that question, among the other “Good Lord” questions, about the flag pin? How could that have anything to do with the running of this country? Obama wil survive this, because the truly sightful people will see to it.

Cannot believe Obama is so immature.
Grow up OBAMA. Do not cry.

Two words for George, Charlie and ABC News: YOU STINK! Leave the political reporting/coverage/debates to CNN and MSNBC and go back to all that sensational junk you’re so good at smearing over the airwaves. Your “display” last night shows that you’re right in line with FOX News. Here that massive “click”? That’s America turning off ABC News.

There is nothing special about Obama. He has memorized lines to the issues, same ole, same ole. Obama is getting old, fast. His image that he created for himself is like an role in a movie film. He cant answer tough questions, just repeat the same memorized lines with pauses in between. umm, anddd, sooo, ect. Watch him enough and you see there is nothing new that comes out of his mind about anything. He is no leader, has no solutions to problems, just speaches. My first que to this was questions about his Rev Wright. He told reporters he was giving a speach tomorrow. I dont want to hear a speach, I want answers to questions. This seems to be a down fall of his. Makes you think what real knowledge he has in his mind. His well crafted image is old news now. He has only had the advantage in the fact that many people didnt know anything about him. Now they are begining to learn, and they dont like him.

As I watch last night debate it came to mind is this a political commercial for Hilary put together by her husband’s press secretary. It is a shame that ABC had to lend there name to this horrible tabloid journalism. I have watched every debate and now ABC can be proud that they have run the worst debate I have ever seen.

sheila – Waa. Waa. Waa.

20 years and Obama didn’t hear one racist statement from Rev. Wright. Oh Come On Now!

I declare the following words dead:
elitist
karma
racist
whiner
Anyone who uses them from now on is a whining elitist racist with bad karma. Come up with some new ways to express your opinion. nuf said.

Come on ABC that was the worst most immature and corrupted debate I have ever seen. Why did it take 45 minutes to ask questions on policy? It was a PR event for conservatives and had nothing to do with real journalism. It is an International joke which I have read about today on many nations newspapers. You have surpassed faux news for banality and lack of respect for the process of democratic systems so you can ask Britney spears type questions. It was a set up for corporate control of dialogue. Shame on you!
A Canadian embarrased at the Grade school level of debate on ABC.

This was the best debate EVER!!!
You definitely educated us about the candidates and where they stand on the issues!
You challenged their “pull-out” strategy from Iraq – taking into account the number of possible casualities on both the Iraqi and the Americans – No Network, even the so called Number One Network NBC, has ever done that.
Charlie and George you definitely did your homework – you were very knowlegeable and thourough – you left no stone unturned. Well done!!!
You are Number One! You are DEFINITELY THE BEST!!
Thank you!!!
Ethel

Last night debate was the wort debate I have ever watched. I don’t care about who Obama may or may not know or if he has a flag lapel. I care about the economy, gas prices, rioting around the world over food costs, our failing school systems, crime, the environment, the war and so many more issues that affect my life and the life of humans across the world but this debate was as about nothing more than school yard gossip.
Both of the moderators should be fired for being so out of touch with the lives of real Americans. needless to say I will not be getting any of my news from ABC ever again.

BRAVO ABC! Its about time someone had the GUTS to allow Barack Obama to demonstrate that he is NOT ready for prime time. I appreciate your efforts but fear that it may be too late for the Dems. Too bad this didn’t happen sooner…I would have saved $$$$ on “wasted” donations.

hillary supporters obama was set up last night! we all know it!!! so dont try to pull no wool over our eyes, your candidate is a complete fraud!!!she seemed to know what questions were gonna be based, and he stood his ground!!!! shame on hillary supporters the republicans and ABC!!!

Obama did fine.
Looks like Charlie got a bit rattle when discussing capital gains tax.
I didn’t know that hedge fund managers earning hundreds of millions of dollars but they pay at a lower tax rate than there secretaries.
Didn’t know that Clinton pardoned 2 members of the Weather Underground.
Wonder why Ayers never went to prison.
Maybe because his family was rich.

It’s a shame when have two millionaires asking tabloid type questions to candidates instead asking how are the candidates proposing to help fix some of the problems of working class people in this country face everyday. I never thought ABC would stoop to this level of so-called journalism. Is everything today about a Paris Hilton mentality?

I wasted my time watching the so-called debate Wednesday night. What a example of yellow journalism! Most of the debate was an attack on Obama! ABC you should be ashamed! I thought I had tuned in to FOX news or The enquirer!

The moronic comments from those that thought this was a genuine debate demonstrate the intellectual level ABC is pandering to.
ABC, you loose. You are right up there with FOX when it comes to trivial, foolish and irrelevant news media. I use the term “news” loosely. The debate focused on gossip and pitiful attempts to make two intelligent leaders look foolish. Guess who looks foolish? The producers and news people at ABC.

Dont say Obama was setup by anyone, he just couldnt answer questions. Just shows what he is all about, ignorance.

The debate was excellent! Obama , for the first time had to answer for his actions. Believe it or not, reporters are to ask the hard questions and find the facts for the American people . These answers and facts given help the American people to have good discussions and make educated decisions who will get their vote. The Presidency is not a game, it should not be bought by who can raise the most money, it should be won by the one who understands the issues and has the solutions. We don’t need another arrogant President in the White House!

Best debate ever! Real questions for a change to BOTH canidates. Hillary was just able to answer them, while Obama looked like a fool. Great work by ABC!

I am speechless about the questions asked by the supposedly “serious” journalists.
I am to believe that the Bosnia sniper and the ranting pastor are more important than healthcare, affordable higher education, more fair paying jobs and regaining our moral stature in the rest of the world?
Shame on you Mr. Stephanopolous and Gibson. With this kind of news organization I am glad that Britney did not get into another car incident or we would not know that the Pope is visiting us.
Here is an idea. For the next debate hook up the audience with instant “Question meter” that shows how insightful and intelligent your question is, but also gives you and electric jolt when you drop into the sewer.

Just curious if all of the kool-aid drinking comrade clintonites know that she stated to her husband that he should “screvv” his fellow Americans (white southerners). Read about it in the Huffington Post.

don tufts wrote “to all obamaites the focus groups of undecided voters at the debate went to clinton 51% obama 23% and tie 21% so spin it all you like as the focus groups are the true measure not online polls that obamaites with no responsibilites can take the time during the day to vote on.”
Wher did you get that information? I’m definitely calling shinnanigans unless you can provide a link. You are spreading unsubstantiated untruths. Obama 08′

This was shameful. This is exactly how we wound up with Bush/Cheney for 8 years. I have always liked Charlie and George, but to talk about flag pins instead of why our soldiers are dying in a Civil War in Iraq leaves me speechless.
If we voters allow this election to spin out of control again and not be about substance instead of emotion, we will get exactly the govt we deserve. Just like last time.
Let ABC know what you think, and switch over to another news channel. That is exactly what I plan on doing tonight.

Will someone puleeze acknowledge the sheer delusion behind claims that Obama will unite the country: he can’t even unite Dems let alone Dems, Republicans, Independents etc. And high-minded calls for debate of the “issues” are a sham: what issues are there when the minute Hillary announces a position, Obama dittoes it? Did no one catch his echo of Hillary’s criticism of Bush for ignoring civilian control of the military? or coming up with a $30 bill fund to prevent mortgage foreclosures days after Hillary proposed it, or tweaking her healthcare and economic stimulus plans? He makes sure there are virtually NO policy differences between them. Most of the press goes along with this charade. Kudos to Gibson and Stephanopoulos for having the guts to ask what all the Republican blogs are abuzz with, while Obama ingenues think Republicans could never have come up with this all on their own!!
Will-o-the-Wisp

ABC News should be ashamed by the performance last nite – not from the candidates during the debate – but by the ridiculous, amateurish and outrightly stupid questioning by Stephanoupolis. Sadly, Gibson was not far behind. What an outrageous squandering of a spectacular opportunity to make democracy in action shine. Stephanoupolis is not fit to clean toilets – what an idiot. Thanks for remindng me why I haven’t watched network television in two decades

ABC News should be ashamed by the performance last nite – not from the candidates during the debate – but by the ridiculous, amateurish and outrightly stupid questioning by Stephanoupolis. Sadly, Gibson was not far behind. What an outrageous squandering of a spectacular opportunity to make democracy in action shine. Stephanoupolis is not fit to clean toilets – what an idiot. Thanks for remindng me why I haven’t watched network television in two decades

Yesterday’s debate was terrible. ABC did a horrible job with no discussion of issues. I guess they wanted to make it clear to viewers why they lag so far behind in cable news’ ratings. Shameful.

Who cares about Rev. Wright?! He says crazy things that reflect his angry background. So what! Obama doesn’t say those things. Obama isn’t hateful. So why are we wasting so much time and effort on Rev. Wright? He doesn’t deserve this much attention! So stop giving it to him! It doesn’t matter why Obama stayed in that church. Rev. Wright is no longer at the church. Rev. Wright is not Obama’s spiritual advisor. Rev. Wright is not making policy decisions. SO, CAN WE TALK ABOUT STUFF THAT REALLY MATTERS?!

If Obama thinks this debate was a preview of what’s coming this fall then he had better get his act together, because he blew this one big time.

This was the worst I have ever seen ABC anchorman you blew it. Mr. Charlie Gibson and Mr. George What happen to the Economie, rather than personal attack question that you guy where so much interest about was that to help ABC NEWS or the people of America Embarrasing.

Last night was a high tech lynching….not a debate. ABC should be ashamed. Through it all however Obama still showed that he is the best person to take the oath in January ’09.

A “rough performance” by Obama? That’s hilarious coming from an ABC reporter. ABC has zero credibility to discuss the debate from last night. Pathetic.

ABC has become a subsidiary of Fox network, again!
Gibson and Steph ought to retire to the gossip columns of a third rate newspaper, which would be a step up from this third rate network. Obama can handle it, kids!

Wednesday’s “debate,” and I use that term very loosely, demonstrated the integrity of Senator Obama as he tried to redirect the questioning to issues our next President will face in January. He survived the three way character attack admirably. If the media must attack character, why didn’t Charlie and George ask Senator Clinton what she did or did not do to shape the personnel and purchasing practices of the Walmart Corporation where she sat on the board of directors for 8 years? Why didn’t they ask her why her husband accepted $800,000 from the Colombians to promote another NAFTA fiasco? Why didn’t they ask her about her about her advisor, Mark Penn, who was on her payroll at the same time he was on the Colombian payroll for the same “free” trade agreement?

The debate had no substance and neglected to address any of the issues people actually care about. What about the environment, education, the price of gas and groceries, health care???
Apparently ABC was too busy reading talking points from Sean Hannity to allow time for real debate.

Shame on you, ABC, for your stupid and rude questions that intelligent people have no interest in!

Disappointed — first 40 or more minutes just trivia. Surprised at both ABCers. Let’s hear real issues and not trivia. I don’t wear a flagr on my lapel either but fly one every holiday. So what!

FIRE PETER SALINGER, director of Election Coverage
George S. has a conflict of interest. Carville had to sit out of the CNN debate, George should have sat out here. in his place maybe we would have had someone with REAL questions that affect REAL people.

I don’t watch Fox News because of their biased political coverage. After last night’s debate, I would consider doing the same for ABC News. There are plenty of other places to get my news, and ABC has seriously wounded its credibility with this customer.

So Granny, 45 minutes of Clinton gravedigging by ABC would be just fine for you in the next debate? How about questions about Peter Paul? Norman Hsu? Maybe even throw one in about Vince Foster or Abu Dhabi merchants. Heck they didn’t even touch Mark Penn or Caftagate! Lets spend 1/2 of the next debate talking about that, with one cursory question for Obama about ‘bitter’ again. Fair, right? Because thats what happened to Obama.
You Clinton supporters are either willfully ignorant or just plain stupid–there IS a difference in asking Clinton to account for her vote on a bill and asking a US Senator to prove he’s patriotic or to prove his devotion to his faith. One question is politics, the other is personal. A few personal questions is OK, but pre-empting actual issues like health care and the economy to talk about whether or not Obama is patriotic or wears a flag pin, smacks of yellow journalism and gotcha politics. Get real Clinton supporters.

If he isn’t the single most arrogant human being on the face of God’s green earth, then someone, please point that person out.

I am outraged that the moderators from ABC “News” (and I use that term loosely) wasted half the debate talking about trivial issues rather than substantive issues such as getting out of Iraq, high gas and utility prices, the mortgage mess, and other economic issues. If they host another debate, I’m not watching, nor will I bother watching their “newscasts”. I hope the rest of the country is as sick and tired, angry and bitter, as I am about trivializing the issues of this election.

This debate, as awful and demeaning as it was, again showed me a side of Hillary Clinton that I really don’t care for. (Making demeaning and mocking comments.) And it showed me a side of Barack Obama that I do like. Calmness under pressure. He tried, for the most part, to be respectful (he could have really gone after Hillary on several issues, especially the one where she admitted she lied), but instead he tried to bring the subject back to real issues. There was nothing wrong with his answers. The others just kept bringing up the same old, same old irrelevant attacks and really fumbled the ball. Not much that was meaningful was discussed.
After the debacle last night, I’ve changed my mind. I intend to vote for Sen. Obama.

The ABC moderating team of Stephanopoulos & Gibson was a disgrace to their profession and an insult to the public and the format of moderating a political debate. Last night’s debate was not a debate at all – it was a tabloid exposé off gossipy fodder. I was appalled at the lack of urgent and serious issues discussed. Shame on you George S. you should know better- Despicable! Charlie G. – since when are you so manipulative -–your questions were inappropriate and often trivial. And ABC – you are a powerful network who simply adhered to a cheap and distasteful Murdoch-esque format for the ratings – all 11 million of us might as well have been watching Fox’s American Idol. I hope your sponsors and bean counters are happy – but know that your viewing public is disgusted!

i have never seen any Fraud as brilliant as obama. he said something today then make a speech about it tomorrow. “brush off”? hah. It was actually quite satisfying to see him get hammer for the first time. Not only that he couldn’t handled it, his supporters rioted the blogs right after the debate. They have seemed to forget when hillary was being assaulted (literally) by Tim Russert. obama really is a little boy who cannot handle the real world. He has been babied by the media up until this point. He cannot answer the questions and said that these are not important. Well, I can tell you that i’ll give you a million bucks. Are you going to believe me? of course No. First you have to find out if I have the money and second, base on what that make you think i’m going to give you the money. New kind of politics? what a joke.
Still cannot believe my Iowans fellows voted for obama and huckabee.

So you see ABC, even after sending your best hatchet men they had a negative on your station and not Obama. George said the debate is about experience, character, and credibility…Seems like ABC NEWS failed on all fronts. What they should have done last night…attend the Correspondence Dinner with ther boys and girls who represent the media …you know joke around, be a joke…Because that’s what you think about Hardworking Americans… A joke when we talk about the economy…A joke for those who loose their job…A joke for those who have no insurance or medical insurance have bankrupte their family…A joke for those who need quality education and the ability to pay for it…A joke we are in Iraq and the media laid down and was trampled over. You Failed Last Night…Most Americans believe the Media is “Nothing but A Piece of Junk!”

If Obama can’t handle this, he’ll never be able to handle the republicans. He should just man up and just admit he had a bad night, no one is perfect, but to play this wounded victim role is really unattractive and unbecoming of a leader. Do your history, this is a picnic compare to the founding fathers. The job of President is tough and he needs to stop whining.

I find it telling that Obama supporters cry foul when Obama receives the same treatment from the media as the other candidates. If Obama does not win the nomination at the Democratic Convention, can we expect insurrection from Obama supporters? Sorry, but you can’t use Affirmative Action to get into the White House like you can to get into Harvard.

The more I think about the debate last night, the more I am displeased I am with ABC. I cannot believe how both Charlie and George acted and delivered their rumor mill/scandal sheet questions to both candidates. They know better that to spend 45 minutes on such trival staff. Just as a quality control check, I was able to hear this debate again on NPR this afternoon, and I got mad all over again. What where they thinking? And what were you people thinking?

Tough debate indeed. A dissapointment. 52 wasted minutes of not discussing important issues that affect Pensylvanians. Explanation from ABC anchor is that their policy difference is so liitle and we only have to discuss trivia or gotcha issues. If that is the case, I could have simply watch the daily news rather than spent precious time driving home to watch that unbelievable debate.

I think ABC did a wonderful job last night. You Obama folks are mad because he lost that debate. He showed he was very
arrogant and I think most people watching see it the same way I do. He has no substance at all and how he has gotten this far is beyond me. I think he will lose now with all the krap coming out about him in the last month. If not McCain will slaughter him in November.

Wonderful clip of Obama in Raleigh. Hillary is simply out of control at this point and it’s a horror to witness. I hope she stands down soon.

Thanks a bunch to George and Charlie for not being afraid to be jouarnalists and not being afraid to question the Obama brand! Both of you have offered a great service to your viewers.
It is very refreshing to see ABC being the only network who dares to question the allegedly “transparent,” “one of a kind,” “uniter” on his personal choices, political associations, the queality of his past judgements especially when his most frequently used marketing hype against Clinton up until the Wright controversy was that his judgements were “superior” to Clinton’s.
This debate highlighted that Senator Obama would do very well as long as no one questions him on his flaws.

How dare ABC ask the questions that everyone has been talking about.
They’re suppose to save the tabloid questions for the republicans!
How dare they bring up the latest gaffes!!

So for all of you Obama supporters that are now saying ABC is pro Obama, since you have become so astute at picking up on news agencies’ biases, are you willing to conceded that MSNBC and CNN have been going out of their way and going overboard promoting Obama?
Anyone?

I truly hope that ABC and all other news outlets takes a few moments to reflect on the shoddy, sensationalist quality of the moderators’ questions. Certainly there are people who care about flag lapels and the like, but those concerns are fanned by the irrational and overblown media fixation on them. Let’s put a stop to this nonsense. Please!

1st, and only, time on ABC’s web-site. They may be happy they’re getting so much attention; but I feel confident that there are many such as myself that will not bother to take this network seriously again. The best remedy for ABC is to give them the benign neglect they deserve after that disastorously moderated debate.

ZeeZee,
Interesting reaction by the Kos Mafia. I logged in over there and dug in somewhat, and found a bit of fear and trembling about Obama’s performance by some professed Obama supporters.
Bittergate was like the first rumble in China Syndrome.
========================================
Obama — Elite? Bitter?
========================================

The really pathetic thing is that big news conglomerates like ABC are the first to condescend to voters and politicians alike for lowering the bar of political discourse in this country… Failing to recognize their own significant duplicity in that reality.
One full hour of tabloid, gottcha, meaningless questions that we’ve been subjected to ad nauseum for weeks upon weeks now. Shame on you!

ABC News should be ashamed of themselves for focusing their debate on People Magazine nonsense. It’s that kind of sorry excuse for journalism that allowed Bush & Friends to drag us into Iraq.

Are you kidding me ABC?! This was not a “debate,” but rather an inquisition! To harp on a flag pin & who their acquaintances might be is hardly worth the people’s time! What’s wrong with the democrats? Here they stand with the opportunity to make big changes for the future of this nation & they wish to waste this opportunity to get in front of the people & interrrogate about nonsense, instead of dealing with our major issues! Emberassing for ABC! It’s obvious which candidate ABC is for!

I was shocked that ABC did such a poor job at moderating this debate. It is highly unethical to let a former Bill Clinton staff member run this debate. I thought the media was supposed to be the 4th arm of government- objective and unbiased. ABC news has lost me as a viewer after this debacle. I’d almost rather watch FOX news at this point- at least there is no pretense of objectivity with them.

If as some of you claim this debate was about character then Senator Obama won it hands down. The exact moment was when after 40 minutes of tabloid grilling the moderators turned on Senator Clinton with questions of Bosnia. When asked to comment on that Senator Obama said, “We all make mistakes”. He had to repeat it 2xs for them to understand that he was not going to trash her. His body language gave the message of I am done w/this let’s move onto issues. They did. By his actions he demonstrated that he will not support the politics of personal destruction. Of all the people on the stage he showed the highest character.

What a missed opportunity for ABC and the candidates. Charlie and George had a golden opportunity to rise above the fray that is exhausting most people and ask specific questions about the economy, the war, etc. Every time one of them attempted to bring the conversation to a pressing issue you two took it right back to personal issues that quite frankly have been beat to death. ABC could have stood head and shoulders by asking Presidential Questions and behaved as an example for future commentators. What a waste of my time. Senator’s Obama and Clinton should have been saying shame on you.

I am deeply sadden at the bias debate organized by ABC News. In the past, I had respected the professionalism of both Charlie and George. However, now I am certain I was too generous with my opinion. Last night was clearly an effort to tell Obama because you are not just like me, I am uncomfortable and fearful of you being president. If we indeed do love our country let us remember what it stands for “we the people” and “land of the free, home of the brave. Let us remember our greatest asset in this country is our diversity of people who all don’t look alike or think alike. Thank God!

Jack,
Nice one! Usually it takes at least 3 posts to compare Obama/Hillary/McCain/Bush to Hitler. Tell me, could you possibly spin it so Obama is like Stalin next time? It helps Bill Kristol’s arguments.

Charlie, what happened? I know that you are better than that. Your performance was not fair to either candidate, but the worst part is that you let down your fans. You let me down last night…so dissapoiting.
George, today you can only blame yourself for the black eye to your efforts to be taken as a serious news journalist.
I truly hope neither of you dismiss our comments as if only politically inspired–mine are not. Your performance last night really was a shame and it can only be worse if either of you refuse to see that you came out as the debate’s losers.

Obama, a cry baby??!!
Hillary in the ONLY presidental candidate that has ACTUALLY CRIED on the campaign trail.

I don’t know if this is the proper venue to lodge a serious complaint, but I can’t find anywhere better. The debate last night was a shameful exhibition of how the news media manufactures issues in order to divert real debate about the issues voters are truly concerned about. We are in a futile war, our economy is a shambles, and, I think closest to home for most of us, we are worried sick about what we’ll do if we ever need serious medical care.

ABC’s performance confirmed – there is no sense for more debate.
I do not think Obama will ever agreed to debate on ABC.
You guys there- you are not to be trusted.
And if someone was there elitist – both mediators.
With poor knowledge of a subject asking just firing developing gossips.
Shame on you.

Barack Obama is beginning to disturb me. He is always touting how he will change all things political for the better. No one individual could even began to do that in 8 years and with all his bravado in saying that no one in washinton knows anything other than himself, he will certainly find himself isolated and frustrated. I believe Mr. Obama is not concerned so much with the details, as he is with becoming president. He is suprememly egotistical and lives in and for the moment. He is that rare individual that turns gradually into a self deluded dictator. Like all social dictators he has that inexplicable ability to tap into the national zeitgeist of discontent. And like them one day he will reckon with the consequences of unleashing the forces of social chaos.The political failures of our government has made our society ripe for his kind of individual. I know Mr. Obama does not mean harm which makes him the most dangerous type of politician. Ultimately he can see himself doing no wrong or nor can his followers.As an African American who grew up and become successful I can say that elitism is not a result of social up bringing but it is a quality of character. Hitler came from the dregs of society and yet he was elitist in a way that I only now see occuring with Mr. Obama. But I don’t believe it’s too late and to be honest the fundamentals on which America is built will overcome Mr. Obama should he go further down this dark path. This replublic will outlast him and his fanatical followers.

The Obama supporters are becoming very, very scary people. Their devotion and Praise Be Him, damn any naysayer attitude is becoming very frightening. Some of them are going to need some serious counseling come November when they finally realize he does not walk on water and there are actually many people in the real world that find him to be a very weak candidate.

I have a Hillary sign in my front yard and I was disappointed in her last night. George and Charlie asked the most ludicrous questions and she followed their lead. Obama continually tried to talk about the issues and those three continually kept talking about the CRAP. I don’t care who he’s friends with. I don’t care. I want to hear the issues. That “debate” last night was a disgrace. Obama won in my opinion. Right now, I don’t know what I’m going to do on Tuesday. I thought I did but I was just so disappointed in Hillary last night and I really liked what Obama had to say. It’s back to their websites for me.

All one has to do to HONESTLY decide between the candidates, is to look at how each treats the other while they’re speaking. Hillary sits there with a blank but interested face, watching and LISTENING to Obama the entire time. Kind of the way a Vice President should treat their President. Even Cheney can’t bring himself to treat Bush the Idiot that way, scowling nonstop.
As Hillary speaks though, Obama looks down, looks all around, squirms like a child listening to his teacher giving a bad report to his parents or like OJ listening to damning testimony, looks angry, looks irritated, looks like he wishes he were a million miles away, looks like every word out of Hillary’s mouth is meaningless, and when he does look at Hillary, the disgust and hatred is obvious. It would KILL his lordship to EVER smile at her.
And it’s been ever thus since the VERY FIRST DEBATE between the two on a one-to-one basis.
THAT is why Barry H. Obama will NEVER be President, because he doesn’t have what it takes to even be a good VICE President.
And what it takes is RESPECT. Barry H. Obama doesn’t have a shred of respect for anyone, BUT the GOP. The GOP, he has plenty of respect for.
Because he owes them EVERYTHING HE IS.

Yes, rush to MSNBC where Obama love trickles down their legs. You’ll be happier there.
Meanwhile ABC plays objective. And you can’t stand it.

I wish the MSN broke the news of Obama’s pastor and rezco before Jan. We would not be seeing this day.
Shame on the media to wait till now to expose Obama’s character.

The debate was one-sided and unfair. I was very, very disappointed with Gibson and George. The debate was straight out of the National Enquirer. What about real issues? I guess that’s why we’re going to get another term of George W Bush aka McCain. The world is truly laughing at us. Brian Williams true journalist.

Judging from the style of the dabate last night, seems ABC is now an affiliate of FOX news? Was there a merger between the two?

Thanks to ABC for wasting an hour of my time last night while your reporters proved ABC once again, the lightweight of news.
This embarrassing display of who knew whom 40 years ago and who wears flag pins, all by suppposedly bright – but really only rude (how many interruptions?) – reporters, reflects how shallow our national debates have become.
This misunderstanding of what is important is how we got into Iraq in the first place: major news shows doing no meaningful analysis or even asking good questions, only following what they think will sell to people they hold in contempt as stupid. To the director on ABC News who defended the idiocy on the grounds that “character matters”: only the question of lying had to do with character. Try getting some character youself and stop cheapening an important political process.

He was “brushing off” all the tabloid dirt thrown at him. He had little chance to answer “real” questions given he was technically debating three people. I don’t want to hear about Flag Pins and other such nonsense. I want to hear about the real issues…
ABC should be ashamed of the way the debate was conducted. The commentators were rude, interrupting, etc.

Obama can run but he cannot hide. Obama comes up short because he is a typical lying politician first and foremost. You can get dizzy with all of the Obamabot spin being imparted to Obama’s inadequate answers. A quote comes to mind from Alexander Hamilton and nicely explains the Obamatons “Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.”

Sluggo,
Funny you should mention being a liar. Seems Hillary admitted to being one last night and apologized. Kinda silly to then accuse Obama of being a liar when your candidate, by her own admission, is a liar. Far be it from me to question the innate hypocrisy of supporting Hillary against Barack, though.

What a shoddy, vile job ABC did last night. It’s shocking, really, when you consider that in 2 hours there is no way they could have adequately covered the REAL problems facing Americans–foreclosures, torture, underemployment, health care, the standing of the US abroad, among others–but ABC nonetheless chose to waste the first hour on trivialities. Americans are not dumb, ABC. You just think we are.

As a realistic (not emotional and visceral) female supporter of Sen. Clinton, I must say that the questions directed at Sen. Obama were impertinent and the lack of professionalism displayed by ABC is, without exaggeration, was quite insulting to the public and their intelligence. Most questions were way off-course. Unless media are hell-bent on sabotaging the future of this country, I think it is time for them to inject a liberal amount of professionalism and integrity into their performance.

THE ONLY REASON SO MANY OF YOU ARE CALLING THE DEBATE UNFAIR IS BECAUSE YOU ARE SUPPORTERS OF BARACK OBAMA. THE SAME MEDIA HAS TREATED HILLARY UNFAIR FOR MONTHS WHILE YOU ALL GLOATED. NOW SINCE OBAMA IS BEING TREATED LIKE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SHOULD BE YOU CALL THE DEBATE AND MODERATORS UNFAIR. SOUNDS LIKE OBAMAS FOLLOWERS ARE NOW CRYING! WHAAAA! WHAAAA!

ABC and Hillary supporters should be ashame of themselves!! I will NEVER watch them again. I WAS a Hillary supporter until this ridiculous debate last night. What a waste of my time. Shame ON YOU Gibson and Stephanopolous!!

Crystal, you’re right, the CNN/MSNBC zombie’s can’t handle hard hitting stories about starlets caught without their panties, Britney Spears’ day to day schedule, and Celebrity tatoos. ABC is just too highbrow and substantive I guess.

Awesome job ABC. Was Obama sweating a little? Better than CNN with that feamale moderator who has a crush on Obama and NBC with Tim Russel who was litteraly drooling.
Got another lifer here ABC!

I was very saddened by Charlie and George’s performance last night. Was this an ABC News event, or was it an episode of “A Current Affair”?!? Holy tabloid journalism, Batman!!! 45 minutes worth of B.S. until we got an actual policy question? What is that all about?!?

It’s quite apparent that ABC is trying to brush off it’s performance from last night by not addressing the horrible performance by it’s two “newsmen.”
What is ABC, Gibson, and Georgie behaving like cowards. Address the criticism that 90% of posters and quite of few of their colleagues have raised against them. Somewhere in that response should be an apology.

sounds like a few obama lemmings would make good politicians…..typing out a lot, but really saying nothing at all….

FINALLY a debate that was so fair that Saturday Night Live won’t have to lampoon it.
Oh how cruel the media is when it’s objective.
Lol.

Obama was horrible last night. He shrugs it off as politics as usual. If he can’t handle the heat he should get out of the kitchen. Politics is as politics does. Sorry you really can’t get around it. The GE will be worse. He can’t hang. Plain and simple. He sound way off his game. If Hillary answered a policy question first, he repeated her answer. I am tired of his round about way of answering. He should learn to be concise. But if he did, he would make a lot more gafes. If he is our nominee John McCain will be the next President. Sad to say, but that is the reality.

I think the polls are way off. We really aren’t going to know just what is what until voting is done. Obama is a stage show. That became real clear last night. If you can’t admit your wrong about anything it’s only because you are out of touch. People like a rock star, they don’t have to think just enjoy the show. Hard choices now have to be made. I hope people start thinking and make the correct ones. Obama is an empty suit.

you obama lemmings are in for emotional trauma when his campaign inevitably fails against the much more harsh and unrelenting attack machines of the neo-conservative movement, a la swift boat vets…..

Go Obama like Jay-Z said,”brush that dirt off your shoulder”!

Yeah, Obama had a bad night allright… According to a poll on this site 40k think he won the debate to Hillary’s 15k. The media coverage of this debate is surreal. The media are out of touch. How can people still say the media is in the tank for Obama?? Get real journalists. It’s about ISSUES not flag pins! And read your own polls!

Stephanopoulos stated that they only asked tough questions. But they were stupid tough questions. We knew what the answers would be. Over 4000 dead US soldiers. $4.00 gas prices. Torture. There were no tough questions with those topics. ABC droped the ball on this one. What a let down and waste of my time. I won’t watch another debate hosted by ABC. Where is the league of Women…Did they not host the debates before?

This was the most even-handed debate. It is interesting that only Obama’s followers believe it wasn’t. It seems he can’t even be questioned without their believing it is heretical.

Everyone is making excuses for the paper tiger. Barrack Hussein Obama has no teeth, he’s all bark and no bite.
Did you see that filthy look he had on his face? When he doesn’t smile he looks like a serial killer. Menacing, trying to stare down the panel, daring them with sneers to ask him the quesitons that he didn’t think they would ask.
They asked, he crumpled like the paper tiger he is.
Bye Obama, you’re done

Sound like he asked for a pity from the people in Raleigh as always .
I’m sure he would take another debate if his darling media CNN or MSNBC hold the debate.

This debate was a hit job I was on the fence as far as who would be the better candidate and looking forward to watching this debate because I expected substantive, relevant questions to be asked to more distinguish the candidates. What I saw was more like a National Enquirer special. It was nothing more than tabloid journalism. I actually felt embarrassed for the commentators, because it seemed like with each lame questioned they asked, they lost a little more credibility. I thought that Obama held up very well in light of the cheap supermarket newsstand subject matter. ABC news it was clear on what your intent was, but because you didn’t ask the questions that matter I have to go with who I think has more credibility and that sir is Mr. Barrack Obama.
…oh by the way I don’t think I will watch any of your news shows ever again.

Reading about the debate confirms my decision not to have watched it. Why waste my time watching self-important blowhards on silliness like flag pins and what someone’s associate might have done 40 years ago?
Who is going to do better dealing with the catastrophe in Iraq? Who has plans to deal with the credit meltdown? Who is going to figure out how to raise the value of the dollar? Who can better handle the healthcare crisis? Who reveres the U.S. Constitution, and plans to make sure it’s followed and those who abuse it are punished? Um, these are the things that are important to me.
Thanks for validating my decision not to watch network news anymore.

Shame on Charlie Gibson and ABC for wasting the first hour on nonsense. I want to hear about the real issues that America is facing right now and that I think a lot of people care about.

I thought the debate was bias towards Obama. The debate was an insult to Obama, me and Americans. Charlie and George has lost my respect to be involved in assine debate that reflected your bias attitude toward Obama. I will not be watching anything that they are involved in.You need to apoligize to Obama and us viewers for put us through that talk show you called a debate. It is quite apparent that they do not like Obama and they should have not let their good old boys attitude show. Yes Obama might not have answered question the way people wanted him to but why should he, he’s damn if he does and damn if he doesn’t.Obama should not do another debate with ABC stooges.Bush was one of the worst debater I ever heard and no one said anything much about him.

Irritated – Well, its back to MSNBC huh? See ya.

comment to Mechan8
That is so funny because I was myself researching that same thing yesterday
and came to the same conclusions. That is great!

“THE COUNTRY IS IN TERRIBLE WAR 4,034 LIVE LOST AND OVER 320,000 TERRIBLE INJURY, WHEN OUR COUNTRY IS IN RECSSION TWO ABC JOURNALISTS ASKED THE CANDIDATE WHY HE DID NOT EWEAR A FLAG PIN?”
_______________
First of all, war is terrible. But this war stopped hundreds of thousands of lives in the process and disposed an Arabic Hitler regime. The lives lost mirror what we lost in 911. At least our soldiers have guns..
Second…WE ARE NOT IN A RECESSION! IT TAKES 2 QUARTERS OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A MILD RECESSION.
Knock off the war and recession crap, let’s talk about character, which Obama is sorely lacking.
A man is judged by the company he keeps,
Wright, Farrakhan, Rezko,Ayers,Sinclair, Black Panthers, Nation of Islam, etc.
He is not fit to lead this country.

Isn’t it odd that Obama is a color of yellow and nerves, followed by stutters when answering direct questions in front of the world but when able to read off his prepared speeches like today in front of people who are obviously all there to support him, he is just like slick Jay-Jay! This man has no sulutions for this country! What a waste of a man and you see him brushing off his shoulder in the arrogant way with comments about Hillary, this is the same way he will be brushing YOU OFF, when you complain to him if elected. How arrogant and similar to Bush!

Obama doesn’t want to debate again? I wonder why? Could it be that the blinders are off on him now? Could it be he can’t control what comes out of the mouths of the moderators? He has to rely on more thn the words of a prepared speech. Now if only he can get out of debating McCain in the fall.If you want to be President, people are going to ask a few questions about who you are and what makes you tick.He better toughen up if he wants to survive the fall.

I don’t understand why they keep bringing up the Bosnia thing. I have watched that news clip several times and it was always my impression that Hillary was making a light hearted joke. Go back and look at it again, she was laughing when she said it and in no way did that appear to be her trying to state a historical fact. The media beats up on her because she is to business like and not personable enough. So when she makes a light hearted joke they want to persecute her because it wasn’t factual. The media has made much more out of it than either of her two apponents.

I applaud ABC for finally nailing down Obama and making him answer the tough questions. He has been the “golden” boy of this election way to long. I see him finally getting vetted, and as America can see, when he is on the “stump” and under pressure, he loses it and can’t handle it…..therefore, he will never be President. Good job, Hillary! You’ve proven that you are the Democratic candidate and will go on to win the election! Hillary 08 !

Pope: America needs to be a land of hope for all!
It should be a sad day in ABC Land.
I was always taught, that when someone shows you who they are, YOU better believe them. Thanks Hillary, now I am sure to vote for Obama!!!!!!!

How can anyone say that last night’s “debate” was good? I heard nothing that satisfied me about border control, terrorism, taxes, education, health care, etc, etc.
I’m neutral but I sure didn’t think Hilary came off in the best light.

Is there any doubt that Obama supporters have the thinnest skins? Who are they taking their lead from?
I am so tired of people saying there are some subjects that are below the debate format.
My thinking is that the questions that continually and repeatedly come up for Obama to answer, come up because people are NOT satisfied with his previsous attempts at an answer.
Get a clue Obama campaign!

Neither ABC. Charlie nor Georgie anything to ‘inform the public’ about issues of true national interest. Instead,the ‘so called debate’ turned out to be a complete
sham. Shame on ABC and the lowball and shallow ‘debate questions’ posed by two
‘questioners’. (The term, ‘moderator’ assumes a person with respect for the integrity of their efforts. ) I/ we agree with SergioS and SHAN of approx 4:52PM entry
Ask yourselves, dear reader: Doesn’t it make sense that a persons’ style of leading/ managing a campaign for U.S. Preident be be indicative of ‘style and skills that person would bring to the job of U.S. President ? If you want a cadidate who would bring experience of putting forth a well managed, forward looking, issues oriented campaign while avoiding throwing devisive, misrepresented and issue – distracting tactics into the mix.. then its BARACK OBAMA for U.S. President. We just can’t afford the likes of Mrs. Clinton nor of Mr. McCain.

Obama wants to change “that kind of politics”? Old opponents from his congressional and senate races might get a big laugh from that characterization.
In the Senate race Obama used personal information that had been shared with Axelrod by his opponent when he was considering hiring Axelrod as his media consultant. Axelrod went instead with Obama and that candidates’ messy personal life – part of a sealed court record by the way – became part of Obama’s strategy to eliminate this guy.

These Obama fanatics need serious psycho therapy. These postings are ridiculous!

So Obama got Tax done yesterday? Paying student loan to a surplus of $4 million even before he is president? With this pace he is going to out do Clinton’s in no time. BTW ABC rocks!!

ABC made what I used to think were respectable anchors into tabloid journalists for Extra or TMZ. Can the American people get some issues here please? Obama was right in his remarks about it taking 45 min to hear the issues. ABC has lost much of my respect.

DISGUSTING. Is this is what our democracy has de-evolved into?
Regardless of what side of the fence you reside, that debate was a sham and an insult. ABC needs to fire the Clinton whipping boy. I’m done with ABC.

Anti gutter press guy- CONGRATULATIONS on a GREAT POST. You said it all. Let me just add that as a retired teacher, I have heard more intelligent questioning from a first grader than those that were posed by ABC. I also APPLAUD Obama for his restraint. NEVER confuse wisdom for weakness. This is NOT a weak man or a weak candidate. He is strong, with GREAT character. What a gentleman. I believe him that when the Republicans start to attack, that’s when his comebacks will be vicious.

I was not happy with ABC. It was clear that ABC’s intentions was to attack Obama along with Hillary. What a shame, I am so done with the media. One day all of this will come back and bite you in the you know what.
ABC off my list.

Wow! The Hypocrisy is BREATHTAKING!!! Where were Hillary, George and Charlie’s flag pins??!!!!!
ABC/FOX MERGER

I have no bias towards Obama or Clinton, so I think I can be objective when I say that Charles Gibson’s question to Obama about flag lapel pins marked a new low in American political discourse and for American journalism. Mr. Gibson should apologize to the American people for wasting our time and insulting our intelligence.

You people are just as bad a d the commantors last night. I was set to hear how the canindates were going to change this country. I am disguised with us as a nation. It is sad that we have come to this, I always knew that it was not going to be easy, but I never dreamed that it would be like this. The canindates are human and none of them are without sin, so for you who say you hate Obama or found it funny that predijice is okay even in the media. I have a problem with America and I am not proud of Americans.

When did Obama live with his grandparents? When did he live in Kansas? From everything I’ve read he was born in Hawaii, lived in Indonesia and came back to the U.S. to go to Occidental College which is in LA. Does he think visiting his grandma in the summer is living with her or just when did he live with her?

What the heck kind of LOADED TITLE is this?:
“Obama Attempts to Brush Off Tough Debate”
It was NOT a tough debate, and Obama didn’t need to ‘attempt’ to brush off anything, because nearly nothing was actually said but answers to meaningless questions and drivel.
It should actually read:
“ABC Attempts to Brush Off Tough Debate”

I LIKE CHARLIE AND GEORGE!But they are the ones that sucked last night, not the candidates! The phrasing of the questions were moronic at best. It’s as if they wanted a “gotcha!!” moment and and somehow box them in on issues. It was rather seedy. I felt like taking a shower afterwards. What about medicare, gas prices, social security, mortgage foreclosures? Does talking about the american flag lapel pin (probably made in China) put food on the table of struggling blue workers about to loose their homes? This is why the media gets lambasted. It’s a race to the bottom. We expected more from you “experienced” journalists.

ABC blew the chance to ask solid questions. Questions people in America are asking about 320,000 shell shocked troops, America’s food chain, disappearing student loans, outsourced jobs, rebuilding infrastructure and developing alternative energy. Instead, we got questions about American flag pins. ABC treated this debate like it was American Idol. Weak journalism – America deserves better.

Why this people here ask ABC to fire Gibson and George?
They don’t do anything wrong. All those questions are for the candidates to answer the truth about everything. Hillary supporters never ask Chris Matthew, Cooper and the gangs to get fired.
This was only ONE TIME your idol got the heat and you guys are so angry.
Hopefully if Obama did not win the election all of you won’t do something negative.

Prior to last night’s moderator performance, I had considered Charles Gibson one of the most unbiased of the news anchors. No more. His hostile, aggressive, negative questioning of Barak Obama was certainly not the performance of an unbiased observer, to say nothing of the quality of the questions. Thousands die in Iraq, and these moderators are concerned about lapel pins? Talking heads, indeed!

I watched the debate yesterday, and I was shocked to see ABC selected George Stephanopolos as a moderator for a debate involving Senator Clinton. A debate moderator needs to be neutral in order to maintain the integrity of the debate. The fact that he worked not only as one of Bill Clinton’s top campaign aides, but served on former President Clinton’s Cabinet should have immediately disqualified him. He has long ties to the Clintons, and clearly cannot meet the appearance of neutrality. The Debate was a sham. Shame on you ABC!

Best debate ever.
Hugs and Kisses to all of ABC,
Karl Rove

Best debate ever.
Hugs and Kisses to all of ABC,
Karl Rove

I’m concerned about the loss of civil liberties, the costs of the war, national debt/borrowing from China, corporate greed/lobbyists, college education costs, and a healthcare system I can’t afford.
I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT FLAG PINS!!

Last night’s “debate” was a travesty and and an insult to the American people. Charlie and George should hang thei heads in shame. I admire
Last night was a travesty. Charlie and George ought to hang their heads in shame. Obama tried to talk about issues but the moderators were more interested in dirt.
Shame on ABC. This so-called “debate” was a total waste of time.

Clearly last night was nothing more than a “hit job” on Obama. All the polls I’ve seen today show that people sided with him. Clinton supporters can claim a victory if they choose, everyone knows they have very little to brag about.

“ABC SHAME ON YOU FOR ATTACKING OBAMA JUST LIKE FOX NEWS. DID THE CLINTONS PAY YOU FOR THIS SHAMEFUL DEBATE.”
Posted by: Amira Hussein
———————–
Are you related to B. Hussein Obama?
LOL!

The world is ending before our eyes,the last days are truly here ! Take a look at events all around the world . starvation ,flooding , riots , murder, bombs going off everywhere ,record tornados , record temps , all nations are at , or near war , food shortage , gas shortage , energy shortage , job shortage ,money shortage . And look at our children , school shootings , school killings , school beatings , on video tape . People here in America of all races are killing eachother , and even their children . people are getting really bold , stabbing people in broad public view . America is changing . The love for our fellow man is beginning not to exist . When , not if , Theese problems get to the point of destroying America ,then will we start trying to fix the country ! We have a chance to start today, by watching the debate last night we can see what our country is changiong into.

I’m so GLAD that Obama is able to have talks with very scary people and still come out with his head screwed on straight. Obviously, NONE of those “associations” have bent him over to the dark side. LOL. I’m PROUD of him for being able to talk. It proves he’s a good negotiator. It proves he is not AFRAID of getting in the lion’s den with lions. That is AWESOME. I REALLY HOPE he wins, for the sake of a strong America and a strong Israel, and friendships with the middle east that will transcend their usual bickerings together, and perhaps bring about REAL peace!!!!!!!!!!

Senator Clinton was totally in her element. She knows where to take this country. That other guy, he was out there last night. Expressing views of Republicans..trying to steal votes off of McCain aye? It was defintiely not a debate, it was more of a talk show. ABC, why did you allow this to happen? You were on top of your game until this stunt.

Hillary’s digs into Obama is nothing more than an attempt to prevent an honest debate on honest issues because she is not qualified.
I ‘m totally disappointed with ABC. George and Charlie should be ashamed at the way they handled this debate. They fall in step with most of the other media out there helping in the persecution of yet another black man.

If ABC thinks these are tough questions, they need to just admit they are the cartoon network.

Hillary has not even started to be hammered – all that baggage she says has been aired is going to be all aired again – and likely by the same pair of moderaters from a network endorsing John McCain.
At least last night’s debate has shown the American people one thing that has become increasingly obvious throughout the primary season for BOTH parties – we cannot allow the media to run these debates. They don’t represent the American people, are too professionally elitist to understand the issues facing the country, and have their own corporate agenda which conflicts with the public interest. There can no longer be debates sponsored by national media companies that are so out-of-touch that they are dependent upon manufactured “controversies” – often created by themselves, as the guideposts for providing the American people information to safeguard our freedom and system of government.

Mariann Pepitone – It is easy for Hillary to not pause and think about a question – she just lies.

I can’t believe ABC hosted such a horrible debate. I’m going to vote for Hillary Clinton but I really hope ABC never hosts another debate. THEY SUCKED

ABC’s handling of this “debate” marked a new low in American elections “news.”
There was no debate, no chance for the candidates to debate. There was just a series of hostile, “gotcha” interrogations. There was a bitterness in ABC’s approach that was truly disgusting.
Stephanopoulous’ behavior was shameful; Gibson was vile. It was as though he had taken off his habitual mask of objectivity and reason, and shown us a monster.
I have been a working journalist for 39 years. I had not thought it possible to be further appalled by the behavior of my fellow journalists, but your performance has made be realize that, when it comes to the sad decline of our profession, the bottom has yet to be reached.
Shame on you!
TD Allman

Clinton looked like she was given a shot of some kind of joy juice prior to coming onto the stage. Clinton…America’s “ugly” Eva Peron.

Why would anyone want to spend 2 hours listening to overly rehearsed responses to so-called “important issues?” Charlie and George did us all a favor by giving us the chance to see if the dem candidates were ready to go toe-to-toe with John McCain. They not only showed us that they were not, they proved they couldn’t dance well either.

THIS DEBATE WAS PRO-HILARY AND TOTALLY AGAINST SENATOR BARACK OBAMA. SHAME ON ABC NEWS CHANNEL. HOW COME THEY NEVER MENTIONED THE MARK PENN SCANDAL ABOUT THE COLUMBIAN TRADE AGREEMENT,AND THE PARDONS THAT EX-PRESIDENT CLINTON GAVE TO TERRORISTS, AND THE LONG DIRTY LIST OF CONSTRIBUTERS TO THE CLINTONS LIBRARY, AND THE MONICA LEWINSKY SCANDAL AND THE ASSOCIATION WITH BILLYGRAHAM-WHO MADE NASTY RACIAL REMARKS AGAINST JEWS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

45 minutes?
We’ve been waiting for 15 months to see if Obama has a real plan. We didn’t get anything substantial. Is that the politics we want? Is that the hope we want?

I understand that this contest can get personal and there will be many attacks. But what I witness last night was an ambush. I have awoke to ABC for years but I will no longer support their new organization. I had my 13 year old daughter watch and she kept asking why are the host attacking him. ABC you are better than that. Charlie Gibson you have lost my respect.

It wasn’t a debate, it was a puerile circle jerk for clueless Beltway bubbleboys.
Wake up, morons. The American public aren’t interested in this crap. You’ve destroyed your credibility.

“They fall in step with most of the other media out there helping in the persecution of yet another black man.”
———–
What is wrong with you Obama people? You play the race card to death and then cry about it.

Thank-you Charlie and George. It’s about time we see a real debate. It was time someone stepped up to the plate and asked Obama the questions a lot of us wanted answered. Clinton didn’t attack him, she out-debated him. He appeared surprised and annoyed. The press has given him a free ride until now, and he was completely befuddled. And when given the chance to discuss the issues he stammered and talked in circles. And now his arrogance won’t allow him to admit…he lost.Trying to be Mr. Nice guy PALEEEZE.

To: E.R.B.
Good Luck with your boycott – we can’t even get Americans to boycott Exxon Mobil
To: Happy Idiot Talk
Pack up – your plane leaves in an hour
To: Tired of Politics
Ditto – Obama and Bush have something in common
To: Nerakami
Thank you ! I tho’t I was the only one that noticed.

Obamanites should be thankful that he was not questioned more on the real issues or he would have been..uh..uh..I agree with Senator Clinton.lol..Without a teleprompter he is nothing but an empty suit who is trying to mamble words that does not even answer the questions. Hillary was knowledgeable..she explained what she will do and how she will do it when she becomes the president. Obama looked so irritated and kept on saying “AS I SAID BEFORE”. Come on now. Brush it off all you can but the American people just saw the side of you that is not fit to become the POTUS.

You go ABC!!! It is important to see how a candidate handles himself or herself under pressure. That’s why the questions were important. Obama has not been tested and gets uncomfortable and stutters when he is asked a tough question. The Republicans will have him for lunch!! He’s not ready for primetime.
ABC did Americans a great service by pointing out his weaknesses.

Where are the Obama supporters? You think they’d be upset over last night’s horrible performance by Obama. I see a lot of anti-ABC folks today. Ant-Charlie and anti-George people? Anyone? Does anyone know if moveon.org far left wing fruit cakes like anything?

I’M GLAD THEY BROUGHT UP THE FLAG LAPEL
gLAD THEY BROUGHT UP WRIGHT
GLAD THEY BROUGHT UP AYERS
I wish they had brought up Louis Farrakhan, why Princeton University has removed Michelle Oboobas thesis on race, and Obamas terrorist ties.
So do a LOT of other Americans, regardless of what you paid Obama bloggers are whining about.

I didn’t watch much of the debate because I’ve already seen like 12 of them and all of the previous one on one’s. But is anyone really shocked that this debate was tough on Obama? There has been several stories that erupted since the last debate and most of them were negatives for Obama. Oh, and he is clearly winning this race. Of course they would focus on those negatives. Add in a former Clinton White House Staffer in George S. as a questioner and it makes for a combustible situation.

ABC must fire Charlie G. and George S. for their debate performance.

Brush the haters off!! LOFL!!! Seriously, the only reason people are still upset about the Wright issue are. A: They are still formulating a misguided opinion based on eight second soundbites taken from an “amazing” preacher’s sermon. Or, B: Your just pissed he wont throw his preacher, or his beliefs under a bus in order to become president. Unlike so many other amazing candidates that will say anything to appease your ignorant behinds. Oh, and you are considered a hater if you write blogs based on faulty theories, lacking facts or logic.

PamsDisgustedbyABC
Pams is alias for Bill O’Reilly

PamsDisgustedbyABC – The republicans like Obama’s performance so much last night they say:
9:19 pm ET: A Republican strategist offers this, to ABC’s Karen Travers: “I think we’re going to buy 90 minute infomercials in October to replay this . . . I can’t believe Obama’s answer on Ayers. It’s like he never even considered the question. Doesn’t he do debate prep?! His answer was so bad/wrong/misleading/offensive – it’s going to be a huge problem for him . . .”

Haha – ABC finally got to ask tough questions to BHO and he did not have a clue how to answer it. Comeon Barack you are in the big leagues now and should handle his well. Ofcourse He has zero experience and a whole lot of baggage. All he can use is a prepared speech which would crown him his next messiah.
We need a Fighter not a talker in the white house

ABC should be totally ashamed for its slanted and totally unprofessional performance. George S. used a question that he took from Sean Hannity….Gibson sounded like he took his questions directly from the McCain handbook. Will they, as the rest of the media has,continue give McCain a free and easy ride? Or will they get “a set” and ask him important questions like….His putting on knee pads to Parsley and Haggie. I doubt it.
Both men had some stature as journalists; but, they will have to work long and hard to regain any sense
of respect. To that point….you just lost me as a viewer. I will go elsewhere.

Trash journalism again. Apparently, ABC has decided that “tough” questions include asking McCain about adultery, bringing up his friendship with the North Vietnamese captors and his propaganda tapes, asking if he is baptized, and why he can’t seem to know who we are fighting in Iraq. Oops…that last question might be one the American people are interested in, so we aren’t apt to see it.
We won’t see them ask the other questions either – the network only takes it cues from right wing gossip and rumor mongers. . .and then decides THAT is what the American people has on its mind.
It’s too bad they didn’t ask Hillary what she thought about being endorsed by Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. . .I think Democrats would have been very interested in that answer.

Poor Obama….asked such tough questions!! But we would like to know why he hangs with terrorists, why his mentor is a racist, why he stereotypes white people, why he disses the values of small-town folk, why he loves abortion, why he spouts socialism, why he hates America!!!!!

I compared the debate last night with Geraldo let’s see what’s in Al Capone’s vault show. Everybody’s hyped to see it and then there was nothing in the vault but old moonshine bottles.
A major disappointment at best.

I’m reading the comments and it sounds like 2 or 3 Obama people are typing them all – very similar patterns.
I’m setting my DVR to George’s Sunday show in support of his GUTS for doing his job last night. It was a great debate, very fair. Obama’s lack of experience showed. Don’t blame ABC if he wasn’t prepared.

ABC is disgusting with the way its anchors handled the debate. Why did you assign Stephanopoulous o
to be one of the moderators? Common sense dictate that you should have avoided this conflict of interest.
Even you online site is biased against Obama, the way Tapper is writing his blogs — it’s plain to see the bias.

McCarthyism, all the way. Obama was totally dignified. I will never watch ABC news again.

Dear ABC News,
I can not believe the way you allowed bozo brothers, Charlie and George, to completely ruin the “debate.” I have never seen a “moderator” interrupt a candidate more often or with such zeal. It was as if the “moderators” were also in the debate and makes me wonder who really pays the bills at ABC. Congrats on your conservative attack.

Dear ABC News,
I can not believe the way you allowed bozo brothers, Charlie and George, to completely ruin the “debate.” I have never seen a “moderator” interrupt a candidate more often or with such zeal. It was as if the “moderators” were also in the debate and makes me wonder who really pays the bills at ABC. Congrats on your conservative attack.

Very disappointed in both George and Charlie! I hope the George and Fox News thing is not true.
They lowered themselves to and the worst part was the lack of substance, so we all suffered.
No one won!
Spin all you want!

Yesterday’s debate in Philadelphia was the worst that I have ever seen in my life. An amateur attempt by two horrible amatuers, fit for the ‘Fair and Balanced’ network. Digging on irrelevant trash rather than substance, they trivialized the nature of the problems this country faces. In particular Stephanopoulos showed he is still a Clinton hack, masquerading as an impartial, objective (albeit a third rate) journalist.
Abe

Oh, by the way, GUNS SUCK!!! They are meant for one thing only, death. Many other great nations do not allow handguns, and they are doing just fine. SInce you bible belt brethren’s love the good book so much, maybe you should abide by the great commandment. “Thou shall not Kill”
Oh but who am i kidding? How are we supposed to make millions off of people if we cant sell handguns to sociopaths and the average joe at gun shows and walmart? Hunting? Who the hell needs to hunt nowadays? EVOLUTION!!! STOP TRYING TO FIGHT IT BILLY BOB!

I just took ABC News seriously for the last time. I hope the wretched excuse for journalism on display last night at least shuts up the Hillary camps endless whining about media bias.

Bringing up things like “the pastor” and “bitter” and running it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over is essential to Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and others. They are 24-hour news networks, and since there isn’t enough real news or quality news to cover in a 24 hour period every single day, they need to dwell on these non-issues to fill up space and ultimately sell advertising time. There are just too many players in the game, many of them amateur at best, all competing with each other. The goal is not truth. The game is, whomever manufactures the most issues and screams the loudest, wins. And the reason it continues, is because many of you reading these words right now buy into this garbage and fuel their fire. Stop staring at the sun. It’s blinding you and you can no longer see the difference between what matters and what is manufactured.

ABC still has news?

I have tryed all my 47 years not to HATE white people, but after last night it becomes more and more difficult.That was just terrible the way they won PA for Clinton. I am very disapointed in the American people. May God have MERCY on YOU! And that’s rught Obama like JAY-Z said,”BRUSH THAT DIRT IFF YOUR SHOULDER”!

I have sat through every single debate and felt cheated every time, because it was clear that the people asking the questions were determined to keep Senator Clinton from being president. Last night I thought it would probably be more of the same from ABC. I was pleasantly surprised to see ABC have the guts to actually question Obama. The rest of the media have pretty much treated him like the second coming.

we should thank you to ABC which is the only network is so brave and love the country so much.
They asked those questions about terrorist etc because they care about America, don’t you think?
Good jobs Charlie, George..

Thank Goodness that Charlie and George finally challenged Obama. He has gotten this far by not having to answer the tough questions and we see how well he does under pressure. This man is not ready to be president.

OH AND BY THE WAY I JUST CANCELED ABC FROM MY TIVO , AND I ALSO SWITCHED TO BARACK OBAMA, HILLARY WITCH LIAR CLINTON LOST MY VOTE.
OBAMA 08

Tough debate? It was a disgrace. ABC is the one trying to brush off criticism.

ABC: Apologize or fire Tweedle Dum & Dee debate moderators. I and many other will not turn on ABC for news again. It isn’t just that they were biased against Obama, it’s that they acted like National Enquirer reporters rather than real journalists.

How very sad ABC news cannot afford some qualified journalists. Charlie should be waring the Mickey Mouse suit at Disney World and Georgie Boy should take up fishing in the Adriactic Sea.
This calculated against B.O. is outrageous and inexcusable. I used to watch Georgie Boy on Sundays but after his biased and mindless performance you would have to put a gun to my head.
HRC is pathetic and a loser. All they care about is money and power.
North Carolina is Obama’s firewall. This is where it finally ends for Clinton’s Used Car Sales.

The golden boy got some hard questions last night and could not handle it…what is he going to do in Novemeber. How come Hillary has been taking all this heat, and nobody sees her sweating..Isn’t this woman amazing..

I was appalled by the way you treated Barack Obama last night. You acted like gunslingers out for a “hit”, going over ground that he had covered in the press already. It was almost an entire night or “gotcha”, and you paid no attention to his desire to stay at a higher level than the two of you were able to do. You became part of the problem with the press…always looking for something sensational that would put a feather in your caps. I thought you both were above that kind of cheap play, but you were not. Back to Tim Russert on Sunday for my wife and me. And Gibson, you tried to look so erudite with your horned-rims (sic): that didn’t work either.

“FairytaleGate”, FlagpinGate”, MLK/Lyndon JohnsonGate”, “Tax ReturnsGate”, MonicaGate”, “Rev. WrightGate”, “Jesse Jackson Comparison Gate”, “BosniaGate”, ChelseaGate” are all distractions by the MEDIA (print, TV Networks, Cable, Sunday Morning Talk Shows, Cable Talk Shows, etc. to defeat the Democrats. We supporters of both candidates should not have bought into it and look what we have now President McCain – the Media’s Darling – he received a standing ovation at the AP’s Annual Luncheon on Monday and Sen. Obama didn’t. They don’t call him out on his flip flopping on the issues (ex. h2O boarding).
The issues should have been debated/reported not these nonsense.
Thanks and well said Raflin and Media For McCain.
Democrats let’s stop this in fighting and join together to defeat the media and the republicans in November.

ABC=ClintonNews,
What’s an insult to the intellectual capacity of the American people is NOT ABC, BUT Obama! He and his bogus change…

Hillary “vast right-wing conspiracy, bimbo eruption” Clinton supporters are making the claim that Obama whines?
Really?!
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Wow, lots of comments on this issue and I am not surprised. ABC news has really lowered their standards and their level of professional ethics. Even today, ABC still can not accurately report their own lack of professionalism last night. How delusional. Just say it…… you made a bad call and did a bad job last night. ABC, may be a time to do a POLL ON YOURSELF!! believe me Americans want to respond after that tabloid style performance

I was disgusted listening to Charles and George sounding more like a tabloid reporter than a debate moderator. I didn’t expect to see fair treatment of the 2 candidates by Gibson, he displayed a deplorable level of hypocrisy and bigotry in pontificating sanctimonious self-righteous diatribes criticizing John Kerry back in ’04 referring to him as ‘a fake heroe’ – who courageously served in active duty at ground zero in the Vietnam War … Who was awarded the “Bronze Star, Silver Star and three Purple Hearts for combat duty as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam.”
But, ABC has sunk to a new low with me. I’d like to know how the 2 candidates are going to address our looming federal deficits, our rising health care costs, food costs – but, Charles and George only seem to care about flag pins, and past associates.
SHAME ON ABC, GIBSON AND STEPHANOPOLOUS – YOU CALL YOURSELVES JOURNALISTS???????

It’s clear that ABC News has instructed its newsmen to be water-carriers for the Republican Party. Rather than a real debate about important issues, the first 45 minutes of the debate dealt with phony issues trumpeted by Republicans, and done under the guise of the pseudo-issue of “electability.” I won’t bother to turn to ABC News next time I want to hear a discussion of the real issues facing the American people in this election.

ABC moderators in the debate were unfair in the time they devoted to inflammatory questions for one of the candidates. A rough analysis of the content of the trascript would show a 5-1 or 10-1 bias.
So, the question naturally arises as to what their agenda was.
Why doesn’t ABC do a poll on the public perceptions of the moderators’ desperately partisan performance?
Don’t we have just as much right to know about the biases of the moderators who set the question agenda as those of the candidates forced to answer the questions?
Or does ABC renounce any reaponsibility or accountability to the public?

ABC moderators in the debate were unfair in the time they devoted to inflammatory questions for one of the candidates. A rough analysis of the content of the trascript would show a 5-1 or 10-1 bias.
So, the question naturally arises as to what their agenda was.
Why doesn’t ABC do a poll on the public perceptions of the moderators’ desperately partisan performance?
Don’t we have just as much right to know about the biases of the moderators who set the question agenda as those of the candidates forced to answer the questions?
Or does ABC renounce any reaponsibility or accountability to the public?

Thank you ABC THANK YOU Finally someone is asking the questions so that we may get to know the REAL Obama finally and to see how he will he handle himself when hit with the really hard questions and realities that are facing all of us this is the response we will get at 3am……thank you

Obama’s campaign has been sending out emails, urging people to complain about the debate…lol Obama – A change you can’t believe in!

HOW ABOUT ALL OF YOU CRY BABIES THAT SAY YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO WATCH ABC AGAIN LEAVE THE FORUM IF YOU’RE SO DISGUSTED?
Hypocrites, liars. You’re not going to do anything of the sort. You just can’t handle the truth, he sucks.

Obama expects everyone, including ABC NEWS, to bow to him. He has a koolaid drinking cult not asking him specifics. Sorry if the rest of the country is too smart for the liberal lunatics. ABC News finally asked Obama a question about his judgment. He has claimed he has 12 years of helping the small peoplek, but he seems to be helping only anti-American radicals. For those who want to stop free speech, to suppress the FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS of Charlie Gibson to actually dare ask LORD OBAMA a question. then shame on you. Obama is an empty suit. He has never ever given anything specific. He has surrounded himself with haters. Thankfully, someone finally didn’t spend an entire debate asking Obama if he was comfortable.
OBAMA IS A CRY BABY. THE LIBERAL MEDIA WANTS US TO GO ALONG WITH THE OBAMA BANDWAGON. DON’T LET THEM STIFLE YOUR RIGHT TO DISSENT AGAINST THE OBAMA McCARTYITES.

I hope Obama sticks it to ABC for this travesty when it comes time to debate McCain. Hopefully NBC or CBS will get the big debates, and the sponsors. It will teach ABC a lesson. They should not be so frivolous with such grave concerns as the issues of the day.
The were no hot button issues here, only hot button innuendoes and tabloid gossip.
Hillary had her phoney stewardess smile pasted on her face all night.

The “debate” was a disgusting display of Gotcha. It was absurd, given all the problems the next president is going to be facing.
What we desperately need to know is, how are you goiong to resolve, and pay for, each one of the country’s problems, and in what order?
The news media are failing us, just the same as local state and federal government, as well as organized religion.
Our broadcast news media have all reverted to entertainment, at a time when we need the Fourth Estate to do the job it is supposed to do.
It had better get better soon, or I may have to leave the country I love. It’s on the brink of total collapse, and all the news media can do is to attack a presidential candidate for the actions of his neighbor and his former pastor, then try to catch the other candidate (again) in one of her many lies. Were they not listening to themselves as those matters were discussed 24/7 during the week prior to the debate?

The Obama supporters can’t stand it when the true Obama is exposed.

Obama supporters are acting like sissys,”I hate ABC”, “ABC better apologize”..come on people. Your candidate was asked some tough questions, things the American people have been talking about, and you all freak out. Pathetic. Mccain is gonna smoke this chump. Almost feel bad for you pinkos.

Dear ABC News
During the first half of the debate, I tried to imagine the reaction of Peter Jennings to the performance of George and Charlie. At the end of the debate, I was certain that Mr. Jennings would never have allowed this spectacle to happen during his tenure as managing editor. Out of respect for the legacy of Mr. Jennings, I have decided never to watch your broadcast again. After 30 years of loyally watching your broadcasts, I can not continue. I simply no longer trust you.

ABC you got this wrong. Taking questions right out of Hannity’s playbook. Stephy you gave me a reason to sleep in on Sunday and not bother with your show anymore.
I used to kinda respect ABC news, but after that performance by Gibson and Stephy… nope you guys really sucked last night.
Worst questions and moderating I have seen this year. The Dems should have boycotted ABC along with FOX.
And then the headline on this story… please…

In these important times the media shows always its true face. The “so-called” debate has proven us how LOW ABC can go. They have surpassed even the FOX news.
BOYCOTT ABC and FOX NEWS. Teach them a DEMOCRATIC lesson.
Prevent them from conducting “hit-jobs”.

Childish behavior. Why not have a good cry. Honestly, he should be ashamed. Pity himself like a baby in order to gain some sympathy!

YOU MUST KNOW THAT GEORGE SAWHATEVER HIS NAME GOT HIS QUESTIONS STRAIGHT FROM SEAN HANNITY. I WAS LISTING TO SEAN HANNITY ON THE RADIO THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DEBATE/WHEN THE MIDGET EMPTY SUIT GEORGE GOT HIS QUESTIONS FROM HANNITY.ITS NOT A RUMOR. HE TOLD SEAN HE WROTE DOWN ALL THE QUESTIONS SEAN WANTED HIM TO ASK/SURE ENOUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WAS ASKED. WHY DIDN’T HE LET SEAN HANNITY MODERATE THE “FIASCO”/DEBATE/ JUST PLAIN TABLOID NONSENSE

Waa. Waa. Waa. From the Obama babies. I’m loving it! Great job ABC! Bravo, George! Magnificent, Charlie!

It seems the 4th estate of the fascists reared its head last night…distract, divide, conquer..are the tactics of the beast. Watch out..the demise of the middle class is closer than you think. If you think the last 7 years have been bad, just wait for 100 more years of war that will just bankrupt us a nation..but the right wing fascists will have their warprofits in hand and will not care. We can stuff the genie back in the bottle but it will take all of us. We are the change we’ve been waiting for. Wake up America. It’s smoke and mirrors, the real terrorists are hiding behind their falg pins…

Cudos to ABC. While it’s not the case “no stone was left unturned” (because there are many, many more floating around online) this was a FIRST – major media brave enough to open the “Pandora’s Box” of Obama’s closet at all. So keep your humor, Charles and George, your efforts at shining some much needed light into that darkness are much appreciated.
As for Obama’s after remarks (above) if they weren’t so manipulative (as ever) they’d just be plain funny:
like “restraining himself” because he is such a good guy and she is a fellow democrat! The only people he could fool there are those blind, deaf and dumb. He has used his campaign rear guard to attack Hillary Clinton, beyond all bounds of decency, for months now. Some Obamanites favorite blogs use the same terms to describe his opponent that usually are vernacular of prison inmates.
Was he also “restraining himself” when never commented nor condemned Randi Rhodes opened an official Obama rally calling the other Pres. candidate a F……W… right over the mike, to much Obama supporter and STAFF applause?
Was he “restraining himself” when he bitterly complained (after one of his own outed his SF remarks) that there wasn’t supposed to be any press there or he’d never have talked that way?
Is he “restraining himself” now by ignoring, as usual, the condemnation of a chief supporter, Rev. Eric Leeks of LA, who recently verbally assaulted a Jewish female humanitarian, on stage, right after she received a reward at a Martin Luther King celebration and he told her, on stage, over the mike: “Now that Barack is our leader, we can come out with how we really feel about you, jews”…. and continued to rant how the Jews are to blame for all the black people’s problems in US today?!
Those who get the picture see where the bitterness and divisive attacks are really coming from. Obama is behind them and enables them 100%.
So, please Charles and George, give it a laugh and know what all sane bloggers have learned: The only way NOT to be maligned for attacking Obama is to simply worship him – and whatever you do, never question him.
Oh, and one more rule: We must all understand that we have no right or sense to consider THE INTEGRITY OF A CANDIDATE FOR LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD to be of any consequence or merit, as an issue.

ABC has bigger boobs than Mae West. These two should heed Jon Steward’s advice to the Crossfire hosts: “Just stop it! The country needs you!”

Great debate, finally the media asked Obama some hard questions. He didn’t hold up too well. Go Hillary!

Wow, lots of comments on this issue and I am not surprised. ABC news has really lowered their standards and their level of professional ethics. Even today, ABC still can not accurately report their own lack of professionalism last night. How delusional. Just say it…… you made a bad call and did a bad job last night. ABC, may be a time to do a POLL ON YOURSELF!! believe me Americans want to respond after that tabloid style performance

Obama when home last night and called Rev. Wright and siad you were right No, No, No, G*d Dam* America!
Michelle Obama then said I’m not proud of my country anymore… again.

JMK – very well said.

“Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., both literally and figuratively, tried to brush off a rough performance after Wednesday night’s debate on ABC.”
I think ABC News is the one with the “rough performance.”

There was one key moment in the debate.
‘can Obama beat McCain?’
‘…Yes, yes, yes’
With that Hillary left the stage.

pleasedontwastemytime – Waa. Waa. Waa.

I guess Obama finally figured out that affirmative action doesn’t mean he gets treated like a china doll by every media outlet. Was Charlie Gibson supposed to sigh when Obama talked? Was George Stephanopolus supposed to say he got tingles up his leg when Obama breathed? The left-wing print and news media has been dillusional about Obambi. He was treated as fairly as Hillary. You guys just aren’t used to Barack not getting preferential treatment. The corrupt media, being manipulated by David Axelrod a JOURNALIST who runs Obama’s campaign, is upset that a man of principal like Charlie Gibson actually demanded Obama explain himself. Obama looked ridiculous, and his “fans” can’t handle the truth.
HE IS AM EMPTY SUIT.

It seems most of the people who had problems with ABC actually had problems with their candidate’s inability to explain his past ‘mis-speaks’. Most of the other news outlets give him a poor performance rating. He is now attacking ABC (as is his normal modus operandi) and is again explaining his earlier explanations.

Thank you Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolus for asking tough questions of BOTH candidates!
Well, Obama supporters, welcome to OUR world. Poor babies, their golden boy wasn’t handled with kid gloves like they’re so used to. He actually had to face up to some tough questions. And he didn’t fare too well either. Stumbling and lying about handwriting that was on a questionnaire but he insists wasn’t etc. Yes, they’re angry, because their candidate was finally challenged to answer with specifics and not generalities like “hope and unity” blah blah blah. Geez. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Hillary has been facing this tough line of questioning for months — grow up!
As is typical of Barack Obama when faced with evidence to the contrary he lies. Right to the camera. This man cannot be trusted and his judgment is highly questionable. He is not any kind of “fresh” or “new” politician of hope and change. He’s just the same as all the other politicians who want to get elected. He never admits his mistakes or apologizes instead he obfuscates the issue with rhetoric or points to something else. Hillary Clinton at least has apologized over and over for a simple mistake in memory over some trivial thing like Bosnia. Also, re: Bosnia, there IS evidence, a video out there, that just prior to landing there had been sniper fire in the area and a general has supported Hillary’s account of this. But of course, it doesn’t make for sensational copy in the MSM to admit she was not lying about this incident. So she wasn’t running under a hail of sniper fire. Again, at least she apologized. He never does. And that’s the difference between a candidate who can admit a flaw and one who thinks he’s above his flaws.

I was extremely disappointed that the moderators for ABC took a play out of Karl Rove’s playbook to deter voters and candidates from the issues that mean something to voters! I tuned in to hear the candidates speak on the issues – War, Health Care, Economy, etc. Not to watch the reporters throw sand in the candidates faces. What a waste of a precious hour. One might assume from this debate that the media is part of the problem and in tight cahoots with Republicans. I’m changing the channel.

Last night’s debate was a political hit job by a former Clintonista (George Stephanopolous) and a Clinton donor (Charlie Gibson). It has to be the worst performance for any network in the history of televised debates. How emarrasing and sad for the country. How slimy indeed!

Obama continues his attacks unabated….It’s just when he’s unsripted that he runs into problems…like he has no answers.
So as his campaign continues its lie and smear campaign in the media his grassroots supporters spread their message of anger and threats.
I do not believe there are enough “bitter” people in America to elect this man President. I know for a fact he has lost the potential of my vote.
Look guys when the reality does not match the message…and when Obama continues to lie about all the relationships in his life…it gets a little creepy.
I like Obama’s policies more than McCains…because he got them from Clinton…but this guy is an obvious “divider”…
GW Bush ran as a uniter too, and as in this case that is just a campaign strategy!
Passive agressive anger is still anger and some of us see the disconnect,
Hillary or McCain will get my vote.

To: Larry — You sound as if you are not a newborn racist, but a well-seasoned one. To imply that you now “HATE” white people because of last night’s debate, would be like me saying I now “HATE” African Americans because Michael Vick was convicted of dogfighting. Don’t generalize, look beyond skin color. It is clear that you cannot.

what happen to the issue ,the questions you was asking really upset me.

So True
Obama supporters can’t handle the truth.
He got caught lying, and stuttered like a dufus. He finally didn’t get the red carpet treatment. He got treated like everyone else.
Is he bitter??
Is he clinging to his pillow?
Is he clinging to his false persona?
Is he clinging to his racist preacher?
Is he clinging to his unrepentant terrorist buddy?
Is he clinging to Hamas?
Cling, Obama, Cling.
I feel sorry for all his supporters. It is like turning 10 and finding out there is no Santa Claus. Oh, wait, maybe Obama supporters still don’t know that. I am so sorry. Did I ruin it for the ObamaNuts? 30, 40, 50 years old finding out there is not Santa and your candidate Obama is not such a great guy, that he has been lying, that his resume is thin, that he is a liar.

Obama was so careful about his answers
in the debate that his responses to questions were long winded, and incoherent at times. It was obviously not a good night for him, and it shameful that his supporters want to
put the blame on ABC for his poor
performance.

Obama was so careful about his answers
in the debate that his responses to questions were long winded, and incoherent at times. It was obviously not a good night for him, and it shameful that his supporters want to
put the blame on ABC for his poor
performance.

The below and probably above posts are pretty pathetic. It is amazing how all of our news has followed the Jerry Springer mentality. I have to admit when I watched the debate I enjoyed watching both of the candidates struggle with the questions.
But when the smoke cleared and the buzz whore off, I noticed the questions that the candidates had a tough time answering didn’t have anything to do with policies. ABC did a great job of distracting us from what was important. I can’t speak for everyone on here but as a fairly young (35) single African American man and a working professional these are scary times. I am in that top 6% of Americans making over six figures and let me tell you I sure don’t feel like I make more than 94% of the country. And with the way the economy is heading it continues to grow more and more difficult.
We need to ask more from our news outlets. Whether you are for Obama, Hilleary or McCain, we have some serious problems ahead of us and we should demand our news to ask them real questions on how they can fix these issues. Last night was grocery store checkout magazine trash. It was as though they had Brittney Spears and Lohan on the witness stand. And we all cheered with joy but in the end we were the ones getting screwed!
We all like to believe we are smart but last night we all lost a piece of our dignities and a real opportunity to learn more about the people who can possibly save our jobs, soldiers, future and that piece of the American Dream!
Shame on us all for cheering and supporting last nights day time talk show pretending to be a debate.

Do you promise not to raise taxes on the middle class voters making less than $250,000 a year?
What the hell was that all about? I make $50,000. The average income per household in America is about $48,000. That is a total combined income! Talk about self interest from the moderators.
Social Security? A tax? It is one of the few Government functions that actually delivers some benefit. They can raise my Social security tax, it at least it will not fall through the roof when the fear and greed crowd on wall street act.
Out of Touch? God Almighty ABC!

Obama — not so smart when his puppet-masters aren’t pulling the strings. Now the world sees that he’s a total vacuum.

Please look at Obama’s appearance on the view. Then compare it to McCain’s appearance on The View. McCain got grilled by pretend journalists, and Obama got complimented for an hour. Come on folks, this is America. Your candidate is not going to get preferential treatment by fair minded Americans. Most Americans have led a decent life and don’t have the liberal guilt of some of the posters here. Most of us don’t live in Upper East Side Condos or vacation on 454 ft yachts like the Huffington Post and MoveOn.org crowd. Our kids are in integrated school, have a diverse group of friends, and we don’t feel we owe anyone a vote.

BTW, George Stephanopolous left the Clinton administration in the first term under somewhat unfriendly conditions, he later wrote a book and was critical of Hillary Clinton. He is no mouthpiece for the Clintons. Now if it had been James Carville, then you’d have a case!
Man, just because Obama gets manhandled in one out of 19 debates you people go off the deep end. Unbelievable attitude you all have here! What a sense of entitlement! Hey, you think this was tough? Wait till the Republicans go to town on BO.

Obama did suck, he always says the same old tired answer when asked about something related to any negative, “same old washington politics” Thats his only defense? Yes because there is no defense for him even being where he is! people talk about Hillary acting like shes entitleed to the presidency! Well what about Obama, who does he think he is, A Senetor with 2 yrs experience, give me a break, if he can rrun for president, then anyone with money can! And to all the ones who talk about how much money the Clintons made in seven yrs. Check out how much he and his wife made in one year. They went from one million in 2006 to almost five million in 2007! And look at where Wright is buying his ten million mansion, predominantly White rich neighborhood. Yep they are oppressed alright1 and he Understands working class people, my foot!

Obama is going home to Chicago, or as the Reverend Wright would say
THE CHICKEN IS COMING HOME TO ROOST

Dogsoldier,WCM,Geevil, Hillary’s supp at al,
Are you still there?
Did you see that how many of O’s supporters are complaining and ask ABC to fire Charlie and George.
They are making up some story, bribing etc, ridiculous.
We never aks Chris Matthew, Anderson and the gangs to get fired.
This remind me like American Idols “sanjaya” who voted off and all the teenagers cried so badly.
I believe now when last time people say they threatened super delegates. It seems the same now.

Obama — an empty suit exposed! Now, let the whining begin as Obama goes quickly into his normal attack mode.
A uniter? Sure!

Obama got embarrassed when he was finally asked a question about the economy, specifically the capital gains rate. With 100 million people owning stock, it effects so many people. Yet he was totally clueless. He stuttered, and whined, and came up with the idea that even if it increase revenue, it was unfair not raise taxes on capital gains to 28% or more. He is totally out of touch with reality. He said it depended on Wall Street and how business was going. What the heck is he talking about? What business, his book writing business? His wife’s no show job? Anyone with a degree from college should have cringed from his explanation. He did better defending his militant friends than talking about the economy.

It’s hard for the guy to hide his incompetence.

So much for a candidate that labeled himself “transparent, transformative and transcending”.
Obama is showing us that he’s just like any other politician. So what’s he got left to distinguish himself? Huh?
Oh yeah, I forgot: He’s Black!

The Debate yesterday:
It was an insult to the American people for ABC’s lack of focus on the real issues in the campaign rather than ad hominem personal attacks on Obama and to a lessor extent, Hilary. I used to watch ABC, but now I doubt if I will.

Boy, how the Obama fans rationalize their candidate’s lack of candor and honesty.

abcdebate – Anyone who plays games on any gaming system including on computers know how to cheat on little things like internet polling. 10 year old stuff.

Obambi seems so bitter, bitter, bitter.
He was so humiliated.

Obama blows it and Wally goes into the blame and attack mode.
Wow!

I’m one of those who felt there was little difference between Clinton and Obama on policy. After watching this “debate” (as much as I could stomach), I am convinced that Obama stands head and shoulders above Hillary, both literally and figuratively. He could’ve gotten down in the dirt with her and George and Charlie and exposed her as the liar she is on the Bosnia trip but chose to act like a statesman and move on to actual issues!
By the way, Charlie–it’s time to go. You are more ridiculous every day. And as for George, I used to feel sorry for you when Condi treated you with such disrespect on Sundays–like a silly little boy. Now I know you are one!

wally – Waa. Waa. Waa. The bad men frighten little girly man, Obama?

It was only a matter of time before the idiots would again state that any criticism of Obama is racism. Shameful. So we will have such a repressive government under a LORD OBAMA that as citizens we are forbidden from criticizing him or be arrested for a hate crime?
The utter nonsense of Obama supporters. Hide behind his lack of depth, and throw up a smoke screen. Distract and distort. When you make Hillary Clinton look honest, you know you are a bad.
Obama’s supporters realize the only chance he has is be the perpetual victim. What a great concept — a president who cries victim every time he gets scrutiny.
Stand up for your rights, America. They are already taking away your chance to dissent against powerful political figures like Obama. They want to stifle your opposition to a liberal media favorite being annointed president.
Do not be oppressed by the Obama political machine.

45 minutes to get to issues that matter. Did any of the moderators see that oil inventories dropped yesterday for no good reason. There is absolutely no reason for this drop since demand is flat. Why didn’t these newsmen address that. Why aren’t the candidates addressing the horrible economy. Obama tries, but Hillary and Bill won’t let him raise the important issues.

My mom always told me “you’re known by the company you keep.”
Obama supporters show themselves to be bullies, hostile and aggressive. What does that say about their leader?

Obama is even lucky they did not question him about Larry Sinclair and his alleged crack use and homo sex. Obama would have cried.waahhh..Michelle, Jerry Wright come help me. Sooner or later someone is going to have to ask those questions. The Sinclair issue might not even be true but they should leave that judgment to the American people. BTW: Thank you ABC for asking him those questions that most Americans wants answers on. Hillary rocked last night!!!!

Mr. Obama, in spite of the trivial flack, you came across as a true statesman to me. You have my vote!!!

Look at all the Obamabots. Listen up ABC, this election coverage has been largely slanted FOR Obama.. thank you, for taking off the kid gloves and asking the guy some tough questions. After all, this is for the president.. it is not a beauty or popularity contest.. it’s serious. Thank you, for finally stepping up and doing what CNN and MSNBC have failed to do. Honestly asking some questions of the Saint Obama.

Absolutely disgusting!! I knew that
there was a reason that I never watch
an ABC news show and now I know why. If
Charlie and George are the best that
ABC has to offer no thank you. These
are supposed to be bright, intelligent
journalists asking bright, intelligent
questions. Instead they looked like
idiots asking idiotic questions.

Obama did not, as the tag line in your On the Radar windows suggests, “attempt” to brush off that debate. He DID brush it off. What nonsense. The guy is 100% right. The journalists, and especially George Stephanopoulos, who by the way is a Clinton kiss-up from way back, were a total waste of my time. I wanted to hear substantive issues and what I got were things rehashed for an hour.

Anyone that saw the debate knows that Obama was totally out of his league.
There is no way he wond anything.
Now just imagine this same guy making decisions about your safety. Imagine him as “commander-in-cheif” Imagine he and Rezko turning the country into a politically corrupt playground for real estate deals. Imagine him and Wright spreading their message of hate.
This is the guy that Hamas, Rezko, Farrakan, the Black Panthers, and Ayers the “loose on a technicality bomber” have all raised money for, endorsed, supported and spiritually mentored.
If you want to know who someone is….let him introduce you to his friends…If they lie about who their friends are and even if their handwriting is on something…you need to wonder.
IF YOU ARE ON HERE AS AN ATTACK DOG FROM THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN…shame on you…you can’t convince people that you are bringing hope when you are spreading hate.

ABC you just lost a viewer…and I hope you lose more. You have demostrated taht your journalists are incompetent and biased. As a voter who came home early to watch the debate in hopes of getting a better idea of where each candidate stands of important issues, the debate last night was a complete waste of my time.

Tanya — another bitter Obama fan who needs to blame ABC for her candidate’s miserable showing. Pathetic!

People here dont seem to get. There was a sharp difference. Someone of pricesaly 3 somesones coming to the debate with the old politic of blames and nothing to really offer to the american people. And someone with a new vision that attempt to move on beyond the blames and fights and really talk to the public and refused to be draw into the sillyness.

Typical Obama. State that he is “above” dirty politics during the debate last night and then take the hatchet (or in his words, “twist the knife”) to into Clinton and ABC the next day on the stump. What a fraud! Can you believe that this man might get elected? Only in America!!

Obozo blows it and his supporters whine and cry and blame everyone for their dunderhead candidate’s impotent performance. Get the man some Viagra!

Obama might be brushing off your tough debate — I’m not stopping there. I’m brushing off your whole network.’
YOU SUCK! You are an embarassment.

Who is ABC trying to fool with this absurd response to their incompetent and insulting debate? The citizens of the United States are taking the real issues faced by this country VERY seriously; the corporations that have dismantled our media apparently can’t muster the intellectual curiosity. Oh – I’m sorry – it that too “elitist” for you? We’re concerned about the Iraq War, illegal torture carried out by a renegade president, elimination of our civil rights, illegal spying, an economy poisoned by deregulation, job outsourcing by multinational corporations; ABC and Disney – multinational corporations – would prefer that we focus on lapel pins and bitterness and sound bytes and other nonsense. This was perhaps the most important debate of the campaign season and ABC could muster nothing better than the vacuous stupidity of Fox News.

I am very sickened by the voters acceptance of OBAMA’s brush-offs. He has yet to explain how he has dinner and parties with known terrorists. How many bloggers here, have dinner with terrorists?????????????????????????
This is not a political attack, this is a FACT.

“Obama supporters are acting like sissys,”I hate ABC”, “ABC better apologize”..come on people. Your candidate was asked some tough questions, things the American people have been talking about, and you all freak out. Pathetic. Mccain is gonna smoke this chump. Almost feel bad for you pinkos.
Posted by: jon | Apr 17, 2008 6:12:45 PM”
Jon – it is not the questions that bother me – Obama answered every one of those “tough” questions well. It is the integrity of the debate, as set up by ABC, that bothers me. And, for the record, if they had chosen a moderator with longstanding ties to Obama, I would be saying the same thing, even though I am not a Clinton Supporter.

What planet are Hillaryites from when they claim Obsma whined about this debate. Don’t you remeber her whining during a previous debate that she was always asked the first tough question? Don’t you remember her going on SNL to whine that the press was pro-Obama? Where have you been? Hillary is the biggest whiner in America.

Thanks The Debster DC for the info on Michelle Obama.
Observer will never read it – he is a RACIST – He probably wears a white sheet.

George Stephanopulous is no fan of the Clintons.

Georgian recalls rooming with Michelle Obama
By BRIAN FEAGANS
Published on: 04/13/08
Catherine Donnelly shopped at Kmart, settled into her dorm room and soaked up the Gothic stone buildings where, over the next four years, she would grow into her own woman.
But her first day at Princeton held a surprise, too. And Donnelly knew it would mean confronting the past.
Family photo
(ENLARGE)
This picture was taken in 1985 at Catherine Donnelly’s graduation from Princeton. With her are her mother, Alice Brown (left) and grandmother, Martha Thompson.
JIM R. BOUNDS /Associated Press
(ENLARGE)
Michelle Obama speaks last week at Winston-Salem State University. When Catherine Donnelly saw her on TV news reports, she thought she looked familiar.
Rich Addicks/Staff
(ENLARGE)
Catherine Donnelly(right), with her mother, Alice Brown, in Donnelly’s home outside Palmetto.
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She walked into the historic Nassau Inn that evening and delivered the news to her mother, Alice Brown. “I was horrified,” recalled Brown, who had driven her daughter up from New Orleans. Brown stormed down to the campus housing office and demanded Donnelly be moved to another room.
The reason: One of her roommates was black.
“I told them we weren’t used to living with black people — Catherine is from the South,” Brown said. “They probably thought I was crazy.”
Today both Donnelly, an Atlanta attorney, and Brown, a retired schoolteacher living in the North Carolina mountains, look back at that time with regret. Like many Americans, they’ve built new perceptions of race on top of a foundation cracked by prejudices past — and present. Yet they rarely speak of the subject.
Barack Obama’s run for president changed that. When the Democratic senator from Illinois invited more dialogue on race last month, Donnelly and Brown, both lifetime Republicans, were ready.
But their willingness to talk isn’t a response to the candidate born to a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya. It’s more about Obama’s wife, Michelle.
She’s that roommate from a quarter century ago.
Shock to the stereotype
The acceptance letter from the Ivy Leagues was really the culmination of two peoples’ hard work. “My mother was thrilled,” Donnelly jokes, that she got into Princeton.
Divorced and living paycheck to paycheck, Brown found a way to get her only child into New Orleans’ elite Isidore Newman School: She taught 8th-grade science there. They were a mother-and-daughter team, then with the surname Rodrigue.
Donnelly, now 44, captained the basketball and volleyball teams. She was the homecoming queen. And she racked up science and math awards, often with the help of her mother.
But the “Three R’s” weren’t the only thing Donnelly learned from an early age. There was a fourth one. Her mother and grandmother filled her head with racist stereotypes, portraying African-Americans as prone to crime, uneducated and, at times, people to be feared.
Brown, 71, explains that she was raised to think that way. She recalls hearing her grandfather, a sheriff in the North Carolina mountains, brag about running black visitors out of the county before nightfall. And Brown’s parents held on to the n-word like a family heirloom.
In fact, upon learning that her daughter had a black roommate at Princeton, Brown’s first call was to her own mother. Her suggestion: yank Donnelly out of school.
Girl was likable, but black
The fourth-floor room had three beds, three desks and space for little else. The ceiling sloped in concert with the roof, creating a cramped perch atop the upper crust of American education.
Quick-witted and nearly 6 feet tall, Michelle Robinson had no problem filling the room, Donnelly recalls. The future Michelle Obama, from Chicago’s Southside, would playfully tease the third roommate, who was white. Obama’s long fingers still narrate stories in Donnelly’s mind. “From the minute we met,” she says, “I liked her.”
Donnelly doesn’t think Obama ever picked up on her mother’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering. She remembers nothing but friendly words. Only now, looking back, does she see the wall between them.
Donnelly was surprised to find something familiar – segregation – alive and well on a prestigious campus in the Northeast. The university’s private eating clubs, host to frat-style parties, were largely white. The social scene for many minority students, including Obama, revolved around an activity building called the Third World Center.
When Obama began hanging out with other black students on campus, Donnelly never thought to join them. “Here was a really smart black woman who I found charming, interesting and funny,” Donnelly says with disappointment. “Just by virtue of having different color skin, we weren’t going to be friends.”
Other than confirming that Donnelly was her freshman roommate, Michelle Obama declined, through a campaign spokeswoman, to comment for this story. Her senior thesis, however, delved into the experience of black alumni at Princeton and provides some insight into her mind-set at the time.
In the introduction, Obama wrote that Princeton made her more aware of her “Blackness” than ever before. “No matter how liberal and open-minded some of my White professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don’t belong,” she wrote. “Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with Whites at Princeton, it often seems as if, to them, I will always be Black first and a student second.”
Donnelly, meanwhile, was struggling with her own identity. She came out that first semester, chopped off her hair and partied with other lesbians on campus. Soon she, too, learned what it feels like to be part of the “other” group, to be seen as a student second.
Donnelly said she and Obama had established separate circles of friends by second semester. That’s when another room – the one her mother had requested – opened up. By then, it just made sense to trade cramped quarters for roomier ones.
Donnelly doesn’t remember having another meaningful exchange with Obama. She graduated with a psychology major in 1985 and forgot all about that tall roommate from Chicago.
‘I was inspired …. I was envious’
More than two decades passed, and Donnelly, who normally doesn’t care much for politics, found herself intrigued by one of the Democrats running for president. She was a little surprised to hear her mother liked Barack Obama, too. Brown had never voted for a Democrat. But she’s a sucker for Harvard grads, especially eloquent ones.
“He thinks well,” Brown said recently, though she and Donnelly are still undecided voters. “He seems to be a thoughtful person. He considers everything.”
When Donnelly first saw Obama’s wife on TV, she was struck by how tall and graceful she looked. Then she studied her more closely. Michelle Obama looked so familiar, down to those long fingers. Could that be Michelle Robinson?
A Google search gave Donnelly the answer. Obama was far more than a first-lady hopeful. She had gone to Harvard Law School, had been an associate dean at the University of Chicago and rose to vice president at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Like Donnelly, she was mother to two children.
“I was inspired,” she says. “I was amazed. And I was envious of all she had accomplished.”
Donnelly called her mother, who in turn phoned the friend who had traveled with her to Princeton all those years ago. The friends had stayed up that night calling everyone they knew with a connection to the university, hoping to get Catherine moved. “We thought this is so ironic,” Brown says. “[Obama] could be the first lady, and here we wanted to get my child out of her influence.”
Some empathy for lingering anger
As her 2- and 5-year-old boys play on the front porch, Donnelly flips through a photo album of her own childhood. Brown, in Atlanta for her monthly hair appointment, looks over her daughter’s shoulder.
“There we are,” Brown says, “at your graduation.”
In the photo, Donnelly clutches a bouquet in front of her white dress, smiling next to her mother and her grandmother.
The story of race in America is one of generations: what’s passed on, what isn’t and the friction between the two.
When Brown heard about Barack Obama’s former pastor — his angry rants against white America — she didn’t like it. But she understood. “If I had been treated the same way blacks have been treated,” she says, “I’d be resentful, too.”
It was Donnelly, however, who understood Obama’s response: “The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static.”
Society changed, and Donnelly has seen her mother nudged along with it. Says Brown: “It’s become politically incorrect to talk about black people in a negative way. It’s like smoking.”
Brown quit smoking in 1996. She’s still working on the other.
Brown says she wouldn’t mind if her child or grandchild roomed with a black person today. But she’s far from colorblind. “Where I draw the line is interracial marriage,” Brown says. “That I can’t quite deal with.”
She holds firm to the belief that African-Americans don’t take enough responsibility. “Bill Cosby says the same thing,” she says. “Get off your rear end and work hard and improve yourself.”
Donnelly has more empathy. Her junior year psychology paper on affirmative action concluded that the effects of “covert, deep-rooted prejudice” are enduring. And she generally agrees with what Barack Obama said last month: “The disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to the inequities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of Jim Crow.”
Living as a gay woman has made Donnelly far more aware of what it’s like to be judged by a trait beyond your control. “Being gay is such a small part of who I am.”
Now she wishes she had reached across racial lines at Princeton. “I don’t think I ever set foot in the Third World Center,” she says of the popular hangout for minority students. “It’s like this mystical place.”
Since then, Donnelly has worked and socialized with African-Americans. Yet she hasn’t grown close to any of them. “I’ve just never had an opportunity,” she says, “to have a good friend who was black.”
“You did with Michelle,” Brown snaps.
Donnelly rolls her eyes.
She believes the cycle of racism can be stopped.
Donnelly turns the pages in the photo album to a picture of an African-American boy standing next to her at school back in New Orleans. “He and a white guy and I would fashion ourselves after the Mod Squad,” she says. “We liked to think of ourselves as a little club.”
The friendship started in fifth or sixth grade. And Donnelly sees it as evidence that children have the right instincts.
Truth is, many paths to the future start with the past. Donnelly thought she’d left that Princeton dorm room for good. Then those long fingers from the campaign trail waved her back inside. At first, she saw only herself and two roommates.
Now she sees her children and Obama’s children waking up in those beds, in a room with no barriers.
More on ajc.com

Dogsoldier,
Yes, you know they will try everything.
That’s what happen to American Idols , they never get tired to vote.
I never believe the polls on internet.

Obozo — the world’s funniest clown!

Obamas tax return 2007 showed they only donated money to Black community.

A debate being moderated by one of your former staffers, with questions from–of all people Sean Hannity–how can that so-called debate even be considered fair and objective?
The comments from the Abc News website say it all.
That right . . . brush em off Barack!
Obama 08

Obama repeatedly answered questions put before him by Bill Clinton’s cronies without hesitation; this is not so of Hillary who played off of Obama’s comments. Hillary refused direct answers regardless of the countless prompting from the news panel. As far Obama’s association with Rev. Wright, Hillary still frequents her catholic, the pedophiles that sodomize children and ruin their lives forever. How much money did Rev. Wright pay for his comments, not a thing cent, however how much has the Catholic Church paid…you’ve got it, millions of dollars. The bottom line is this, Obama does not share Rev. Wright’s views, and however Hillary is a Catholic and does share views of the Catholic faith, which consequently reflect the reason for her conscious less lies which she will take into the White House. So the debate went well and clearly showed the country that Hillary remains a manipulative uncontrollable lier. Obama has not be found to be so, thus is the better candidate for president of the US. He knows what he needs too to keep this country strong.

Another Observer – Michelle isn’t running for President? Nor is Bill Clinton. Who knew? You’re very loose with the racists dribble.

The name of this debate should have been called, Hillary’s saviors heroically displayed bias for the little lady. When the commentators spend half of the time “Getting Obama”, they should have been asking the kind little lady about her alleged missteps. Please don’t tell me she has been vetted, we all known about sniper fire. Gibson clumsily tried to appeared like he had great nobility type of self esteem. However, he did displayed sophisticate bias skills and it was extraordinarily smooth. Stephanolous is a joke.

ABC News is a complete J-O-K-E! You all have completely lost every ounce of my respect! Why waste 45 minutes of debate time on garbage that does not help to improve our state of affairs in this country??? What are you, partners with the National Inquirer, now??!!It’s also unbelievably UNPROFESSIONAL and a disservice to the American people to allow a former Clinton staffer to “moderate” this debate!!!What an enormous conflict of interest that you chose to ignore…well let us now see how many Americans choose to ignore your news broadcasts from now on!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes we can, we can have hope, if we have hope we can make change, hope to make change, yes we can.
OMG, there is no substance to that man. I think I will vote McCain. Just don’t tell my family :-)

Gibson and Stephanopoulos both of you should be shamed of yourself. I use to like watching “Meet the Press.” Not now! Charles Gibson, I didn’t watch you on Good Morning America and I surely won’t watch you now.
George, you gave Hilary the questions a head of time. Shawn Hanity is a sleeze bag. They should have asked her about Vince Foster and Whitewater. This debate was a trip. Hilary is nothing but a liar. Both of you are tack heads.

Observer:
What you jokers don’t get is that most people who read that won’t give a crap. For one thing, there is such a thing as context.
So stay in mother’s basement as surf porn sites or whatever it is you morons do.

All this is hilarious!!
Let me sum all of this up:
“Ladies and gentleman, the next president of the United States,
John McCain.”

The problem is that Gibson and Stephanopoulos are too stupid to understand the criticism of the debate.
I think the only solution is that the media should never host these thing – it should be NOW or someone like that.

For the Love of the Democratic Party – let us, Obama and Clinton Supporters, STOP this back and forth and join up to beat John McCain and the MEDIA.

Observer: go back to watching CNN where they are pro-Obama. The real world wants unbiased reporting.

Mad as Hell – The republicans liked Obama’s performance in last night’s debate so much they said:
9:19 pm ET: A Republican strategist offers this, to ABC’s Karen Travers: “I think we’re going to buy 90 minute infomercials in October to replay this . . . I can’t believe Obama’s answer on Ayers. It’s like he never even considered the question. Doesn’t he do debate prep?! His answer was so bad/wrong/misleading/offensive – it’s going to be a huge problem for him . . .”

I was sick of news/medias for constantly trashing Hillary days and nights since the beginning of this year. However, for the first time in my adult life, I am so proud of ABC news for standing up and asking real questions to God Obama where rest of other journalists continue to worship him. Way to go ABC! You gained the great credibility for practicing fairness and Keep up the great job that you are doing.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HEAR QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICY. TOO BAD THIS ONES ALREADY OVER. I GUESS THE CLINTONS THINK THAT IF THEY CANT WIN (AND ITS TOO LATE, THEY CANT!)THEY MIGHT AS WELL TAKE THE PARTY WITH THEM. THEY KNOW ITS ALREADY OVER BUT THEY HAVE TO PUNISH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. OBAMA HAS SHOWN, THROUGH HIS MISTAKES, THE TRUE SELF-CENTERED NATURE OF 2 TYRANTS.

NO Obama TODAY, NO Obama TOMORROW, NO Obama NEXT WEEK, NO Obama NEXT MONTH, NO Obama in NOVEMBER, NO Obama EVER..If you think BUSH is a nut case just wait until you get this nut case Obama and his America HATING wife in the Whitehouse..He reminds me of a little boy running in to tell his mama that that nasty girl next door just hit me.. He is a whiner…BOO HOO POOR Obama.

Here’s a link to an Obama we haven’t seen before:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/obamaflipsoffcl.html
I just went to the site someone referenced on another blog. Obama gave Hillary the finger during one of his stump speeches today. Obama is the least presidential candidate on the planet. For Hillary to be on the receiving end of Obama’s obvious invective isn’t that surprising. I’m never surprised when he, his surrogates, or supporters retreat to ad hominine attacks.

all you people leaving abc should tune in to fox news fair & balanced.you might learn the real truth about obama. “mccain all the way”

Great job ABC. Obama had a hard time because he’s not use to answering question in person.So in frount of the crowd today he made fun.He didn’t seem to look like he was having fun last night.Media gave him a pass too long .Glad to see he’s not getting anymore passes.Time he starts answering questions.No one even knows this man that they want to put in the WH.

CONGRATS to ABC for the best debate yet!
First your questions were the ones America has been asking for weeks now at the office and home.
Second When the two could not come up with an an answer their babbling let us kknow just how scared they are.
IF they fear two TV guys what happenes if the get the big job and have to face real fear?
Again, ABC just did it right and the prof is your audience was large and they did not leave!
GREAT JOB ABC

CONGRATS to ABC for the best debate yet!
First your questions were the ones America has been asking for weeks now at the office and home.
Second When the two could not come up with an an answer their babbling let us kknow just how scared they are.
IF they fear two TV guys what happenes if the get the big job and have to face real fear?
Again, ABC just did it right and the prof is your audience was large and they did not leave!
GREAT JOB ABC

Soon a new world will dawn.

ABC–shame..SHAME…SHAME.. on you guys Charlie and George ‘re crooks of journalism. ABC has loss credibility and maybe viewers. I and my family will not watch ABC anymore…ABC full of bias, dumbfounded and misleading/misinformation….shame…shame…ABC..

The issue to me wasn’t the candidates and their responses, but the total lack of professionalism by the ABC commentators. I look to Charlie and George for balance and high standards. Their one-sided questions, behavior, focus and personal intensity were surprising to me. Their’s was such a poor approach compared to the other networks that have hosted debates. ABC has hit a very low point with this performance. And this was by commentators that up till now we have regularly watched and respected!

Shame…shame…ABCNEWS. George and Charlie monsters of journalism….WHERE IS MARK PENN AND COLUMBIAN DEAL…WHERE IS BILL AND $800,000, WHERE QUESTION ON 109M…..ELISTS……………..Shame????….

ABC moderators of the “debate of the century” put us all to sleep. No one cares about any of the candidate’s trivial slipups,or who they talked to 20 years ago, or about hilarys trip to bosnia or reverend wright. We didn’t get to hear issues we are all conflicted about. How the UN can take over its mandate to police the planet against genocide, famine, global warming, oil wars, and for nuclear disarmament and fair trade..(since oil companies want profits- not survival, we can’t ) WE didn”t get to hear about universal health care without profits,failing primary and secondary education,a failing consumerist economy,about bush’s trashing of the constitution,and election democracy in Florida, or new investigations into 9\11. All this you covered up. get out from between the people and the candidates

looks like were gonna be stuck with McBush for the next 4,by the time the blinds come off the obama people its going to be to late,everyone thought bush was the man for the job and look how that ended,well almost he still has a few more months to screw up the USA even more. Like obama can fix this mess alone. oh jessie jackson,al sharpton,and all those MLK quotes should fix all the problems we have in a snap of the finger.HOPE in one hand and sh*t in the other -you know the results……..

Jack Smith,
I’m one of that smart person. I believe you.
My fellow workers also believe there is something behind his campaign.
Big companies are behind him.
That’s why HE IS INVISIBLE MAN.
Nobody can touch him.
He is innocent as GOD.

I will never vote for a mother that lies all the time….what example is she displaying to our kids.
AS FOR ABC/FOX…. SUCK AS A NETWORKS…

Last night’s debate will go down as the worst performance by a network TV in the history of televised debates. The former Clintonista (George Stephanopolus) and a Clinton donor (Charlie Gibson) teamed-up with Hillary to throw the kitchen sink at Senator Obama. They ganged up on him 3-1. It was a political hit job.

The health insurance is a scam, you may pay the premium for long years and if you get sick they cancel your insurance becous you’r sick.

D:
YOu are right about the health insurance crisis in this country. I don’t have insurance right now despite having a full-time job. I felt like turning off the TV last night after half an hour cuz I felt like it had nothing to do with me. It was all about gaffes and “he said, she said” stuff. There was nothing about health insurance.

Obama should surrender and step down, and take his wife and his spiritual mentor, pack their bags and go back to Africa.

Obama had a little whupping last night.
Hillary managed to bite off little chunk of Obama’s little behind..
Obama acting like a little boy describing how he got beat last ninght.
Hillary is the choice!!!

omentum – Fixed news? You talking about MSNBC and CNN? Of course you are. What’s wrong lad? Little Obami can’t handle a few questions that have been floating around on the blogs for months? How in God’s name is Obama expected to handle real issues if he can’t deal with last night’s debate? What a whimp.

Good grief–how juvenile! I’ve seen high school kids do that camouflaged flipping the bird gesture! GIving Hillary the bird! Yikes.
This is too much.
A senator playing that kind of game? about another senator? How very unpresidential.
I know VP Cheney really lowered the bar for civil behavior in the 21st C in the Senate. I did not expect a Democratic presidential primary candiate to follow that example by doing such a thing about another Democratic candidate.

I’ll just say that I live in N.C. and I did early voting today and voted for OBAMA!

Shame, Shame on Obama. He did not want to answer very important questions relating to character, intergity and judgement. He looked like a dog scolded and needed to head home with his tail between his leg. He certainly was not PRESIDENTIAL in any manner. And today his supporters have been downright crazy nasty on the blogs blaming everyone except the loser, Obama.
Senator Obama, we do not want your brand of politics or your changes that are not in the best interest of ALL AMERICANS.
And today Senator was whining all day because of his own faults.

I commend Charlie Gibson and Geeoge Stephanopoulous in their questioning at the debate last night….The Obamabots(funny that the story of a cult being busted is in the news at the same time)Anyway the Obama people are in some kind of alternate universe… perhaps the same kind of people that were stunned that Kerry lost the election in 2004 think that they had it rapped up for Obama… it just isnt so….I wish Obama would keep doing stuff like this cause the media wont cause him to do it … he is a frail fraud as far as Im concerned… from the very beginning I thought that Obama was trying to be like Pres Bush and I was right thats indisputable!!!!!!!!!!

crisis08 – My Love fer omentum is like diarrhea. I can’t hold it in.

crisis08 – Night friend. I’m off to work, now!

Do you folks realize that these posts are a white living room conversation? Half of Obama’s votes come from the black community and they do not participate in these posts. The main participation from the Obama camp are plants who try to influence under generic pseudonyms. Obama’s main pre-occupation is to improve his 1/3 white acceptance rate to beat Hillary. I have no idea why he is so passionate as this 1/3 ratio will get worse when you throw in the republicans. He cannot win. Keep thinking about this and imagining it. Then you will realize what is really going on. You all think this is business as usual but it ain’t folks. The dems are in a fog lost in affirmative action thoughts. The republicans are very clear and they will win. This democrat will vote for McCain if Hillary is not the nominee.

Don’t we already have a President who dismisses the people’s opinions??? As trivial and absurd as some of the questions are during the election, it is a part of running for public office. Let’s not act surprised. Obama is a politican and for once in this election, he is being treated like one. It’s only fair. I, for one, find it irritating that Senator Obama acts as though he already has the nomination. He knows that his supporters are not voting for him because of his policies. He knows they aren’t going to change their vote, because of his assoiciates. It gives him an out, when asked hard questions. He is able to falter, and his supporters stand there. He is using the underdog card, and he is running with it. Of course, he’s the frontrunner, so that won’t always work. I think he is running on more of a cosmetic change. He has a basic outline of what he is supposed to do, but he is getting votes more on his race, his name isn’t Clinton, and he claims to be a different kind of politics. As ruthless as politics is, and it does get ridiculous, I think the overall process is to cut through the superficial issues and get to the hearts of each candidates. Obama wasn’t to bypass that completely, and be elected. As an independent who did not vote during the primaries, I am glad I’m not a Democrat. The liberals are ruining it and the moderates want to jump ship. I’ll wait to see the candidates and VP’s in the GE to make my decision, but Obama MUST become more substantial. Democrats forget, that the rest of the country doesn’t share their beliefs, and to convince them it’s going to take much more than what he has offered so far.

Dear Vietnam Vet and Proud Liberal, I agree. That shambles of a debate show was a load of rubbish and it has failed to let the big networks manipulate the election. We want change and we want it now Obama 2008

Enough said.
“With a week to go until Pennsylvania voters render their final verdict, Hillary Clinton has opened a nine-percentage point lead over Barack Obama in the Keystone State. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows Clinton now attracts 50% of the vote while Obama earns 41%.
That’s a slight improvement for Clinton who led by five percentage points a week ago. ~updated an hour ago. Rasmussen.”
“The battle over Florida’s convention delegates may be taking its toll on Barack Obama’s prospects in the Sunshine State. For the second time in three months, John McCain enjoys a double digit lead over the Democratic frontrunner.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Florida shows McCain attracting 53% of the vote while Obama earns 38%. Last month, amidst talk of a possible Florida revote, Obama had closed to within single digits of McCain. In February, however, Obama trailed McCain by sixteen points.
If McCain is matched against Hillary Clinton, the race is a toss-up—Clinton 45% McCain 44%. ”
Rasmussen ~updated an hour ago
Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters nationwide disagree with Barack Obama’s statement that people in small towns “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 25% agree with the Democratic frontrunner while 19% are not sure. ~ Updated a few days ago.
In Kentucky Hillary is ahead with 62% 5/20
Obama holds a 9% lead in NC 5/06
In IN Hillary is ahead with 55% 5/06
In WV she is ahead with 55% 5/13
Now, I realize things happen, but for him to comeback and beat a 28% spread is going to be hard. This is going to a convention. She will probably overtake him in popular vote.

After Obama attempts to brush off his sorry debate performance, he needs to brush that chip from his shoulder!

Right on Anthony…..This debate was all about the candidates character. If the American people had understood this in the last election, we would not have the fool now currently in office. Character flaws can have a direct bearing on making hard decisions, just witness the mess we have in Iraq and this country by the stooge in office now. I don’t want another puppet in the Whitehouse taking orders from another Cheney type underling. Please America, look at what legislative experience Obama has to date, we don’t need more voting present. Character DOES mean something

Hillary was relaxed, poised, articulate and Presidential.
Obama was peevish, flustered, and definitely Not Ready for Primetime.
Which would be the stronger Democratic nominee?

As a supporter of Sen. Obama, I think that while he may not have come off polished and slick, like his opponent, he took the high road and demonstrated in front of millions of Americans that he is serious when he says we need to change Washington. You can’t change anything if you keep playing by the same old rules. The moderators squandered precious time on tabloid issues. How many times does Sen. Obama have to explain Rev Wright? There is nothing more of substance to be learned, so why beat a dead horse, especially with all of the serious issues facing this country? And if Rev Wright and the Weather Underground are fair game, why isn’t the Lewinsky scandal?
I believe Sen. Obama once again demonstrated he is a man of character. He never threw Rev. Wright under the bus. He hasn’t pandered to a bunch of idiots who think a flag pin on a lapel demonstrates a love of country. And he didn’t stoop to the level of the Clintons and ABC in throwing mud back. There was a reason he looked annoyed – he gets it. He gets it that Americans want a new direction and that we’ll never get anywhere if we keep playing the same stupid games.
In the meantime, ABC is banished from our household. Unless and until an apology from the moderators is forthcoming, I’ll get my news from MSNBC. If I wanted Sean Hannity’s opinion, I’d watch Faux News.

In watching the so call debate, it was the worst I had ever seen. It was a crucifiction. Why did it take so long to touch on the important issues? George & Charlie were completely out of their elements. In future debates I surely hope that the issues are focused on and not idiotic questions about the canadates personnel past or present life.

ABC’s disrespect for the American people was distasteful at best. People who vote in today’s elections are not stuck on stupid as they were in the past. We are informed, we are astute, we are intelligent, and we can see the bias and transparency of not only your agenda, but your prejudice. Shame on you……………meet us (The American People) at the General Election. GObama

When I think of Obama this is what comes to mind.
Well educated, pretends he is not
Super rich, prentends he is not
Very glib, but says he mangles his words
Not a Washington insider, but is very well-connected.
Says he is up and up, but has serious, questionable (even in Debates) links and relationships with characters like Rev. Wright, Tony Rezko, Weather Underground bomber and others we may never know.
For all this, the guy could not even articulate straight answers to any of the ‘main issues’ that he so much wanted in the debate.
Understand this, it is NOT that he has no clue on these issues, BUT he is intelligent enough to know that he cannot tell the American voter what he is thinking on these issues just yet. For that, you have to wait till after the elections (after he wins, then you will see the real Obama).
Once elected, don’t be surprised to see all of Obama’s shady friends come out of the woodwork to help ‘build America’ and help America see the ‘Change’.
Well! you heard it here first.
Hillary supporters, wake up in Pennsylvania and other places. You have to give her a huge-margin win in the rest of the states to give the American voter a better choice than this snake-oil salesman.

Excellent job ABC. One of the best debates of all times!
Its nice to see politicians asked the tough questions that a lot of us are wanting answers too. These questions would have never been answered if not asked in that debate. How can any of you not consider these topics important. If you don’t want to know if your candidate is hanging out with terrorist, or hate spewing preachers, then that tells a lot about your character as well. If you haven’t heard their position on all the other topics by now, then its because of your laziness, not because of ABC.
Character is a very important trait for the President. Its hard to fake that. No matter how much the media tries.

THAT’S WHY OBAMA CAN’T WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION IF HE IS THE NOMINEE. HE CAN’T WITHSTAND THE REPUBLICANS. IF HE CAN’T ANSWER HARD QUESTIONS ON A DEMOCRATIC DEBATE, DO YOU THINK HE CAN WITHSTAND A REPUBLICAN ATTACK? OBAMA WOULD LOOK LIKE A LITTLE BOY OR AT LEAST REPUBLICANS WILL MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE A LITTLE BOY. BOY, ANOTHER 4 YEARS OF BUSH ADMINISTRATION IF OBAMA IS THE NOMINEE.
OBAMA HAS NOTHING TO OFFER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OTHER THAN TRYING TO BE THE 1ST BLACK PRESIDENT. THIS COUNTRY CAN’T AFFORT TO EXPERIMENT ON PRESIDENCY SO WE NEED TO VOTE FOR A PRESIDENT WHO WILL NOT LOOK DOWN ON THE HARD WORKING AMERICAN. WHO IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREMIST GROUPS OR RELIGION. WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO IS PATRIOTIC. GOD SAVE AMERICA IF OBAMA IS THE NOMINEE.

I found Obama’s antics offensive and arrogant when he acted like he was brushing dandruff off his shoulders, when talking about the debate.
Obama has been in congress one year and we know nothing about him – his character, his integrity, his judgement. What are his accomplishments? He hasn’t even held a committee meeting for the committee that he chairs!!! (his televised excuse was that he’s been too busy campaigning!)
Due to Obama’s lack of experience, we must examine who he associates with and his past actions or judgements. These are all measures of his character; what type of man he will be in the future, what type of judgement he exercises and what kind of leader he might or might not make.
If Obama is capable of such eloquent, moving speeches, why then does he bumble words or make clumsy statements when talking without a script? Are the speeches truly reflective of Obama or are the speeches just words what the speech writers think America wants to hear? Obama has made wonderful promises – but gives no firm details as to how he will carry anything out.
As for the debate – the media has treated Obama with kidd gloves while Clinton was heaviliy scrutinized and criticized. It’s about time the media turned up the heat on Obama.

What an arrogant piece. You’re going to have a radical leftist VS a moderate republican. I choose anything over a radical of anything. This guy has no idea how capitalism works. He want to transform the system to socialism similar to Europe. But he doesn’t understand that European countries are much smaller than the US. It will not work in the US. Socialism will discourage people from working hard. Why would you want to work hard if most of your hardworking money will go to tax to support others. that’s why Europeans don’t work as hard as we do here.

I just watched the video of Obama ‘brushing off’ the untrue accusations made at the debate. He is one classy man. I am so proud he is running for president. I am a white, 50 year old mom of three but I can honestly say we’ve never had a better chance of turning this country around, to make the government actually work for all the people, not just the rich and well-connected, than we have right now with Obama as our president.

I was one of those rare voters that had not made up my mind yet between any of the candidates. I was ver concerned about some of the things I had heard about Obama but could not get any info about it on any of the OBAMA Cable News Networks. I was thrilled to hear some of these questions being asked in the debate. My only problem is now I don’t know any more than I did before. He didn’t answer anything. Just covered it with flowers and handed it to us and totally expected us to smile and be pleased and we took a drink of the Kool Aide. He had an “How Dare You stoop to aking the Great Obama any questions about my choices and decisions!” If I didn’t think he was a snob of the worst kind before the debate, I certainly do now by his reaction yesterday on the stump. “Just Brush It Off”!!! It is just the pesky little knats that are bothersome, NO BIG DEAL! And of course that reference comes right straight out of a Gangsta Rap song. What else would you expect? I feel so sorry for you and your Wife Obama. Respect is something that you earn and you obviously have no idea what that word means. My vote goes to Hillary now and if she is not the candidate than it goes to McCane. Michelle is right, THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME YOU WILL EVER RUN FOR PRESIDENT, THANK THE LORD ABOVE FOR THAT!!!

Pitiful debate, truly pitiful. I didn’t really expect any better from Stephanopolis. He’s just a cute dumb kid, in there to do gossip, the more trivial, the better. But I did expect some intelligence and RELEVANCE from Charlie Gibson. It was sad to see him act like that. It was sad to waste the country’s time with that silliness.

You know ABC is in trouble when even NPR attacked Gibson and Stephanopoulos this morning. Rather than defend themselves for their awful debate questions, Gibson and Stephanopoulos refused to speak to NPR. Hopefully, these brave ‘journalists’ will soon find more a more appropriate work environment at Fox News.

I don’t understand why people keep saying Obama hasn’t answered questions on Ayers or Wright or the flag or whatever other trivial nonsense you want to throw his way. He answers the questions and when he doesn’t say what Hillary wants him to say then he’s accused of dodging the question. He’s not friends with Ayers – they sat on a board together. Why does there have to be more? He didn’t put a flag on his lapel – big deal. I don’t where one either and I spent 20 years in the military. I don’t understand why we have to beat our candidates to death before they can become president. No wonder it’s so difficult to get great leaders to want to run for the job.

OBAMA IS THE WINNER. HE IS THE NOMINEE. ALL THE HILLARY CLINTON DREAMERS AND STILL DREAMING. WAKE UP. SHE CANT, SHE WILL NEVER, WIN. WHY? CUS OBAMA HAS WON ALREADY! WAKE UP HILLARIANS!!!! WAKE UP!!!!DOESNT MATTER IF SHE WINS THE REMAINING CONTESTS. SHE WILL STIL NOT MEET UP. AND SUPPERDELEGATES DESPISE HER. SHE LOOKS BAD. SHE IS A BAD PERSON.

For your blind and deaf Hillary fanatics
which think that Hillary did a good who won the Democratic debate, with the help by the ABC moderators:
LOOK HERE ON ABC POLL:
========================
========================
WHO WON ?
Sen. Barack Obama—-45,602
Sen. Hillary Clinton-17,155
It was a tie———-5,457
========================
========================
TOM

SOMETIMES I WONDER THAT HAVING AMNESIA
IS A PRE-CONDITION TO BE A HILLARY SUPPORTER:
OBAMA WHINES OR POUTS ??
Remember Hillary and her campaign complaining loudly that she is losing because of the press and also complaining to the MSNBC moderators that
she gets always the questions first,
between dozen other ??
What happened in this debate was unprocedented. Even the question of
Stephanopoulos asking Hillary if she thinks that OBAMA IS ELECTABLE was made
with the intention to allow her again to
highlight her attacks points on OBAMA,
but she showed a clear lack of perception by saying “YES-YES-YES, SO
LOSING HER LAST and only CHANCE TO INDUCE SUPERDELEGATES TO VOTE FOR HER !!
TOM

Obama and for some reason the American media is for this racist clown. The rest of folks in the real world want Hilary not a guy who is so full of hate for his white mother. Thanks ABC unlike NBC’s Chris Matthews who is seems to be on this guys payroll or the rest of the media you showed this guy for what he is a loud mouth person who likes black racists. And can’t face things unless they are going his way. Maybe REV. Wright will sooth your soul to get you all fired up now Obama. Why don’t you run in Kenya.

Obama doesn’t need to “brush off” the debate. Every intelligent voter and credible news outlet already did it for him. The only bad performance was by the ABC News mediators (I mean agents of the Karl Rovesque Clinton Smear Machine).

TODD, JUST SO YOU KNOW, MSM HAS NOT BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS. SORRY

Wake up… These are the questions Republicans and independents are and will talk about. Obama’s position on the issues are clear — What She said… He also lies about his positions and says he is not funnelling money from PACS and Special Interests and surely is — Big Time.
People are interested in his integrity. We know he tries to copy all hillary’s solutions, and I heard him say in the debate that he never lnew abour Rev. Wright’s racist speaches accept those tapes have been seeling for fund raising for years… So I heard an outright lie, and that tell me about How skilled and brazen Obama is about lying under pressure.
Obama voted for the Bush/Cheney Energy Bill and Hillary opposed it… So when he talked about the issues all he said was how he would be different… What’s different about a Democrat supporting Bush and Cheney to ripp us off fuel, or that Obama reveres Raegan and Bush Sr. That is telling. I hope others read between the lines. Obama acts like he expects the debate to be like a paid commercial or a news story placed by his strategist Axelrod. Wake up. This is the real world and most of what Obama says, is really the opposite of what he really does.

Have you seen the video of Obama mocking an laughing about the debate — he loves to m ock doesn’t he — that seesm to be his element. It’s like he has two parts of his personality, the carefully crafted ?mesages of hope and change” and the bitter Obama who wrote the racist books and loves to be around other racists and extremists. Scary.
Now he says he won’t do any more debates, and a journalist asked him if he was complaining and he said, “Did you hear me complan”, Hillary is the one that’s been complaining all this time. I watched the video, and heard him whinning complaining, laughing and mocking, and saw him flip off in his usual underhanded manner, and the crown cheered. Now he’s denying it. Big Surprise. Obama get’s caught… and points the finger at her and said, not me… she did it. Tha’s been his game all along. He’s unfit to be president. I wonder what change he’s make happen in the Senate.
All the qustions they asked are the same questions you see all over the internet. I think he thought he could intimidate the press from vetting him forever, and get special treatment, and he can’t take the heat, so he’s acting like a child. Yeah, he’s ready to lead the USA – Not.
Hillary can face McCain and win and has solutions I believe in, I can’t believe Obama has come this far.

A man who involves himself in his own dirty business he soiles his own clothes. That´s why Barack Obama had to brush his shoulders after the debate. I really don´t believe in this manipulating man any longer. He is spreading anti-Semitism into the hearts of young Americans. Isn´t one of his friends in Chicago from Syria, or …. what more is he hiding. European
PS
Jimmy Carters has now been sweeped under the carpet just like Rev. Wright and Obamas Syrian friend in Chicago. What a false guy! Please somebody – sweep Obama under the carpet too .

Obama’s association with Ayers should put him on a domestic terrorist watch list. Wake up America. Obama is Trouble. How can one even think of voting for someone who is aligned with yet another radical. Is this what America needs? I am convinced it is not — we simply cannot trust Obama – ever under any circumstance.

Don’t even call it a debate! Name one issue they debated on? What a joke. Obama is not “whining” about anything. Only complained that the issues most Americans want covered – were not. I’m tired of Hillary trying to act cordial and genuine, another joke. Do y’all remember the drama of the 90s? Yuck! How quickly you forget. Good thing we’ll never have to re-live those days because she’ll never make it.

Previous debates have been simple extensions of obama’s rallies- he has full permission to sound as good as he can without having to answer to real criticism, live, on camera.
Good job ABC for finally pulling Obama’s blank check and putting him in positions where he has to explain himself on the dirty issues that, unfortunately, strongly shape public opinion.
The Republicans are going to do what they usually do: hammer hammer hammer- at non-policy, headliner issues like the swift boat ads. Obama’s gotta be able to handle this at least.

Your debate was the worst I have seen. I felt like I was watching a tabloid. How can you equate personal attacks to having a debate? I intend to forgo watching This week with George. His bias to Clinton really showed. One gotcha question for Hillary and five for Obama. It was disgusting.

This debate was awful. I have no journalism experience and I could have come up with better questions and issues to cover. Charlie and George are elitist in that they talk down to and debase the American people by adressing mostly campaign gaffes, which deserve some attention, but go light on the substantive issues. They didn’t even do any journalistic work other than their bogus Ayers reference.

I’m glad ABC brought up all the upsetting issues about Obama. There’s so much about him that we don’t know. I keep thinking that if his mother lived her life today, Obama would have been aborted. Doesn’t diminish his life?

When did national politics turn into School Council President? Vote for that Barry, he’s so cool–SPARE ME> it is quite appalling to know that a man who can’t manage to prepare to a nationally televised debate could seriously be elected. Wait, that’s happened at least twice in recent history hasn’t it. STOP THE MADNESS, PLEASE. The world doesn’t need the democratic party’s version of Dubya!!!

It is so confusing for me as to how Obama is so fluent in giving therapeutic speeches to attract people to make believe on him that he will actually bring huge changes in America despite the fact there are no evidence to prove that he has done so (even in small scale)while he was a member of Illinois legislature for eight years. At the same time, such a powerful speaker like him acted like an inexperience young man struggling to find a few words especially when he had to respond to a moderately difficult questions during the last debate. I think he should be grateful to ABC for giving him an advance warning/training as to what he should expect while dealing with McCain during the GE instead of being vinditive by showing his middle finger.

voters can use their 1st amendment right, freedom of speech, and choose not to vote in november if obama is the nominee.

Obama has a glass jaw,the GOP will DESTROY HIM!!

Lets all try to understand just one thing. Obama cannot win the general election with just half of the democratic voters, so keep spewing your divisiveness. He has done a very poor job of selling his brand of politics, hence Hillary is still in the race. The Obamanites with their flamming rehtoric and smugness will ensure another GOP victory in nov.

Obama will say anything to get you vote right now.
The ABC debate was the first time anyone put his no cred no experience ass on the spot and he can not handle it. I want to know who he is not what he thinks before we put him in office.
WHAT PERSON RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT EVER DID WHAT THEY SAID WHEN THEY RAN ONCE IN OFFICE YOU IDIOTS.
Obama people are self help freaks who place all their “hope” outside themselves, Obama has marketed to you and you think it is genuine, it is insulting and a disgrace to americans who can not see the liberal propoganda. I would never as a black man vote for Barack Obama and the pressure to vote for him just because I am black is also a disgrace.
If he gets the nom I am voting for McCain because once again the dems pick someone who is unelectable. Gore, Kerry, Obama. Well Done

I read an article that stated even Jesus could not win the election for president in the U.S.! While the media is busy scrutinizing the 3 candidates, why have they not paid attention to and reported on the things that have gotten this country in so much trouble?

If Hillary won the nomination- 1/2 the democrats would not vote for her in the general election and certainly no republicans will vote for her. why would you vote for somebody so cruel and negative. Lets end this Clinton and Bush power hunger- and get somebody in there that embodies HOPE and CHANGE for divisive politics.
I want Uniting. Barack can do that, unless people believe the nonsense coming out of the Clinton campaign.

To the folks who said Obama didn’t answer the so called “tough questions” during the PA debate (if you can call it that), I ask them where have they been in the past 2 months? Obama has not only answered the questions but he’s done so over and over and over again. It’s like a broken record now. I think the media should ask the question once maybe twice then publicize it so that whoever wants to know about it can read it but they should not waste people’s time asking the same questions or replaying the same tape as if the answer is going to change. It can’t be too hard to answer questions you’ve already answered a gazillion times before. How dumb is that? Face it, George and Charles did an atrocious job at the debate and should not be allowed to moderate any more debates–EVER. In fact, they should quit ABC and go to Fox News where they’d fit right in with the rest of second-rate journalists they have there. Shame on you ABC for allowing George and Charles make you look bad. Shame on Hillary for jumping on the bandwagon to win points when she knew Obama was right to say what he said. Obama didn’t jump all over her and exploit the fact that she was whining during a debate because the moderators were asking her all the questions first. He took the high road and let it go. In this case, Obama was legit to say what he said. It was both to Hillary’s benefit as well as his own to say that George and Charles were not asking important questions about issues that the PA people really wanted to hear their viewpoints on. Instead of using good judgement and agreeing that the moderator’s should stick to the issues, she chose to make an issue of it to win points. Just goes to show you Hillary doesn’t care if her opponent is making sense as long as she can make herself look good by making the other person look bad. Hillary is sad and pitiful. And Bill is just plain ole sad.