Stephanopoulos defends his questions to Obama

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.”

(A spokesman for Obama did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.)

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?”

Obama replied, “This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George.”

Progressives pounced. “The real story of this debate,” said MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, may be “where one of the moderators found his questions.”

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.”

By this morning, more than 14,000 viewer comments had been posted on the ABC News website, the overwhelming majority critical of the debate moderators, who spent most of the first hour on what Stephanopoulous called “electability questions.”

“The way we thought about it was, it made sense to hit the electability questions first, then move on,” he said. “I can see where reasonable people would differ with that.”

The debate, broadcast in prime time, was the 21st and probably final matchup between the two Democratic contenders, Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. It was, according to ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider, the most watched debate of this campaign cycle, with 10.7 million viewers. The previous record, also held by ABC News, was 9.3 million viewers of the Jan. 5 debate between Democrats in New Hampshire.

As the critical Pennsylvania primary looms on Tuesday, both candidates have been dogged by controversies unrelated to the issues that voters say are topmost on their minds.

Clinton apologized for making up a story that she was under sniper fire on a tarmac while visiting Bosnia in 1996. Obama said he had “mangled up” what he meant to say after implying to supporters at a San Francisco fundraiser that some blue-collar voters are “bitter” and as a result “cling” to religion and guns.

Updated with more after the jump...    

Stephanopoulos asked Obama about his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose impassioned denunciations of the American government were widely disseminated on the Web last month.

“But do you believe he’s as patriotic as you are?” Stephanopoulos asked.

Obama replied, “This is somebody who's a former Marine. So, I believe that he loves this country. But I also believe that he’s somebody who, because of the experiences he’s had over the course of a lifetime, is also angry about the injustices he’s had.”

Stephanopoulos, who was a senior advisor to Bill Clinton in his first term, also pressed Clinton about her character, telling her that an ABC News poll found that “six in 10 voters that we talk to say they don’t believe you’re honest and trustworthy.”

Washington Post television critic Tom Shales accused Stephanopoulos and Gibson of turning in “shoddy, despicable performances.” They dwelled, he added, “entirely on specious and gossipy trivia that has already been hashed and rehashed, in the hope of getting the candidates to claw at one another over disputes that are no longer news.”

However, New York Times political columnist David Brooks blogged his approval. “I understand the complaints,” he wrote, “but I thought the questions were excellent. The journalist’s job is to make politicians uncomfortable, to explore evasions, contradictions and vulnerabilities. Almost every question tonight did that.”

An outtake from the end of the debate, which appeared instantly on the Huffington Post, showed Gibson being heckled by audience members as he introduced a final commercial break. “The crowd is turning on me,” he said with a thin smile.

Some who watched thought the anger stemmed from the caliber of the debate. But Schneider, the ABC News spokesman, was in the hall and said he believed some in the audience were angry that they had to sit through yet more commercials before being allowed to leave the venue.

“I have no doubt other people may wish to spin that,” he said. 

-- Robin Abcarian

Photo: ABC News moderators George Stephanopoulos, right, and Charles Gibson, left, are seen before the start of the Democratic Party debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Comments

[Teri B.]

Lol, after the way Campbell Brown sucked Obama's toes, and Tim Russert looked a vicious troll ready to leap over the table at Clinton, I think it's pretty rich that Obama supporters and the Obamedia are crying over this debate. This is far from the nastiest questioning in a debate, but this time some of it was aimed at Obama for a change. The problem wasn't the debate format or questions, it was Obama's performance. If he'd handled his responses really well, y'all would be rejoicing and showering him with praise. He didn't.

For the record, I still think the flag pin crap is nonsense. And I'll concede that MAYBE because I've seen so much bias against Clinton, a little bias against Obama isn't visible to me. Either way, she's faced the firing line in these debates numerous times, and the bias was obvious - it's a little late, and lame, to be crying fowl now, and the media uproar coming to his defense just makes that more obvious.

[sean o]

The tabloid television debate last night spells doom for the future of network tv. As to William Ayers, the fact that he and Obama each served on a non-profit community charity fighting poverty is reason to demonize Obama for Ayers' acts in the poticically charged sixties when Obama was kid? McCarthyism is running rampant in the "fighter"/killer Clinton clan or regressive politics and small mindedness. That kind of junk might gain you a few votes, but you'll never make it in the big leagues of world diplomacy if you don't respect people generally. Clinton's comic turn bad mouthing Republicans and asking them not to run anyone shows she spending too much time on Saturday Live and very little reflectiing on how her sophomoric satire plays with people looking for a little intellectual maturity.

[Wayne]

George S. should not defend his questioning. Instead he should apologize to the millions of viewers who were disappointed with the debate moderation and view the whole thing as a lost opportunity to figure out how these two candidates will solve the huge problems this country faces.

With respect to William Ayers and J. Wright. The underlying implication is that Obama is a terrorist and hates this country. No one believes that to be true so lets move on. Two wars, economy on the brink, gas prices have never, ever been higher. We dont care about the guilt by association. We care about in specific detail how are we going to get out of Iraq. Does anyone have any plans to catch Osama Bin Laden. What, if anything can government do about gas prices. etc etc.

Also, everyone knows that George S. worked for Clinton. Shouldnt this conflict of interest disqualify him from being a moderator?

George. You failed I hope you get fired. Please..APOLOGIZE!!!

[Dee]

What happened to the time when presidential debates would focus on issues of national importance and a candidate's potential policy on global issues??? I am SO sick of any and everything EXCEPT the issues most concerning U.S. citizens taking center stage in this election year!!!

We are in the middle of not 1 but 2 wars, we are in what many feel is a full blown recession, gasoline is fast approaching a record $4.00 a gallon, people are losing their homes and livelihoods in record numbers and instead of homework and college applications, the youth of today would rather film themselves assaulting each other for You Tube! But the issues most concerning ABC in a debate of 2 candidates for whom one could very possibly be the next leader of the free world is why one of them does not wear a flag lapel pin!!! Give me a break!!!

ABC should be ashamed of themselves for such a "tabloid-esque" showing on national TV. For the first hour, I thought I was watching TMZ!!! For me, ABC now stands for "Any-Body Care"???!

Dee
Dallas, Texas

[jh]

The "debate" was a total waste of time. The moderators questions were so tabloid journalism!

[Harry Grace]

ABC has a history of doing this. In 2004, Charles Gibson made a big point of asking John Kerry whether or not he threw away his war medals, a line of questioning spoon fed to him by Fox News. It looks like the tradition is cointinuing, as ABC has joined the Clinton News Network and False News in trying to paint Obama as an angry black man not to be trusted.

[rockthebleachers]

I for one thought the debate was oustanding! For once BO was asked some good questions instead of asking if he needed a pillow. I remember the Hill supporters being told they where crying and whining when they complained about the attacks on her now BO's people are doing the whining because he sucked. He stuttered around all the questions he needs to answer but was so use to being papmered he was out of his league. He's not too good when he doesn't have it written down in front of him. Suck it up whiners! ABC, Charlie & George rocked!!!

[John Diclerico]

He should be embarassed by what he did last night. The worst debates in modern history. At a time when our country has a war in Iraq, a slumping home market, an economy in crisis and debts passed on to our children, Stephanopolous and Gibson waste 2 hours on National Enquire-level journalism. An embarassment to the American debate system as a whole, and I hope ABC is not allowed to do any further debates. Please, the country deserves better than his sad excuse for moderating.

[julescator]

One would have to wonder about these people who claim the "love America" but clearly hate Americans. I decided to listen to Rush Limbaugh this afternoon who has devoted his whole show on Barack Obama. He has gone so far as to tell the Superdelegates that they need to get a new candidate since neither of these two is electable. Now why would rush want a "better" candidate from the Dems? Why wouldn't Rush just love this? I smell a rat. Rush spend 2 hours and 19 minutes trying to convince his listeners that Dems and Obama are "Radicals" that is the new buzz word.

I think they are all afraid of Obama becoming Preisident. Not because he isn't qualified, but because it would signal that the country is finally waking up and moving away from being told how to vote by the talking heads, MSM and Old Politicians. We are seeing the rise of "bitterness" and mean spiritness that the GOP harbors while waving the flag. The don't love this country, they love to control it's citizens with lies and inuendos!

Obama 08

[PhD9]

"The questions we asked…are being debated around the political world every day.”

I live how he conflates cause and effect.
The whole 'bitter' controversy is a case in point. The thing swirled around for days and still hasn't been put to bed, but polling data makes clear that all the outrage is coming from overpaid pundits and not from voters.

[Goldie]

If they were asking electability questions, then they sure didn't probe Clinton's electability. What about her public support for NAFTA according to her own records, when she claims she was secretly opposed to it. Isn't that a laugh? The GOP will make hay with that. The "secret flip-flop." That will really play into the GOP's hands. What is Hillary's real position on things. Oh, you will find out later, because she doesn't really tell you. Or what about the "Screw them?" comments. ABC's Jake Tapper had reported on that in October? That would have been a great followup question to grilling Obama on the bitter comments. No, George S. can't wiggle out of this one. He was one-sided in his questioning and it was apparent to millions. Shame on George.

[nmben]

ABC News yesterday reminded us why this wonderful Country was led into a senseless war based on lies. Journalism, if it is what Stephanopoulos and co is what they claim they practice, hit a new low. At a time like this, when the Country is at war, the economy is in tatters, and peoples’ insecurity at all time high, to turn a national debate between two candidates, one of whom has a 50% chance of being the next president of the Country, into a tabloid fodder is a travesty. Of all the concerns there are in the Country, especially among working people, to feature a woman asking a question about wearing a flag is trivializing the pain of people who really are looking for solutions to problems that are threatening their health and economic safety.
Shame on you ABC News.

[LIZA]

Yuck, yuck, yuck. That he can defend his lack of professional journalism is just FRIGHTENING...No one ever respected him to begin with and this certainly isn't going to help his career any...Way to own up George!

[Leanza]

The press has all the right in the world to question Obama in the BitterGate and now that Obama worked for terrorist William Ayers. He said he was 8 when Ayers bombed New York. Nice try. But he was 30something when he served on a board with Mr. Ayers in the 1990’s, the Woods Foundation, which was a paid, underlined PAID directorship position. They worked together, attended fundraisers together, Ayers held fundraisers and was a contributor to Obama’s Chicago’s campaign, plus they are neighbors and visited each other quite often. Enough said. This relationship deserves being vetted. As an adult Obama made the decision to work with a terrorist. This is a legitimate issue, the judgment and associations of the possible nominee. Its goes straight to the reason why democrats have lost the last two elections. It is fair to argue Obama’s condescension to the small town folk because it goes directly to issues like associations with Farrahkan, Wright, Ayers and Refko. This needs to be fully vetted.

[ronmbo]

This is just another example of the incidiuos manner in which the extreme conservative movement in this country pecks away at anyone who poses a real threat to their supposed power structure. A La Carl Rove tactics, McCain, the Clintons, Kerry now Obama have all been targeted. The Hannity's and their ilk are petrified of Obama's base of support. Not to worry, unfortunately this country is still not ready for a rainbow president,
regardless of his brilliance and innovation. No I'm not a member of any minority group.
What the heck are they all so afraid of anyway?

[Wes]

Wait - his defense on the Ayers question is that he saw it in that Internet? Did he ask about the other things floating around the Internet, like Peter Paul's lawsuit against Clinton for election fraud? At least it's less than 40 years old...

[flavor13]

When will the media wake up and understand that this is not a "blast from Obama supporters?" Asking questions about flag lapel pins is just as disgraceful ask asking John McCain if he ever fathered a black baby, or Hillary Clinton what she was doing the White House while Bill was with Monica -- American's want their country back and we can't do it as long as the Media keeps acting this way.

[graniteman]

Congratulations to ABC News! At long last, one of the mainstream media outlets has been willing to ask Senator Obama some tough questions instead of spray painting him with Teflon. I am so tired of hearing his empty mantra about "change, hope and unity." In fact, the very junior senator from Illinois has an ultra-liberal voting record that will be exposed by the Republicans during the fall campaign. If Democratic Partyactivists insist on his nomination, Senator McCain will seize the center of the political spectrum and, once again, the Democrats will let an election slip through their fingers.

[coco]

I think ABC did a very good job. We need to have the character issue! I find it amusing that all the Obama supporters are crying foul when the Sen. Clinton has faced the firing squad more than I can mention! And YES she is still standing. Obama looked very weak.

[D]

Bottom line.

No one can be unfair to you unless you are ill-prepared.

Obama has not been and is not vetted. The moderators did not give the usual free pass.

Put it like this - if there was a bank robbery around the corner, and the police walked up to you and another person, held you at bay, and asked one at a time - "do you have the gun used in the robbery?" You either answer yes or no. If you answer no and you don't have it, you're clean. If you answer no and you do have it, then you have some explaining to do.

Obama has some explaining to do, but voters want to accept his answers and not check for the gun.

[Ben]

Let's face it. Anytime that something negative or important about Obama comes up, the Obama supporters to rush to 'kill the messenger.' They do not like Obama being questioned too deeply or attacked in any way. Sorry, folks, but it is only going to get more so, and if you are an Obama supporter, you will be experiencing an angry summer. This is a race for president of the United States not a race for best actor at the Oscars, and tough questions need to be asked and answered of anyone who seeks to lead this country. If Obama is the right guy, he can withstand this questioning.

[graniteman]

Congratulations to ABC News! At long last, one of the mainstream media outlets has been willing to ask Senator Obama some tough questions instead of spray painting him with Teflon. I am so tired of hearing his empty mantra about "change, hope and unity." In fact, the very junior senator from Illinois has an ultra-liberal voting record that will be exposed by the Republicans during the fall campaign. If Democratic Partyactivists insist on his nomination, Senator McCain will seize the center of the political spectrum and, once again, the Democrats will let an election slip through their fingers.

[John]

Why do liberals complain when their candidates are asked real questions? We all know the policies of both candidates, raise taxes and lose the war. Obama should explain why he is friends with a terrorist, just like Clinton should explain her ties to Communists. Your candidate is not entitled to a free pass, no matter how liberal he or she is. Stop trying to hide the truth from the American people.

[peg]

Such a waste of time by the so called American Media! I guess Gibson has been taking journalism classes from Limbaugh. Shame, shame on ABC for wasting millions of hours of American time. Gibson should be fired. That is why American people have become so cynical. AB's behavior is unpatriotic.

[Bill Rush]

This should be the end of media debates. All debates in future presidential campaigns should be held at universities with professors and other instructors as moderators.

[Nick]

ABC needs to change their title to abc. They had a great opportunity last night to focus on real issues (um, $4 gas, health-care, recession....anyone ?) Instead, they chose to focus on "gotcha" questions. Small-minded and petty, drama instead of education. So, as punishment, change the label to abc -- and send those 2 back to Journalism 101.

Nick

[Bot]

Barack's judgment and patriotism are in question. Why did he remain with Jeremiah Wright for 20 years, and use Bill Ayers' home to launch his campaign. Would any sane person us the home of an anarchist who bombed the Pentagon, Capital and NY Police Headquarters to launch his campaign?

[rose]

Who is the RADICAL Hard Left Liberal? That is the label that pins the tail on the Donkey. It won't be hard for Republican's to make that claim STICK.

Will that win our presidency?

Not likely anytime soon. And for good reason it is slanted toward one side of the fence.

When we talk about change as a gray area then it is ambiguous. No one knows what that means so it is easy to say yes. Once it begins to take shape and form as taxes, sharp cuts or painful realizations then a different kind of reality fills that gray space. That is when disappointment sets in.

Change is overrated. Anyone who says we need a lot or sweeping changes is obviously one of the media beneficiaries of all the obama campaign FLUSH money.

Look at the man behind the curtain. Where is all the new money really coming from? Just some odd Internet artifact or is there something – someone driving cash into the trough?

I’ve never seen money cluster in this size and shape without an artificial stimulant. In the dotcom boom no one wanted to see that the lines of cash did not connect with any substance or reality. When it came crashing down then the disappointments of that LACK set in.

A smart leader can make small corrections to the big machine that will have a net positive benefit. They don't need to throw out everything and make wild claims that never really pan out.

We are still the worlds greatest super power. If people insist on BIG CHANGE then the radical change they employ will alter that forever.

At least Hilary can’t get caught with her pants down while someone is giving her something. But ALL men do at some point in time or another when they are idolized by hordes of groupies.

No insult to Cindy but she certainly looks like a trophy wife. Not someone who would know how women work to support their families come hell or high water... Only one candidate knows how to work that kind of magic, Hilary.

Obama's wife recently claimed that “we don't know her” yeah, and so when we do what will we know? This is not a secure image of our first lady.

How will Obama's wife shake out against Cindy?

Hilary is such an easy target. It is absurd for obama to say that his attacking a female opponent is going to be the same as coming up against the Republican's.

Republican’s like the idea of torture, they stay up for it. It is part of their recreational activities. Obama has no substance, grit or wisdom. He is untested and un-vetted. He really is a question mark.

He only has superlative qualities to his adoring fan base. Do we really want a rock star for president? He doesn't even play an instrument.

[Andrew]

George S. said: “The way we thought about it was, it made sense to hit the electability questions first, then move on,” he said. “I can see where reasonable people would differ with that.”

Everybody watching the debate was a reasonable person. Some reasonable people didn't even watch the debate. In fact, I'll just go out on a limb and assume, like Obama does, that we are ALL reasonable people.

I am so sick and tired of our politicians and media pundits thinking that we, the general public, is not able to comprehend the issues. We can and we do. We don't care about Clinton's "sniper fire", we don't care about Mr Ayers or Obama's reverend, we don't care about "bitter" voters. We want a President that understands the issues, understands the impact of their choices, makes the right choices, and is willing to stand by the choices they make.

Questions should get at those issues so us voters can make the most informed decision when the time comes, not at who hangs out with who. Stephanopoulos must think we are all still in High School. Electability issues?? I think he means popularity issues.

[sunny florida]

What on earth is all this "indignant" reaction to ABC's debate about? Please people, we are talking about looking at hiring someone (and it is that) to do the toughest job in the world and we are afraid to ask the really tough questions that linger in the minds of many, many people? I can read about the plans of both people on their websites, ad nauseum, and I can read the opinions of those plans or things less tangible about the candidates in columns, but I want to see how these people can handle the really tough, revealing questions that show a person's character, on pointe, without a speech or teleprompter. This was a very tough, stark (no applause - love that!) debate that pushed issues we have with both candidates and those that will certainly be pushed by the Republicans. This is not a job for the faint of heart, or light of spirit, otherwise we all would be applying.

I sat thru the entire debate and tried very hard to keep an open mind. Afterall, one of these two people could be the next President. The only problem I had with the moderators was not nailing the candidates on a direct answer to a specific question, or even an indirect answer would have been nice. All in all, I think Hillary won this one. She seemed to maintain her composure (a good thing when times are tough as a President) and answer most of the questions, more so than Obama. She did loft a few bombs his way and one can argue it was personal, but I thought maybe there's another reason: maybe she really knows that if he is the nominee, that the Republicans will make mincemeat of him with his questionable ties to Rezko, Ayers, Wright, and his revealing comments behind closed doors when cameras aren't rolling and teleprompter is off. If the Republicans can destroy the character of two very good, credible men (Gore, Kerry) without much to work with, what on earth will they do to this guy? Afterall, isn't it MOST important that we elect anyone except a Republican who still thinks Sunni's and Shiites are reversed and thinks GWB's policies are "OK"?!

[Jeff Elijah]

For all those offended and disgusted by ABC''s fiasco last night, you can take constructive action by boycotting Walt Disney World, Disneyland and all things Disney. The Disney company owns ABC.

[Sharon]

ABC can explain all they want. It was shameful. They should have steered clear of this just because George is connected with the Clintons. They set themselves up, they made the bad choices and now they have to take the heat. Let's hope it is a lot of heat. Disney should be ashamed of themselves. They rank right up there with the George W. The worse in the history of the country.

[Fred]

I thought the debate was good, everybody is Barack as if he is untouchable, if he is to be our nominee he needs to be tested. Policy wise we should know by now where they stand, this was their 20th debate come on folks. People don't want to criticized Mr. O before someone acusses them of being racist, come during the real election it will be fair game. Also yesterday USA today carried a story about Mr. O lying about his lobbyist connection, why it wasn't brought up that would have been a fair question especially when Mr. O is boasting that he is not tie to any lobbyist.

[John]

ABC News is clearly a republican shill. What hacks. Wonder who their horse is in this race.

[rabbit]

It really doesn't matter who asks "the question" when it comes to tabloid media .. .why are Americans so obsessed with wedge issues and not more concerned about the future of America? I am not voting for the person that John, Hillary or Obama knows . .I am gonna vote on the issues . ..When I hear people talk about "guilt by association" It makes me realize how stupid people really are . .Yes I said stupid because if all you care about are issues like this . .Then America is destined to have another president who knows that he can just throw out wedge issues and do as he pleases.

[Tee]

The truth is none of the news media or goverment officals care about what is happening in the real world. They have no trouble purchasing gas, or sending their children to private schools. They don't have children in the service. These people on most of the news shows are getting paid a great deal of money and could care less about the middle class hard working people. Obama is trying to stay focused on the issues. PEOPLE are losing there jobs and homes. He is the only one that seems interested. Hillary is only interested in power.

[MarkD]

George Stephanopolous should have recused himself as a moderator due to his ties with the Clinton administration and ABC should be ashamed for treating the audience to a tabloid debate. It sure would have been more helpful to hear what a Clinton or Obama presidency would be like. You've become a spin-off of a SNL bit.

[Ron]

Was last night's debate supposed to be a joke or did it just turn out that way because of the incompetent moderators ? Charlie Gibson and George ( can't enough of those good years that I worked for the Clintons ) Stephanoupolis. How can McCain possibly lose this election. He has such a commanding grasp of economical issues . His way to fix the problem of soaring gas prices is " Let's give the people a tax holiday." I am afraid that it is John McCain who needs a holiday

[BAM!]

you know you've hit rock bottom in debate questions when a moderator asks "who loves the country more?"

ABC and George Stephanopoulos (thankfully not the public) showed their third grade understanding of the issues last night.

[Matt of NYC]

Wow. The outrage from the Obama people is insane. He's gotten a pass throughout and has always been given questions that he can answer from his stump talking points. Make him have to actually answer something on the fly and he stumbles a bit and its the questioner's fault? I don't think so. Honestly, I like Obama al ot, but the paranoia of the (vocal) people who like him really creeps me out, With friends like that, who needs enemies. You all are doing more damage than good with this... and you really remind me of the Right in the late 1990s - mean and creepy is a bad combo.

[tradamerica]

Good for this Independent voter, to witness ABC asking the socialist candidates tough questions, vis-a-vis their own quotable words.

Too, it's hilarious to see the kooky kool-aid brigade crying foul over pejorative questions hurled at candidates. Where was the outcry when CNN sandbagged and scrounged up a homosexual assassin to take the repub candidates debate into the gutter? Hmmm...

[Honest George]

You mean this Stephanopouos?

"Stephanopoulos was, along with David Wilhelm and James Carville, a leading member of the 1992 Clinton campaign. His role on the campaign is portrayed in the documentary film The War Room.[2] At the outset of Clinton's presidency, Stephanopoulos served as the de facto press secretary, briefing the press even though Dee Dee Myers was officially the White House Press Secretary. Later, he was moved to Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy, when Dee Dee Myers began personally conducting the briefings and David Gergen was brought in as the new White House Communications Director. The move was largely viewed as a rebuke to Stephanopoulos' handling of public relations during the first six months of the Clinton Administration."

GOSH GEORGE. I really dont think there is anything funny about that one.
Doi..daaahhh ....dooiii..aaaaaaa..oooooo....Oh kay ABCNews. Reeealll Smart.

[captbilly]

George and Gibson should appologize to the American people for what they did last night. They had 90 minutes to ask anything they wanted of two of the most important people in the world right now, and they picked the kind of questions that someone who reads the Enquirer would want to know. George defends his questions a "relevent", relevent to who? I have been following this election quite closely, as have millions of other Americans, I have seen the Wright video (of course only the little bit where he goes off) 100 times. I have heard about the bosnian sniper 100 times and I even knew that someone thought it significant that Obama doesn't wear an American flag. What I still don't know after watching the debate is what the candidates think about anything else.

[Fred]

USA today reported that Obama is lying, he is tied to so many lobbyist that assertions in his ads are misleading is there any truth to this? Why he wasn't grilled on this.

[Honest George]

You mean this Stephanopouos?

"Stephanopoulos was, along with David Wilhelm and James Carville, a leading member of the 1992 Clinton campaign. His role on the campaign is portrayed in the documentary film The War Room.[2] At the outset of Clinton's presidency, Stephanopoulos served as the de facto press secretary, briefing the press even though Dee Dee Myers was officially the White House Press Secretary. Later, he was moved to Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategy, when Dee Dee Myers began personally conducting the briefings and David Gergen was brought in as the new White House Communications Director. The move was largely viewed as a rebuke to Stephanopoulos' handling of public relations during the first six months of the Clinton Administration."

GOSH GEORGE. I really dont think there is anything funny about that one.
Doi..daaahhh ....dooiii..aaaaaaa..oooooo....Oh kay ABCNews. Reeealll Smart.

[Cynthia]

I honestly think the flag pin question was a waste of our time. Asking Obama a question if his pastor loves America as much as he does?? That was so out of line. If you want to know if Obama's pastor loves America, ASK Obama's pastor.
The questions about statements the man has made in church is disgusting to me, and came at a time, and in a way that was way out of line in the devasting aftermath in NYC. That Obama's friend Ayers made a similiar outrageous statement on 9/11 was truly as bad. Obama was not 8 years old when these statements were made. He was a grown man. Those questions were fair. They will be asked over and over again.
I was glad for the glaring spotlight on Obama for a change. He did not handle himself very well at all in any of his answers, and totally tanked on comprehensive issue answers. Maybe he should stay home and bake cookies instead of running for president.

[Wn]

I thought it was the first professional debate we have had this entire election cycle. ABC pushed the candidates for the truth, rather than letting them spin their talking points.

Kudos ABC!

[cafenitro]

I don't know what everyone is complaining about. It was just another debate and as for Stephenopolis' questions, Barak Obama (and we) should be glad the Ayers question was vetted now because otherwise it would come out in the General Elction and be much more potent with no alternative to Obama in the race. Personally I'm not a big Obama fan and I think McCain is going to win the election (sadly) and I'm trying to get used to the idea of 4 more years lite. John Edwards was the McCain of the Democratic Party. As bad as he did in the primaries he would have killed in the General Election against McCain. Stupid Democrats.

[Bob]

Hillary all The way.

[ashish]

the debate was the politics of distraction at its finest. complete and utter garbage; I am embarassed for network broadcast journalism

[jc]

To suggest it was exclusively (or even vastly) Obama supporters who deemed last night's debate a new low in our national discourse, is to entirely miss the mood of the nation, the times we live in. The main stream media and many of our nation's leaders are so out of touch with the public it is staggering. What I saw was a debate devoid of issues, one that should have been hosted by TMZ or Inside Edition as opposed to a so-called 'reputable' news organization.

And Today George S. and others claim they just asked questions that the Republicans will ask and the media will ask in the fall. Anyone note the circular logic? You are the media, gentleman. Do you have one iota of integrity? Do you have any desire to hold your profession to some level of decorum and purpose? Apparently not.

For me, last night made me think back to Kennedy and Nixon, and the televised debate that launched the modern political theater we've come to expect as Americans. Little by little that theater has become more crass, more banal, and all together purposeless in helping Americans decide on a President. I believe future candidates should take their discourse directly to the American people, bypass the irresponsible and agenda-yielding screen of the main stream media, and use Internet chats, online video, and/or other interactive events to engage a population hungry for leadership.

The modern presidential debate died last night. It's about time.

[Gonzalo]

You Obama supporters are incredible, Obama has one of his worst debates and it's everyone else is fault. Shame on you ABC for asking questions that were not asked before. Shame on you ABC for asking questions and issues that McCain and the Republican machine will bring up(e.g Hannity did bring it up). Shame on you ABC for putting both Hillary and Barack in uncomfortable positions, we both know that the presidency of the U.S is all about prepared events and smooth rides. Give me a break and blame your candidate for his less than spectacular performance. Now who's the bitter one!

[Tim Lynch]

Even if one believes all the questions are appropriate, how can anyone defend the order and priority given to the questions actually asked? Since when does the economy, or war and peace become a side issue in the campaign for President?

[Kanishka]

Here is my perception of moderators in a debate:

1. They are "experts" when it comes to politics and knowing the lay of the land in that landscape.
2. Ask questions which are engaging and require some well thought out policy based responses.

The moderators and ABC failed on both accounts. They resurfaced the same "OLD" issues which frankly as an American (Average American mind you) don't care about.

Mr George S. I dont have a fat 7 figure salary like you do. I care about my home, my job, my mortgage, valuation of my house. I care about my security and my retirement. I care about my dollar declining in value. I care about inflation. I care about the price of milk which has doubled since the last regime. I care about global warming. I care about 4 dollar gas. I care about education. Mr George sir, did you not prepare for this.

You know, I could have picked up a tabloid if I wanted to entertain myself. I was looking for substantive debate which I never got.

Shame on you ABC! Shame on you!

[William J.]

“The questions we asked…are being debated around the political world every day.”

That's exactly the problem, George. Americans don't give a hoot about your isolated, elite political world. Americans care about things that affect their their hopes, and their fears: Iraq, health care, education, and a reaffirmation of the now-stagnant American dream.

[Ken Mattos]

To be clear: I am a Democrat in Pennsylvania. Until about a month ago I had been clearly undecided. Then came the fuss about Pastor Wright's sermon and Senator Obama's speech on "race." In a campaign with little to inspire me from any of the three leading candidates, I enjoyed this Philadelphia speech. Each of the three at times says something to raise my ire. None is perfect for me, but I have come to see that for the times and circumstances that Senator Obama is most perfect for our nation. Yet, none have been more embarrassing and shameful than the majority of the talking heads in the mainstream TV "news" media. How much more of them must we suffer?

[rockthebleachers]

Here's something to know about Barry & Michelle: They are peddling the story on the campaign trail of how his teenage mother provided for them on food stamps but..

[Barack Obama] was born in 1961 but his mother could not get food stamps then because a) she was married and b) they were not available then.

Then [Barack Senior] moved to a foreign country. I don't think that we were sending food stamps to foreign nations.

When she moved back in 1965, food stamps were not available in Hawaii in 1965.

In 1967, she married the second time and moved to Jakarta. Nope, no food stamps then.

By the time she moved back once again, he was living with his grandparents who had jobs and food stamps were not being handed out like Halloween candy in those years.

[Penny k]

Travesty of the highest order. SOOOOOO much of this election cycle has been the product of the media pundentry stirring a hornets nest so they have something ratings worthy from day to day. They beat trivial issues to death. The anaylize every detail, every nuance and let that be the tone for discussions. Lst nights debate is the EXACT reason this election cucycle has clearly come off the rails. INFOTAINMENT is NOT serving the American public. Lapel Pins? A neighbor with a checkered past? Rev Wright AGAIN? I am not viewing the debate through the lens of an Obama supporter but through the eyes of a voter who has watched politics become a circus of grandiose proportions. I am SICK of ANY tiny misstep, any slight error in wording become the mea of the election sandwhich. YUCK YUCK YUCK. If this keeps going we will NEVER find a decent president. Nobody in their right mind would want to go through this. Civil service will find itself without qualified candidates stepping up to offer their services. Why should they...Oh my i smoked pot 15 years ago....I had an affair, i recieved money unknowingly from some nuttjob for whom i despise, i didnt attend this event, i did attend this event. UGH. Who is to blame for 90% of all this? The MEDIA. Money and ratings, controversy and infighting is GREAT for ratings. Just not to great for US.

[Susanne Freeborn]

We had a debate watch party. Thank god the food was good, the accomodations were fine, the company was terrific, but the quality stopped after we got to the fact that our candidates were not being asked any important questions on ABC.

I will not watch George or Charlie or ABC News anymore. I can't be asked to waste my time or life in that way again and I would hope that candidates would refuse from this day forward as well.

They treated them both as if they were Anna Nicole Smith rather than candidates for the Presidency of the United States in a time when we are engaged in wars on two different fronts. They embarrassed us in front of the world and should have stink eye written in boldface at the top of their resumes.

[cb]

Wow.....are we not allowed to ask Senator Obama relevant questions? This absolutely underscores the fact that we hardly know the facts! I read about Mr. Ayers today and it is scarey....considering that on 9/11 he said they had not bombed enough. How old was Senator Obama in 2001?? These questions matter! They changed my brother's vote today!

[Bob]

ABC: Fire George and put Gibson out to pasture -- how about an ABC afilliate, say, in Little Rock?

The shame of this episode is that these two shills were even allowed to have center stage. And who was the director and why was he/she putting Chelsea's face on screen? Why does Obama have to run against three people, all Clintons, all the time?

This one will be remembered as the winner of the Garbage Award in journalism.

[Kevin]

Does no one get it? G. Steph worked for the Clintons. The fact that he took advice from Sean Hannity is proof that he was too swayed by his bias to be a moderator in that mess. Shame on ABC News!

[Max Grubb]

No question but what Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolis had in mind Wednesday night. That was to give Hillary as much push as possible. Notice they did not mention the Columbia trade situation at all. Howard Woolfson is still a supporter of the
Columbia agreement and is her campaign manager, Mark Penn has not been dismissed, just demoted, and Bill, well of course he is keeping is $800,000 for supporting the Columbians. They also purposely avoided the fact that Hillary supported NAFTA during her husband's administration and she campaigned on how good it was working in 1996 in New York. Of course now she is against it and for Gibson and Stephanopolis to bring it up now would expose Hillary to the issue of trust which of course they didn't wanrt to do. Thank God we have other choices for politics than the Fox subsidiairy called ABC

[Bridget]

I was so disappointed by last night’s debate. Instead of focusing on the real issues Americans are facing today, Senator Obama was asked about a FLAG PIN!

What does his wearing/not wearing of a flag pin have to do with his ability to run the country? Seriously?

I've had it with the pandering. I've had it with the media patting us on the head and pretending that they know what issues Americans really want to know about. I've had it with the media feigning shock and moral outrage over non-issues, and treating us like we are all blathering idiots who can't see exactly what they are doing. What about the economy? The housing crisis? The war?

I will still be voting for Obama in the Fall if he is the nominee. However, if he isn't, I can safely say that I will be done with politics for a long time. Not because my candidate will have lost the race, but because I don't want any part of politics as they are being played right now. Politics today have nothing to do with the issues, or what the candidates can really do for this country. It's about God-damning America, sniper fire in Bosnia, and a 100-year war. Politics are nothing more than a game of one-upsmanship, and tearing down anyone who gets in the way.

And the media is just as much to blame as the candidates who engage in these types of politics. Elections are not won by the best candidate, but by the PR firm that can get the media to help them spin non-issues into campaign-crushing issues. It happened in 2004, and it will happen again this year. In the end, it will be the candidate that comes up with the best sound bite, and is better at spinning his/her opponent's words and making them stick, that wins. It won't matter what that candidate actually believes in – just what they (and the media) made the American public believe their opponent believes in.

Bitter? I'm not just bitter. I'm bitter, I'm angry, and I'm done with this game!

[JJ Gildersneeze]

It's pretty rich that the story has now become whether the question was out of line, rather than how squirrelly Obama's answer was.

The relevant factor isn't how old Obama was at the time of the bombings, for christ sakes. This person helped fundraise for Obama the adult. Obama the candidate for the legislature.

So why exactly is asking him about this out of bounds?

[Jeff in Akron Ohio]

You Clinton folks and Neo-Cons don't get it. Is this the kind of American politics you want to see and listen to? Drill and thrill and see if 'll spill politics? Good old Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos could of asked Hillary a number of equally "tabloid-esque" questions; the same will go for McCain during the general election. Enough said. Let's end these personal attacks and get down to making this a better country where we talk about real issues and make progress, not wallow in the mud slinging.

[Hugo]

How can you defend your performance as moderators when you discuss the economy...a FULL HOUR after it has begun. If, as George prefaced the topic, the economy is the #1 pressing issue on Americans' minds, you should probably bring it up before re-hashing the Reverend comments and the whole "bitter" non-issue.

[sunny florida]

What on earth is all this "indignant" reaction to ABC's debate about? Please people, we are talking about hiring someone (and it is that) to do the toughest job in the world and we are afraid to ask the really tough questions that linger in the minds of many, many people? I can read about the plans of both people on their websites, ad nauseum, and I can read the opinions of those plans or things less tangible about the candidates in columns, but I want to see how these people can handle the really tough, revealing questions that show a person's character, on pointe, without a speech or teleprompter. This was a very tough, stark (no applause - love that!) debate that pushed issues we have with both candidates and those that will certainly be pushed by the Republicans. This is not a job for the faint of heart, or light of spirit, otherwise we all would be applying.

I sat thru the entire debate and tried very hard to keep an open mind. Afterall, one of these two people could be the next President. The only problem I had with the moderators was not nailing the candidates on a direct answer to a specific question, or even an indirect answer would have been nice. All in all, I think Hillary won this one. She seemed to maintain her composure (a good thing when times are tough as a President) and answer most of the questions, more so than Obama. She did loft a few bombs his way and one can argue it was personal, but I thought maybe there's another reason: maybe she really knows that if he is the nominee, that the Republicans will make mincemeat of him with his questionable ties to Rezko, Ayers, Wright, and his revealing comments behind closed doors when cameras aren't rolling and teleprompter is off. If the Republicans can destroy the character of two very good, credible men (Gore, Kerry) without much to work with, what on earth will they do to this guy? Afterall, isn't it MOST important that we elect anyone except a Republican who still thinks Sunni's and Shiites are reversed and thinks GWB's policies are "OK"?!

[chet mccabe]

Obviously! It was intended to support Clinton but It did not. Obama is a stateman and tried hard to stear both Charles & George away from the trash and trivia. ABC and both George and Charles should be ashamed of the show last nite.

[dharper]

The real tragedy to this abomination is that the Democrat Party believes that these two are the best they have to offer to this nation as presidential candidates. This continues to be nothing but a monumental exercise in futility.

Can't they remember Jimmy Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Gore and Kerry? With these types of candidates they are defeating themselves - the Republicans only have to show up in November to win if this nonsense doesn't cease.

Come on, DNC, wake up and smell the roses before you become thistles.

[Typical White Person for McCain]

I am a middle-aged, white male who is a lifelong Democrat and a member of a construction building trades union. In over thirty years of voting, I have voted almost exclusively for Democrats. I have voted for only two Republicans in my life, and both were candidates with strong pro-labor records running for state offices. That being said, if Obama is the nominee for the Democrats, I will register as a Republican before the general election, and I will never vote for a Democrat running for any office in the future.

[Edward Rotchford]

There is such outrage on this topic, and rightfully so! To sign a petition demanding an apology from ABC, visit http://www.petitiononline.com/abc41608/petition.html

[chet mccabe]

Obviously! It was intended to support Clinton but It did not. Obama is a stateman and tried hard to stear both Charles & George away from the trash and trivia. ABC and both George and Charles should be ashamed of the show last nite.

[nancy]

Not one person this entire campaign seasion has looked into the Clinton Fraud Trial/Peter Paul. I am so upset with that farce of a debate that I intend to gather as much support as I can get and make our feelings known about HOW the debate was conducted. Write to the tv station, gather all the advertiser names that advertise on their (George and Charles) programs and complain to them. I read years ago that if you hit the advertisers you really wallop the show. Anyone care to join in? Yes, they definitely owe Obama an appology and they owe us, the views ,an appology for their lynch like attitudes. ABC made themselves look like total idiots. Maybe George and Charles cab get jobs writing for the Globe or National Enquirer. I hope ABC takes a beating on this.

[Hillary All the Way]

awwwwww poor wittew Bawak, finally you venomous Obama people have been served a small sample of what Hillary has had to put up with for a whole year now from the media and these debate moderators, cry me a ####### river..

GO Hillary.

[nancy]

Not one person this entire campaign seasion has looked into the Clinton Fraud Trial/Peter Paul. I am so upset with that farce of a debate that I intend to gather as much support as I can get and make our feelings known about HOW the debate was conducted. Write to the tv station, gather all the advertiser names that advertise on their (George and Charles) programs and complain to them. I read years ago that if you hit the advertisers you really wallop the show. Anyone care to join in? Yes, they definitely owe Obama an appology and they owe us, the views ,an appology for their lynch like attitudes. ABC made themselves look like total idiots. Maybe George and Charles cab get jobs writing for the Globe or National Enquirer. I hope ABC takes a beating on this.

[rockthebleachers]

Whoop tee doo! So George worked for the Clintons. What does that really prove. Dick Morris worked for them too!

[Rhoda]

George Stephanopoulos needs to apologize to Senator Obama, not defend his sleazy non-issue questions.

[Willy Mcnoon]

George there are only two words I want to hear from you or ABC right now.

I'M SORRY.

You and ABC owe everyone an apology, not a "defense." What went down last night was indefensible.

SHAME ON YOU GEORGE, SHAME ON YOU ABC. Shame on you.

[Christopher Xaphakdy]

Why didn't he pose a similar tough question on Sen. Clinton? He still maintains his loyal to the former President and his wife, Sen. Clinton. We thought his posed questions would represent for the ABC NEWS as a journalist, not a political loyalty.

[M. Lindsey]

This was incredibly disgusting to watch. How could ABC News be associated with such a sliming of both candidates as this. Both George S. and Charles G. behaved in a way that is beneath contempt.

M. L.
Wisconsin

[eileen]

Gee, the Obama supporters seem to finally feel what Clinton supporters have been feeling all along - the heat from the moderators. Boo-hoo.

If Obama can't stand what happened in last night's debate, he should drop out now. They handled him with kid gloves compared to what the GOP slime machine will do. If he and his supporters weren't such cry babies, I would say that this was good practice for Obama. But it sure seems like he can't stand the heat, so I suggest he get out now.

[Cortney]

I'll start off by saying that I am generally pretty apolitical. Until this election, I have had very little interest in politics, and even though I may have watched a few presidential debates in the past, I have never "followed" the candidates, especially in the primaries. This election has definitely piqued my interest, because finally there are candidates to be interested in. That said, last night's debate was a huge disappointment for me. The questioning was terrible! Who cares about a lapel pin, or whose friends did what 40 years ago? I want to know how the candidates are going to fix the healthcare system, or help me get loans for college. The media needs to wake up and start fulfilling its obligation to keep the American public informed of the REAL issues. Leave the dirt for gossip rags and tabloids. If the media continues to bog down this election with the kind of garbage that was on display last night, young voters like myself will once again abandon the political process.

[Robert W.]

As a Canadian looking in on your election process, I have no particular allegiance to any candidate. But I'm shocked (and saddened) to see that so many people seem to feel it's unfair to ask any president about any unanswered question. If not now, then when?

Be it in your country or mine, democracy is a messy business. Staying away from sometimes messy questions is the absolute opposite of democracy. Shame on those who choose to betray that fact.

[richard P. McDonough]

Travesty. Little tiny George and his taller sidekick could not have asked less substantial nor more pointlessquestions had they been in the employ of Billary. But then one of them once was, though in his last decent moment resigned when the President diddled while Hillary looked the other way, a habit of hers out of necessity.

[craig]

The issue here as the Obama surrounds himself with, a racist pastor, a domestic terrorist, supporters of the PLO and Hamas. He is trying to run for president. We have a right to know why he keeps this company. I don't want an unapologetic domestic terrorist working in a high position of authority in our gov't if Obama is elected. He gets a free pass on everything he does. Does anyone out there really think him raising taxes on everyone from 50,000 a year on up is going to help the economy? He isn't even proud of our country. He wants to lead the country but is unwilling to display any symbols relating to our country? Hillary gets slammed everyday, as soon as Obama gets some, the media is out to get him. Give me a break, how about some fair reporting. Obama has not set forth any plan of action if elected. We all know he will raise everyone's taxes. His goal is to create a rich class and a poor class plain and simple. His views are borderline communistic: tax the people, gov't regulates everthing the people do, cutoff ties with our neighbors, associate ourselves with terrorist organizations. Ask someone what kind of gov't this is and I can guarantee you the answer would be communist.

[Americano805]

Boo Hoo Hoo for Obama and supporters. Main reason so many are angry over the moderation of last night's debate is because Obama got pummeled and couldn't get up. The moderators didn't make this stuff up. America has the right to know who the heck this guy is. We already know who hillary and johnny are. Stop crying Obama supporters. Thats politics for ya.

[Kyle]

There is news, opinion, and analysis, and there is propaganda. These two guys join Fox News in the propaganda department.

[Peter the Great]

You Obama supporters are ridiculous. It was a fair question, plain and simple. And guess what, it's the first of many that are going to thrown at this complete poser. The fact that it hasn't happened yet is the real joke. Beyond all that, his answer did absolutely nothing to alay the concerns of millions of Americans about where this man's true core stands.

[Kiku]

And he insults Americans one more time by claiming these are electability issues? If a lapel pin is an electibility issue, what about defending the Constitution? stimulating the economy? ending torture by our government?

I suppose we are too dumb to understand answers to these questions.

[rockthebleachers]

LOL!!! Shame on you Obambanites for being so childish! He sucked!! If he can't answer tough questions on the spot then he better rescind his application for the job!!

I can not believe how crazy all of you sound. WAAAHHHH, Charlie & Georeg you made it too hard for Barak! He didn't have enough time to write a speech and how dare you make him go first. He usually gets to repeat Hillary's answers as though they were his own!

[Jan E]

Let's cut to the chase here:

1) Did George S try to appease Sean Hannity audience? Of course!! since ABC Radio Network owns the Hannity show. It does not take much brains to connect the dots that George was trying to help his buddy in the company for ratings

2) Could Goerge S. have personal reasons for his attacks? YES, Clinton was his old boss who got him the job in the Clinton administration in the first place. He either is paying back favors or he stands to go back in the administration is she wins. It is a win either way for him

Anyway you look at it, he had plenty of conflict of interest to be the moderator in just a pivotal debate and for what he has done already, should and must be fires if ABC is to maintain any journalistic integrity.

[tim]

George and his partner Bully should resign, I think to both candidates they asked bully old questions, who cares anymore of her lie in Bosnia, who cares of wright,it actually helped Obama on polls, why not ask "what will you do with our $ that is being eaten alive by the Euro?" or so many important things

Georgi, you are FIRED you sucked you looked like high school BULLIES trying to get the black kid and dirty blonde to fight...

ridiculous, JOURNALISM IS DEAD!

[tom b.]

The first hour of the debate was an embarrassing waste of time. Instead of discussing issues, all we got were stupid "gotcha" questions. How sad.....

[Sally]

It's as simple as this: you can't have a former Clinton staffer moderating the debate.

Conflict of interest is inexcusable and if I may borrow from the Washington Post, "shoddy and despicable."

[Boo-Hoo]

This is so rich, that Obama gets a little vetting and his camp is whining today. Obama's camp needs to realize that Americans DO want to know more about Obama's views on the personal issues. Keith Boykin was on MSNBC crying about the debate didn't get to the real issues. We have had 21 debates. We know where the candidates stand on political. We don't know where Obama stands on these shadowy comments and unpatriotic behaviors. Folks want to know about Rev Wright, typical white people, Clinging, Ayers,...seriously...we want to know more about Obama...so his camp should stop whining about it....Boo-hoo Boykin.

[Richard Prince]

I tried to watch a Stephanopoulos political news program on Sunday morning a few weeks back. He is unbearable. On the surface I thought this man is not very intelligent and speaks with a bludgeon. However, I understand he has served in the Clinton White House (that doesn't mean he isn't just a bully and ignorant) and thus thought he might be a little brighter and insightful than most of the snearing, emotionally gestulating, and smear-style desk jockeys put on most TV today. But I was wrong. Stephanopoulos is a bigger idiot and fool than all the rest because he is informed but choses to be an idiot.

[413-330-1794]

in that george s career prospects under a clinton presidency are radically different than they would be if obama were president, i think it's absolutely foxy of george not to make a disclaimer of impartiality before he began more mudslinging on behalf of the clintons, shame on you georgie boy

[Bob Kaye]

The Dems are in real trouble with these two candidates. McCain, running against any of these two (Obama or Clinton) is going to get a large number of independent voters voting for him as these two are just too far to the left for most American voters. The Dems are going to have to seriously think about drafting another candidate or the GOP is going to win.

[Sally]

It's as simple as this: you can't have a former Clinton staffer moderating the debate.

Conflict of interest is inexcusable and if I may borrow from the Washington Post, "shoddy and despicable."

[Bot]

The Daily Kos, Move-On, and George Soros are not happy. The teflon sprayed on their candidate by the Mainstream Media is wearing off. Real questions about their character and patriotism are being asked.

Let's be honest: ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS political contributions go entirely to the Democratic Party. At Fox News, only 75 percent of the political contributions go to the Democrats. Nice to see ABC asking some hard questions, which heretofore only Fox has been asking.

[Ryan]

Teri B - You say that Obama's problem wasn't the questions, it was his performance; yet, at the same time you say that Hillary's poor performance in the past wasn't due to her, but to the biased questions. How does that line of logic work?

[Russ in Fort Worth]

Regarding Ayers: I believe as recently as 9-11-01 Mr. Ayers was not only non-remorseful for his prior bombings, he stated he wished he had done more of them. For B.O. to have ANY affiliation with this man should be vetted completely.

Regarding the press being unfair to B.O. or H.C.: I welcome them both to how the republicans have been treated ever since Ike was in office.

[Ken Youngblood]

So, the housing market has collapsed, inflation is on the rise, the dollar has lost half its value against the Euro, nothing has been done to deter illegal immigration, fix social security or medicare, jail crooked politicians, stop the earmarking of tax dollars, stem the national debt, stop the loss of jobs to overseas corporations, balance the federal budget, blunt the loss of lives and treasure in Iraq...ad infinitum, and ABC spends most of its time asking questions of the candidates that matter only to Entertainment Tonight.

For whom did George Stephanopoulos work before he became a "journalist"?

When I think of my country I feel nausea in my soul.

[sb]

This article is garbarge.

First of all, the title is misleading, as supporters of BOTH candidates were angry with the questions, not just Obama's supporters.

Secondly, Clinton NEVER admitted to nor apologized for "MAKING UP HER STORY." She brushed it off to mental fatigue, stressing that she had the facts correct in her book. You are quick to soften Clinton's comments, while using quotation marks to pull Obama's words and phrases out of context!

Forget ABC, what agenda do YOU have, Robin?

[Jo]

Kudos to George and Charlie for FINALLY asking LEGITIMATE questions for which the US citizens want answers!! And thank you for NOT throwing softballs such as those thrown in the past by mediators.

A couple of other things I'd like answers to: Barack's wife's comments, her college essay which was very racist, his dishonesty plagiarizing other people's "words", etc. Seems he is great at deflecting questions and shifting blame but not so talented at answering questions. I am NOT a hillary supporter either but I'd like to know what Hill has to do with Bill's pardons when he was in office? This is a non-issue. Barack did not answer why he continues to befriend a US terrorist. Also, what about Barack's refusal to place his hand over his heart during the pledge? Why is he the only one in the photos who does NOT have his hand over his heart. What about his attendance at Farrakhan's Million Man March? I guess someone forced him into it. What about Rezko? This guy is FINALLY getting the vetting that the other candidates have gotten for years. Unfortunately CNN and MSNBC (especially Nora Odonnell who SWOONS everytime his name is mentioned) cannot seem to report real news but rather, what they want the public to know. Never before have I seen an election covered with such partiality and an agenda by the Press. Again, thank you to Charlie and George for a stellar job.

[Franklyn]

RIGHT ON! The American voter does have the right to know the candidates. Contrary to conventional media feedback, this was the best debate ever between these two candidates. They were given the opportunity to answer on topics that have surfaced recently - as well as topics that are relevant to the American public, such as the housing crisis and the Iraq War. I was more than satisfied with the questions. Also, pressing the candidates on answering on the "Dream Team" possibility was brilliant and important to the Democratic selection of a candidate. Thank you Mr. Gibson and Mr. Stephanopoulos!

[Robby]

The question about "Ayers', is what Sean hannity of foxy news had always played over and over again. How can Obama be responsible for the man;s crime? For Christ sake he is a Professor of a University. The people at the University HIRED him to lecture to all these students. Hillary and Bill have commited so many sins and her association with whitegate scandals, where someone was forced to kill himself, then Hillary should be guilty by association. SHE IS THE oNE WHO CAUSED THE MAN TO DIE,, OR FORCED HIM TO DO THAT SO THAT HE MAY NOT EXPOSE THEM.
From, her own mouth"there are things that are unexplored, and should be EXPLORED. so it is time to explore her more carefully. Ther are so many baggages. She, had once cursed FOX NEWS, the likes of Hannity and OReilly, wolves in sheep clothing". Now she is EMBRACING them???????This is the lady who has no INTEGRITY and you Hillary supporters think she is the one ....No way....

[rikgw]

I thought Charles Gibson made a stupid opening of the debate when he ask about Clinton and Obama posssibly becoming running mates. That was enough of Charles Gibson for me, I mmediately turned off the debate. He could have opened the debate with
more intellegent question for the two to get started on. If he just had to ask that question, he should have asked that question at the closing of the debate.

[Typical White Person for McCain]

Before everyone goes knocking George too much, remember: his wife gave us the Schmoopie character on Seinfeld. Conversely, Obama's wife gave us her version of Angela Davis hating America.

George's wife made much of America laugh. Obama's wife made much of America sick. If you can measure a man by the woman he chooses, I think George is a mucher bigger man that Obama will ever be.

[SanePerson]

What is all this hoopla about. Obama supporters need to relax. I watched the entire debate and I think they asked really relevent questions. I agree they could have started with the economy, Iraq, housing crisis, etc....but all the questions asked were relevant. Obama was always searching for a answer regardless of what was asked of him. Can you all really see him as the president of the US? On the other hand Clinton was elequent, poised and calm in answering everything. It's about time the media asked Mr. Obama the tough questions and as you saw he can't answer them expect stutter...

People with real sense...please vote for Hillary!!!

[Gregory Moore]

The American people should be ashamed because they arethe ones who continue to digest the media fed craziness that was evident in ABC's "debate."

[Arlo]

Ask Stephanopoulos about his recent meeting with the Clinton's regarding debate content. Force him to deny outright that there was cooperation between ABC and the Clinton Campaign. Specifically, ask questions about Harold Ickes and Bill and discussion about "a real electronic lynching this week." THEN do a voice stress analysis on the recorded answers. Hell, do stress analysis on the stuff Stephanopoulos has said so far. Sooner or later the truth about this week will come out.

MEANWHILE - JOIN US IN BOYCOTTING ALL ABC/DISNEY CONTENT AND PRODUCTS until there is an investigation AND a public apology from Stephanopoulos and friends.

[tcbishop12]

I really regret to say the debate made a mockery of fairness and impartial media moderation. I am 53 years of age, and I've watched a fair number of these debates --but nothing that compares to last night's travesty. For 50+ minutes we heard nothing of substance. Sen. Obama's relationship as an 8 year old with Williams Ayers was brought up and we got to hear about Reverend Wright just one more time (can we all say amen and move on?). And whether wearing a flag lapel pin or not wearing one is evidence of one's patriotism. Or perhaps bad fashion sense. Impartial? Hardly. Decorum? There was little to none. Charlie Gibson -- who I liked while he was on GMA, but who is not a real journalist -- was debating with Sen. Obama at one point and -- it seemed to me -- constantly interrupting the Senator's answers. From George Stephanopoulos, I expected bias -- he owes his career to the Clintons. So it was not surprising that his "poisoning voters viewpoints" questions to Sen. Obama came right out of Sean Hannity's playbook. And the bias did not stop with the moderators. ABC's coverage was clearly slanted against Sen. Obama. The director cut several times to reaction shots of such Clinton supporters as her daughter, Chelsea. Obama supporters did not get equal screen time, giving the impression that there weren't any in the hall. Clinton's closing had the camera tight on her the whole way, while Obama's closing featured camera shots of a disapproving Clinton. I really wish ABC was running for something, so I could vote against them. I suggest that a total protest boycott is in order. Nightline and This Week? I will never watch them again.

[Jojo]

That was barely a "debate", and if it were a debate, Clinton + Obama were on one side and the moderators were on the other.

Stephanopoulos says that he thought his line of questioning was relevant to what Americans care about and what people are discussing across the political world. The first 40 minutes of that was about what the media cares about, and maybe what the parties care about in trying to drown the other in he-said/she-said. The American people care about the following 15 minute segment on the war, 15 minute on the economy, and 15 minutes on affirmative action / gun control / misc. Let's not forget the wrap up on what would you say to the super delegates, which is a regurgitation of what they've been spitting for the past 15 months.

You have educated viewers watching here, and we care for depth and substance, to understand these candidates beyond their talking points and the 30 seconds the media regurgitates to us on a daily basis. This was more your show than our show, elaboration of issues you think we care about.

Instead, you ask questions that you care about, to pigeonhole Obama into saying that yes his reverand says inappropriate things but is patriotic, and to have Hillary caught in acknowledgeing Obama is electable when we know her push is that he's not and she is more electable. That Obama doesn't wear a flag pin, you think we need to know that a man running for president is patriotic? Yes, Hillary is sorry about the inaccurate comments that she made, and let's bring it up again. Who needs this? You do.

I don't. I don't have ratings to uphold. I need economic viability, better education for our youth, heathcare for our country, a response to global warming, respectable and responsible international policy, and yes, some sort of sensible approach to two wars.

No, you haven't done a very good job of helping the American people truly understand the differences between these two beyond "electability." I'm an educated woman and I can get there on my own, but as you know, our country's not doing so hot on education, so there are a lot of people out there that only know what you spit them.

What you're spitting them is a hot mess that gets them nowhere closer to understanding the true ramifications of electing Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and of course, John McCain to office as President in November 2008. Let's have the option of doing a general election debate on the radio, please. Maybe if we take away the hot lights, you won't care so much about "entertaining" us.

Kudos to our candidates, citizens of our nation fighting the exhausting battle of becoming president because they believe we can do better for ourselves, our country and our future.