Stephanopoulos defends debate blasts from Obama supporters

[sabra]

Source: LA Times

Amid a storm of criticism that Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate focused too heavily on “gotcha” questions and not enough on substance, ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos defended his decision to ask Illinois Sen. Barack Obama about his relationship with former political radical William Ayers. Stephanopoulos denied he’d been spoon fed the question by Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“We have been researching this for a while,” Stephanopoulos said in a phone interview from New York. ABC News political correspondent Jake Tapper, he said, had blogged about the issue April 10, after it was first reported by Politico, the political news website. “Part of what we discovered is that Sen. Obama had never been asked directly about it, even though it’s being written about and talked about and Republicans are signaling that this is gonna be an issue in the general election.”

..

On Tuesday, as a guest on Hannity’s radio program, Stephanopoulos said, “Well, I’m taking notes now, Sean” when Hannity suggested he raise the topic of Ayers with Obama.

In Wednesday’s prime-time debate, co-moderated with Charles Gibson, Stephanopoulos asked Obama: “…On this issue, general theme of patriotism, in your relationships. A gentleman named William Ayers. He was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol, and other buildings. He's never apologized for that…. An early organizing meeting for your state Senate campaign was held at his house, and your campaign has said you are ‘friendly.’ Can you explain that relationship for the voters and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?”

...

Stephanopoulos dismissed the idea that he was doing Hannity’s bidding.

“The questions we asked were tough and fair and appropriate and relevant and what you would expect to be asked in a presidential debate at this point,” he said. “The questions we asked…are being debated around the political world every day.”

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/04/ste...

[fascisthunter]

1. Stephanopoulos is a Phony Sell-Out Hack

who always kissed the establishment's ass for his own career's sake.

Hey George.... where were you on the run up to invading Iraq????? Yeah... we know where you were, you puke!

[bunkerbuster1]

Maybe the reason Obama hadn't been asked about it, George

...was that it was a dumb shit question? Did that ever occur to you?

[wryter2000]

2. I hope this means he's feeling some heat

The whole lot of them need to get an earful from people who care about this country.

I e-mailed them.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. Well hell, if 10 million people watched

I'm thinking at least half of them thought it sucked, and of those who did, probably one in a hundred bothered to call or email.

That's a lot of calls and emails.

[roguevalley]

5. their website has over 15K posts and none positive. they are getting

pounded.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Think about that--15,000! I read some of the ABC comments, and it appears that

the debate just touched a raw nerve across the country. The American people are SICK of this shit--as Obama says, not this time.

[bdamomma]

4. if they expect us to keep quiet about this so called debate

they have another thing coming, we are not all ignorant to the facts that we would like to hear. Disgusting debate, what they (Gibson and George) are telling the American people while our country is in crisis.

[otohara]

6. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

vs Who Wants To Be POTUS -

stupid questions from a network known for it's stupid reality shows. Blaming Obama supporters for their failures as "news guys". Obama supporters get kicked off the island because they expect to hear questions that matter.

[Mandate My Ass]

7. It's not just Obama supporters either

Anybody with two functioning brain cells knows that the questions were not designed to get the candidates' positions on record. The aim was to get them flinging poo at each other.

[wryter2000]

13. Exactly

It doesn't matter who you support. Anyone with a functioning cerebral cortex would find that disgusting. Heck, even McCain supporters might be worried about him having to face "gotcha" questions. (Of course, that's assuming McCain supporters have functioning cerebral cortices.)

[depakid]

40. It certinly isn't

though of course, ABC and Stephanopolis would LOVE for people to see it framed that way.

And, unfortunately, some DU'ers are buying into it.

[Rageneau]

8. There was nothing out-of-line or unusual about those debate questions.

The only difference between last night's debate and at least a dozen that preceded it was that Obama had to answer tough questions for the very first time. Hillary is an old hand at having the nastiest type of leading question aimed at her. I cannot think of a single thing, no matter how embarrassing, she has NOT been asked about. Again and again and again.

Today, Obama fans are feeling put-upon simply because their guy was finally given the kind of treatment we Hillary supporters have warned was coming for a long time. All Steponallofus and Gibson did last night was give us a peek at how the media will cover Obama once they're certain he is the nominee. Until then, at least half of their bile and their ammunition wiill be reserved for HRC. But once she's out of the picture, it's fire at will.

When that happens, the media will start treating Barrack much, much worse than last night.

Count on it.

[guyanakoolaid]

16. You're right - I would EXPECT tough questions about lapel pins to be part of any good debate

[Supersedeas]

34. unprecedented access to Presidential candidates during a time of crisis

and lapel pins is the topic -- what a waste of the public airways

[ChairmanAgnostic]

63. The "break it" issue of the entire campaign. A fucking lapel pin

unbelievable.

[Mountainman]

18. Gee, how does it feel to be in the minority of opinion on the debate?

You sure are not convincing anyone to change their opinion of it.

[rmgarrette64]

38. I agree with him

Rageneau is not alone in those opinions. The questions were not softballs, to be sure, but they were appropriate to a debate. I also thought Stephanopoulis' defense was as close as he could come to telling Obama to grow up.

Between this performance, and his 'Come on, I've already taken 7 questions' about Rezko, I have serious doubts about him as a candidate. To be fair, I've also got serious doubts about Clinton.

R. Garrett

[Mountainman]

44. So you are in the minority also.

No one gives a shit about lapel pins and guys from the 70's. We care about Iraq, and health care and the economy. I guess you would rather make up you mind about McCain and Obama based on their lapel pins and not what they are going to do about Iraq.

Real smart!

Those questions were meant to keep people from knowing where he stands on issues because the right is afraid of letting people here him talk about it.

OK, John has a much prettier lapel pin, I think I'll vote for him!

[Seabiscuit]

46. I agree with him too.

What I don't like is the fact that in none of these debates to date have any of the hosts asked tough questions about exactly how their health care proposals, for example, will work in detail.

I want the questions to be tougher across the board. Now. Because if our candidates aren't able to handle them now, they'll get creamed during the general election, where the stakes will be much higher, and the Repuke knives will be sharpened.

[Mountainman]

62. I don't think it is a good idea to plan our campaign on fear of what repukes will do.

Americans are getting much more sophisticated after years of the media trying to make the issues. When you don't have a job or are losing your house or can't get medical care you really don't care if Obama is friends with a 70's radical and McCain was in Hanoi Hilton about the same time. You want to know who is going to help your situation.
7 years of republican rule has opened many of the voters eyes.

Don't let the right run our campaigns!

[yardwork]

22. That doesn't make it right.

Your message seems to be, "We all know it's a crap way to report on an election or run a debate, but everybody else has suffered this way, so now Obama has to suffer too."

A better approach would be for us all, no matter whom we support, to send a message to the corporate-owned media that we demand better quality - starting now.

[Raejeanowl]

28. I Agree With You

And I'm just in the mood to declare turnabout fair play:

Where was all this "faux outrage" when this has been done time and again to Clinton? I seem to remember her getting booed in person and derided endlessly on DU for calling out moderator slant and hijinx during a debate. That was somehow different?

It appears the MSM kid gloves are off for your candidate. Grow up, get over it, worse is coming, and Obama will have to handle it. Good luck!

[LibGranny]

30. Don't worry - he'll hand it with grace - more than I can

say for HRC. Randi Rhodes was right about Hillary! too bad it cost her her job!

[stillcool]

45. His name is Barack...

and every time the 'media' pulls shit like this they will get an earful back. Your use of Obama "fans" in relation to the backlash from a Presidential Debate is very telling. Not This Time.

[LSparkle]

9. Hey, George -- what about Mark Penn and Colombia Free Trade?

The fact they didn't bring that up -- although they pelted Obama with similar
questions about his personal integrity -- shows that they weren't being
fair. I wish more of the debate had focused on issues, but if they were going to
dwell on "gotcha", then why did they overlook the Penn situation? The fact that he WASN'T
fired from the campaign -- only demoted -- after such an obvious conflict of interest
brings into question Hillary's ethics. Do we really want a president who DIDN'T see
this as a problem, who allowed Penn to keep his lobbying clients while working on her
campaign? Not to mention the fact that Bill Clinton has also been lobbying for the
same deal -- which Hillary opposes ... Why no question about this?

[Diane R]

11. "tough and fair"? No Nafta, no Columbia, no hospital-gate, no health care, etc., etc.

[mitchtv]

12. I am hardly an Obama supporter

I was offended by the frivolousness of their questions, and Hillary, who I supported until last night reminded me of a tattletale in the schoolyard, who had a chance to move on, and didn't, She enabled the two fools from ABC. Nobody likes a tattletale. She did quite well on issues, but we found ourselves screaming at the TV, "get to issues", as she seemed content to wallow. anyway, my letter to abc:

"What an absolute travesty for a Debate. Could you have found any question more trivial than "do you believe in the flag?" Oh, that's right , you did, the first hour of your broadcast. Bittergate, Mosul gate, Rev Wright, and the fellow from Weather Underground and the rest of your foolish questions. Not one word about torture, and criminal liability, not one word about the war on science. You and George are an abxolute disgrace to your profession, suitable for Disneyworld"

[Mandate My Ass]

15. EXACTLY-they're trying to frame it as Obama supporters whining

about him getting asked "tough" questions. It's about ignorning the criminal malfeasance of the Bush administration, the dire state of the economy, joblessness, health care crisis etc. and concentrating on getting the candidates to snipe at each other.

[Justitia]

14. George S. is Hannity's Errand Boy. Now, make me a sandwich George! -eom

[Supersedeas]

32. in my mind, that's George's legacy: Hannity's errand boy

[blayne]

17. Anybody want to add their two cents?

here ya go:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/story?i...

[beltanefauve]

39. Just did

Thanks for the link.

[TechBear_Seattle]

19. Wait, did he defend the debate, or the debate blasts?

The title of the article (from the cited source, I know) doesn't quite parse correctly.

[xxqqqzme]

20. Fine, just don't lend it any dignity by calling

it is a 'debate'. Was there a pro/con answer to the Ayers question? Rebuttal? What was HRC's position? These are not debates. We need a new phrase like 'Gotcha Conversation'.

[aggiesal]

21. I'm suuuuure they'll ask a similar tough question to ...

Sen. McInSane when the time comes.

[Irishonly]

23. Did People Expect Different?

I didn't watch it because ABC was sponsoring it and I figured it would be a joke. ABC is owned by Disney who kowtows to the religious right and it wouldn't sup\surprise me to find out they were doing what they could to help McCain. I wish the League of Women Voters could host them again. It seems like a poll should be asked so people could vote for the worst and most obnoxious question. I hate how cynical I have become but IMHO the only decent debate was the one Olbermann hosted.

[City Lights]

57. When I heard George was taking dictation from Insanity, I knew what was

coming. Whatever _abc is paying George, it's too much.

[liberal1973]

24. Charlie Gibson and this idiot should be fired.

He's clearly a hack. Actually he was always a hack.

[underpants]

58. Didn't you see him with his reading glasses down at the end of his nose?

I mean shit he LOOKED all smart 'n' stuff



His question about the direct connection between capital gains tax rates and tax revenue was embarassing. Truth be told, one or both of them should have called him out for repeating such a simplistic and erroneous question. Oh and it is a rightwing supplyside talking point (just a coincidence I am sure).

[laylah]

25. I always liked George.

Watched him every Sunday...until now! Freakin' hack!

[ajamo]

29. George

You have not made it to the top of the slim balls of the news.
You have turned yourself into trash. The only way you can make it in the future is to join FAX NEWS. I will not buy anything that supports any of your shows. Scum thats what you are. Every time you look in the mirror you will see scum.

[rainy]

26. yet, through all these years they can't ask a single pointed question to any one

in the Bush admin. Stephanopoulos knew what the right wing were stirring about but I doubt he knows the questions we ask ever single day about this corrupt administration.

[tom_paine]

27. You know, if Americans decided to hang the punditocracy from lampposts

I am not sure I would raise a finger to stop it. I might even help. How low can this nation go? How disgustingly toadying can our media become? How much of a Soviet-style embrassament?

I am not even an Obama supporter. Obejcetively, that was an embarassment.

And Stephanaopoulos as insulated from the public as a 1780s French aristocrat defends his own Cocktail Party privilege to dictate to the stupid rubes.

Yeah, his questions were appropriate, for a nation of retarded three-year-olds, not the supposedly most-advanced, free-est nation on the planet.

My God, did I ever think to see that day when I would be lukewarm towards the idea of mass hangings without due proces? No. Never. But living under totalitarianism, even kinder and gentler totalitarianism that still seeks to csamoflauge itself in the corpse-skin of the Old American Republic, does funny things to people. I had no idea.

But if Timmeh and Georgie and Sean and Bill and the rest of the Toady and Bushie Media were strung up from lampposts, I think I would celebrate through the night.

And I wouldn't be alone, not by a long sight.

[loves_dulcinea]

43. hey!

can i top off your drink?

[1trackmindGOP]

31. Sure George!!

What is it with stupid, deceitful, and devious people named George these days. No offense to any good George's out there.

[LibGranny]

33. Gotcha questions

If George Stephanopoopoo thought people were so interested in the Ayers situation he should have leveled the field and asked HRC about Colombia and Penn's ties (and Bill's ties) to that! Why was Penn only demoted and not fired from her staff when evidence came out that he was working for Colombia and her? Maybe I'm a better journalist that Georgie-porgie!

[wowimthere]

35. If you thought the questions were tough and fair then fair would mean that...

you would ask Clinton about the donors of her Husband's library and about the pardons as well as the lie about the war vote but you didn't. Your debate was one sided and as they were smug enough to ask Obama about the lapel pin they weren't wearing one and nor was Clinton. They must think Democrats are stupid. For George to be there was a conflict of interest given that he worked for Clinton. That's where the ball of yarn starts to unravel. Fair?

The co-sponsor was a shill group for clinton. Fair?

[guyanakoolaid]

41. The questions weren't "tough and fair"... They were "fair and balanced"

[susankh4]

36. Prediction:

George will return to the White House in 2009.

Under Clinton, or Obama. Don't matter which. Or which order.

[Why Syzygy]

37. That crap is only important in cases of MSM brainwashing voters.

And that's only because they are corporate behemoths who need the people to remain patsies for their THIEVERY!

[rayofreason]

42. Funny thing...

...is that everyone - regardless of who they support - agree that the debate sucked.

Message to George - Sometimes there is no place to hide.

[BootinUp]

47. Wheres FrenchieCat, I am sure she wishes to call him a liar. nt

[grytpype]

48. What an ass.

[melody]

49. He should have been fired last night.

He was clearly doing the bidding of the Clintons. What a whore.

[western mass]

50. why would the RW media fire a RW whore?

??

[melody]

51. Let us say in a fair world, he should have been fired

The reason he wasn't is because they ARE the right wing media.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

65. poor service? He used too much teeth?

transmission of social disease? Lots of reasons to be fired. But ABC loves him and his approach. that is the only answer.

[salin]

52. Wonder what his response will be in the future *see predictable scenario below*

Its one of the general election debates this fall, candidate McCain gets a question like this: "After all of the recent homeland security threats that have been given in the last month (highlighted/hyped on our news programming), what will you do to keep the nation's children safe?" and candidate Obama is asked, "After all of the recent homeland security threat reports (highlighted on our news programming) how do you justify to the nation your lack of wearing a lapel pin?" OR

same McCain question followed by candidate Clinton being asked, "After all of the recent homeland security threat reports (highlighted on our news programming) how do you explain your now proven false comments about landing in Bosnia?"

Wonder how stephancombmyhairalotas will justify the moderating over such a debate?

[Beer Snob-50]

53. so go forward to when shrub leaves office,,,,,

will he also ask shrub to explain his lie that has killed 4000+ amercian soliders and countless iraqi citizens. his lie that had our country INVADE a nation that did nothing to us??

[annabanana]

54. Because no one BUT Obama supporters objected, right?

It ain't just a river in Egypt....

[Vinca]

55. The most obscene thing is Stephanopoulos calling himself a journalist.

Apparently he's nothing but a Sean Hannity scribe.

[City Lights]

56. Keep digging, George.

Your continued defense of your choice of questions shows just how out-of-touch you are. The fact that despite an untold number of complaint calls/emails and thousands of complaints on the _abc website, you still believe your questions were appropriate and relevant underscores the point. You live in the DC elite bubble. You suck. Chuck sucks. _abc sucks. You have no credibility as a journalist. You're an expert alright. On irrelevancy and cluelessness. You are a major-league asshole. Bigtime.

[AnneD]

59. Considering that Obama.....

was born in 1961 in Hawaii and was barely a teen when this was going on...I don't expect him to be fully aware of who the Weather Men were. People are not using common sense on this one. Most teens don't think past Saturday night and I don't think Obama was an exception.

[devilgrrl]

60. LISTEN TO DEMOCRACY NOW! TODAY!!!

Salon.com's Glenn Greenwald skewers Snuffaluffaguss and the rest of the MSM.

It's a must hear: http://www.democracynow.org /
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/18/great_american_hy...

[T Monk]

61. stephanopolis says republicans are signalling this is going to be an issue

and he's going to do his damndest to make it so. Could this corporate outlet's rightwing bias be any more obvious?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

64. I guess George S. doesn't follow polls either.

Typical "media" (and I use that term loosely) hack.

[maxrandb]

66. Wrong George!!!!

It's not “The questions we asked…are being debated around the political world every day.”

They're being "Debated around the political world of Dittoheads, Freepers and racist Insanity listeners"

Didn't think it was your job to further those folks debate George, but of course, if you weren't such a shameless political "hack"....you'd know that.

What's even sadder, though, is that you probably do know.