Who Lost the Debate? Moderators, Many Say

[stevedeshazer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/us/politics/18moderator.html?ref=us

By JACQUES STEINBERG
Published: April 18, 2008

Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, the moderators of Wednesday night’s presidential debate on ABC, became the subject of a fierce and somewhat unexpected debate themselves on Thursday, as viewers, bloggers and television critics lamented what they described as an opportunity lost: a chance to ask the two candidates for the Democratic nomination substantive questions early and often.

The media post-mortem — which boiled over in more than 17,600 comments posted on the ABC Web site alone — also touched on questions that had long been simmering in the protracted Democratic campaign over the role of moderators in televised debates, to say nothing of political journalists generally.

If there was a common theme, it was that Mr. Gibson and Mr. Stephanopoulos had front-loaded the debate with questions that many viewers said they considered irrelevant when measured against the faltering economy or the Iraq war, like why Senator Barack Obama did not wear an American flag pin on his lapel. Others rapped the journalists for dwelling on matters that had been picked over for weeks, like the incendiary comments of Mr. Obama’s former pastor, or Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s assertion that she had to duck sniper fire in Bosnia more than a decade ago.

Only after half of the 90-minute debate had been concluded did the moderators turn to questions concerning Iraq, Iran, the housing crisis and affirmative action.

The criticism — echoed in columns in The Washington Post and The Philadelphia Daily News, as well as on Web sites like Politico — was picked up on Thursday by Mr. Obama himself.

“We set a new record because it took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue that matters to the American people,” Mr. Obama told an audience of nearly 2,000 in Raleigh, N.C., many of whom applauded. Reached by phone on Thursday afternoon, Mr. Stephanopoulos, a former aide in the Clinton White House who hosts “This Week” on ABC, sounded somewhat taken aback.

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more at link

[Bozita]

1. I thought Pennsylvanians were obsessed with flag pins and capital gains taxes.

You know, the really important stuff.

[Supersedeas]

5. Gibson and Stephie have their priorities

[Muttocracy]

8. they should have asked about capital gains taxes on flag pins!

:dunce:

[GreenTea]

2. "Some have said"....

[asthmaticeog]

4. Well, the article DOES go on to specify who said it.

[mitchtv]

3. Taken aback?

or taken in the rear?
What a disgusting punk. Traitor George

[scarface2004]

6. obama should wear nothing but flag pins from now on!!

ones that flash and play the star spangled banner !! ditch the clothes!!

[Bozita]

7. I think that Charlie and Georgie should be forced to sleep on them.

The flag pins, of course.

The ones with lead paint and barbs at the tip, like on a fish hook.

[Muttocracy]

9. I want to see him in an Uncle Sam striped suit, top hat and all

Someone suggested that on DU long ago. Put all this to rest.