Last night's tabloid debate moderated by ABC "newsmen" Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulas {a "former" Clinton staffer} was a gross insult to the intelligence of Americans. 11,431 people posted comments about that debate so far on abcnews.com's message board {as of 8:30 AM April 17, 2008}. Most of those comments roundly critize Gibson & Stepapholous for their focus on insipid, calculated, gossipy, gotcha questions, most of which were directed to Barack Obama.

Here's a few of those comments:

"There are no words available to match the degree of anger I have with the way ABC (and all other mainstream media for that matter) is running this debate. SHAME ON YOU ABC. YOU are the overpaid, out of touch, insular, pathetic pawns of the corporate interests that run this country. I applaud Senator Obama's efforts to stay above this pathetic offense to democracy, and the network's legal duty to perform the public service of providing serious, informed debate on ISSUES THAT MATTER!!! I am disappointed with Senator Clinton's enthusiasm for the immaterial. But, once again, I am most bitter, and bitter does not even come close, about this network's disdainful failure to even come close to offering a glimpse of its responsibility to the public whose authority it relies on to exist (theoretically). ABC, j'accuse."
Posted by:
mbooth2058 Apr-16

-snip-

"ABC should be ashamed for squandering away this incredibly important opportunity to hear the candidates speak about real important issues that affect Pennsylvanians, and not ridiculous, irrelevant issues about who said what or who knows someone else (or who wears a flag pin!!!!). Charley Gibson and George Stephanopolus are really not helping themselves or our country with such an empty, shallow list of questions. PLEASE, talk about issues that matter".
Posted by:
concernedphiladelphian

**

What is happening right now in this so called debate is a perfect example of what is wrong with network media and why network media is assisting in the "dumb down" and feeling of "frustration" if not bitterness with the great people of his nation - enough of the Wright, bitterness misstatement and patriotism - absolutely incredible - get on with the real issues - you idiots ARE the ones that are out of touch with the American people and you people are the ones that are the real root of the problem - an INCREDIBLE 48 minutes so far on these 3 lame issues - ABC should be sanctioned for this "Alice in Wonderland" garbage you are putting on the airwaves rather than letting the candidates talk about the real issues - this is why fewer and fewer people rely on ABC for their news - I agree with the above in saying SHAME ON ABC"
Posted by:
drulaw Apr 16

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/comments?type=story&id=4666956
"Clinton, Obama Find 'Brotherly Love' at Philly Debate
Dems Last Chance to Settle Scores Before Pennsylvania Primary" April 17, 2008

Postscript- The title of that article speaks for itself, doesn't it? However, I was gratified that most of the people commenting about that so-called debate on abc's blog recognized that it was the worst debate ever, and berated the moderators for insulting the intelligence of American viewers.

Furthermore, it seems to me that Hillary and her campaign advisors-including Mark Penn who wasn't fired-overplayed their hand big time as many commenters on that blog and elsewhere throughout the Internet noted that the moderators targeted Obama with their sniping questions, and were far more lenient toward Clinton. And bloggers also noted that while Obama tried to raise the level of the debate, Hillary seemed eager to continue the "politics of destruction".

I think Hillary Clinton lost a lot of votes last night.