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

[ted tyson]

president george w. bush was friends with his own grandfather, prescott bush. prescott was one of hitler's bankers and the cfo overseeing the creation of the labor camp at auwshwtiz. he continued to aid and abet hitler even after pearl harbor. why has the gop not renounced and rejected prescott and all who benefited from his success. why has the media been silent about this all of our lives?

sincerely,

ted tyson
milwaukee, wisconsin

[RE]

Debates are suppose to uncover the differences between the candidates, to highlight the different ways in which they would lead our nation's policy. The questions railed in the first 45 minutes were interview questions at best, not debate topics. There was no ability for a point counter point on those questions.

And while I have no problem with the press asking whatever questions they like, how about using the appropriate forum. That debate was an absolute waste of time, showed the crass nature of the networks today and did nothing but besmirch both candidates.

[westxn]

Obama's association and connections to these shadowy anti-american people and groups have have bee in the public domain for awhile. It is high time one of the major media outlets brought this to national attention. I do not believe the American people are ready to elect someone who has ties to Middle Eastern terrorists and Communist sympathizers. ABC asked some of the right questions this time but not all the questions about Obama that really needs to be answered. More debates are needed. Even if Obama was not running for president he still needs to be investigated.

[sourusoff]

Stephanopoulus sets a new low for networks media by using his position as moderator to try to boost his choice for the nomination. But then again, what else is new? Oh bring back Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley

[Fire Stephanopoulos]

STEPHANOPOULOS AND GIBSON, THE TWO COMEDIANS ON ABC SHOULD BE FIRED PRONTO!

AND ABC NEWS SHOULD ISSUE AN APOLOGY TO BARACK OBAMA!!

[Henry]

How can Charles gibson and Steptnoolis call them selfs, moderators, when their talking points comes from fair and inbalanced fox news, Hannity? Steptnopolis should have come out, right away and stated" this question comes from fox news Hannity".Sen Obama. I will not watch channel six any more.

[Jay]

Obama has no business running for President, if he can't explain himself or fight back. I am afraid we have a Michael Dukakis all over again. We Democrats need to take a careful look at Obama; he needs to fight and fight harder.

He should have easily nailed some of those answers but he did not. That scares the heck out of me. McCain will unleash ads with Obama and Ayers side by side, will Obama devolve into a cry baby or FIGHT?

[Melissa Reed]

I could send a long email about the details of my disappointment, but I won't (I'm a working mother and frankly don't have much free time) but I do stay involved in politics, am a democrat, but am very non partisan (even within the party, which is becoming increasingly partisan).

I think George and Charlie should NEVER be allowed to moderate a debate again and I do hold ABC responsible for the line and sequence of questionning. Even my young kids, whom I allow to stay up to watch important political events, like a PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, asked me why they were asking such "wierd" questions. In my house, when we talk about politics, we talk about issues. They were utterly confused by the debate. Nice way to ring in a new generation, Georgie and Charlie.

Never again will I watch you George, and I had been a fan, to be frank.

[Gary G.]

Years ago when I worked in government affairs at a state university, a U.S. Senator shared his view with me that when he received a volume of letters from the public on various issues it was always easy for him to detect the difference between grassroots politics and Astro-turf (or manufactured responses). Starting late last year, it has been easy to detect the paid talkers and partisan supporters who tear down Senator Obama and build up Senator Clinton. I would say that the blogs and public comment sections of many websites these days are filled with Astroturf.

[Don Jackson]

"Perhaps if hack, mainstream "journalists" as Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos had spent a fraction of the time imposing the same kind of heavy-handed questions to George W. Bush the past seven years over Iraq, unauthorized surveillance, torture, the failed economy, you name it, as they did to Barack Obama (at recent Pennsylvania debate) over insignificant "gotcha" issues, we would, collectively, be better informed of the aforementioned "real" issues at hand that have so damaged our nation courtesy of our current administration."

Don Jackson
Woodbridge, VA 22192

[Pam Dixon]

Keep up the good work George. There are alot of people out here that want to see them respond to character questions. I care about Ayers and the Rev. I still don't like the answers. I still need to understand just those 2 things. Those are major and when you include the wife (and her trunk of junk if anyone has googled her), his bitter comments, etc. all point to a man who would never have my confidence unless all of these things are explained, not "poo poo'd" away the question like we're stupid for wanting to know. I've had enough of him, but apparently there are still people that need to understand his charater. That won't happen unless we have a guy like you to call the candidates on questionable conduct and/or associations. We're "hiring" this man as "President". With modern technology, most homes can participate in the "interview". Not all "interview panel members" are looking for the same thing in this "applicant". So, if they both want the job, I suggest that they answer any questions, that anyone wants to know that could explain there character and judgement, or they may find that someone else will get "hired".

[Dan]

Wasn't George Stephanopoulos a member of the Clinton Whitehouse staff? This all reeks of a conspiracy theory to me. Is it any wonder that Hillary's answers seemed rehearsed, and her questions seemed soft? Why hasn't anyone mentioned that?

[Sidd]

George and Charlie should get Fired. Period. Irresponsible, cheap, and stupid. FIRE THEM ABC, FIRE THEM FIRE THEM!!!!!!

[from here]

Shame on ABC. This was the worst kind of journalisme we could expect.

[Megan Medica]

ABC did an awful job however they appear to be deaf to our concerns so my sugestion is watch someone else. This country is at war for god sakes could we slip in one question that is not on nonsense. At the risk of sounding elitist maybe PBS should do all the debates from now on with no help from the commercial "news" outfits.

[Robert Lewis]

Property owned by Bill Ayers is also owned by Bernadine Dohrn webofdeception.com

[PATRICIA URBAN]

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WRITE. I WAS SICKENED WHEN I WATCHED YOUR DEBATE LAST WEDNESDAY. I AM WRITING TO YOUR SPONSERS AND WILL NOT WATCH YOUR NEWS FROM HERE ON OUT. I THINK IT WAS A GANG UP ON OBAMA AND IT WAS SO BAD THAT I WAS ACTUALLY SICK TO MY STOMACH WATCHING. ALL I CAN DO IS HOPE THAT OBAMA WINS BY A LARGE MARGIN. SHAME ON YOUR STATION AND SHAME ON BOTH OF YOU.

[Billw]

Hoorah for ABC News, George Stephanopoulos, and Charles Gibson. They had the courage to do what needed be done to slow down the free passes Obama receives. One is known by the company one keeps. Obamas judgment in associating with Wright, Ayers, Auchi and Rezko disqualifies him for President both judgement and character-wise. His spiritual adviser the Reverend Wright (who married him and baptized his children) even gave Farrakhan a "lifetime achievement" award. Unbelievable. Past behavior is the best indication of future behavior, and Obama's past does not bode well at all for his future behavior. He has received a free pass by many critics because they don't want to be accused of racism. Otherwise by the media because they fear losing a few viewers and ratings. In this case I believe ABC will pick up more new viewers than they lose. ABC, Stephanopoulos, and Gibson are to be commended. Thanks, and keep up the good work.

[Billw]

To Manolete (and anyone else interested), who wrote:

"The main question still remains: Does Obama love or hate America?"

Well.. all Obama had to do to was wear an American flag pin during the debate to show where he is coming from and raise his rating way up in the polls. Oversight? Many would like to know. Kudos to ABC, Stephanopoulos, and Gibson for trying to find the answer to your question. I say, Clinton or McCain 2008.

[lrubemp]

Stephanopoulos revealed himself to be the tabloid hack he really is. Too much money, too much comfort, too-close-to-power status has turned him into just another smug, self-satisfied talking head, like his sidekick rightwing point man, Gibson (voodoo supply side economics, are you freaking kidding me?). Continue your decline ABC, it is well deserved!