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The group blog of The American Prospect

SIGNED STATEMENT DEPLORING ABC'S CONDUCT.

Several dozen journalists, columnists, authors, bloggers, policy wonks and other thinkers signed their names to a statement deploring the conduct of ABC News, and moderators George Stephanopolous and Charles Gibson, during Wednesday night’s Democratic debate.

The statement has been published over at The Nation and will likely be posted or re-printed elsewhere on the web. From the Prospect’s current or extended family, Spencer Ackerman, Dean Baker, Sam Boyd, Ezra Klein, Addie Stan, Mike Tomasky and yours truly are among the signatories.

Sections from the opening and closing lines:

We the undersigned deplore the conduct of ABC's George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson at the Democratic Presidential debate on April 16. The debate was a revolting descent into tabloid journalism and a gross disservice to Americans concerned about the great issues facing the nation and the world. This is not the first Democratic or Republican presidential debate to emphasize gotcha questions over real discussion. However, it is, so far, the worst.

For 53 minutes, we heard no question about public policy from either moderator. ABC seemed less interested in provoking serious discussion than in trying to generate cheap shot sound-bites for later rebroadcast….

We hope that the public uproar over ABC's miserable showing will encourage a return to serious journalism in debates between the Democratic and Republican nominees this fall. Anything less would be a betrayal of the basic responsibilities that journalists owe to their public.

You can read the entire statement and see the full list of signers here.

--Tom Schaller



COMMENTS

Wow, where was this statement following the 10/30/07 Democratic debate in Philadelphia?

It's nice to see folks rediscovering the principle that it's bad when the media is unfair to Democrats. Assuming that's the principle at stake, of course.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, poor babies. Let's just have Obama submit his preferred questions in advance next time. I assume Obama will stop placing any advertisements on ABC, ESPN, Disney channel, ABC radio, and all affiliates? At least I hope he puts his money where his foot ..er, mouth is.

This is a truely a wonderful time for conversatives.

After telling conservatives for all these many years that the idea of that the mainstream media was biased in favor of liberals and Democrats was nothing more than our insane delusion, it is amazing how quickly liberals have discovered its existence during a contest between two liberal Democrats candidates for President.

First Dems will not go on Fox, then they say that Russert was unacceptable and now little Georgie Steffie and Charlie Gibson have been voted off the island.

God, you guys really are a bunch of whiney pussies who are stuck with two candidates, neither of which will be able to get to 270 in the Electoral College.

Yes, wonderful times indeed.

"This is a truely a wonderful time for conversatives."

Why yes, it is, isn't it? That's why Democratic candidates are outraising Republican candidates by large margins, Democratic primary voters are outnumbering Republican primary voters by even larger margins, Republicans will lose ground in both the Senate and the House, not to mention in various state contests, and there is a very good chance you'll lose the Presidency, as well. May you always have "good times" like these.

"After telling conservatives for all these many years that the idea of that the mainstream media was biased in favor of liberals and Democrats was nothing more than our insane delusion"

Considering how the idea of "liberal" media bias has a) never been demonstrated by anything resembling real data or evidence and b) was easily debunked, forgive us if we shattered your delusions.

"it is amazing how quickly liberals have discovered its existence"

Really? We've discovered "liberal" media bias??? Do tell.

"during a contest between two liberal Democrats candidates for President."

Dear heart, we're not really complaining about the "bias", per se; we're complaining about the utter stupidity and inanity. Do try to keep up, won't you?

"First Dems will not go on Fox"

Uh-huh, just like Republicans will not go to, say, a MoveOn.org or Air America sponsored debate. There's a reason for that. Care to guess what it is?

"and now little Georgie Steffie and Charlie Gibson have been voted off the island."

Dear heart, did you, perchance, actually watch the debate?

"God, you guys really are a bunch of whiney pussies"

ROFL.... Oh, the irony, coming from this poster, who has done nothing but whine.

"who are stuck with two candidates, neither of which will be able to get to 270 in the Electoral College."

You keep telling yourself that, dear. We'll be happy to take on John "100 years in Iraq and endless tax cuts for the wealthy" McCain in November. See you there, dear.

"Yes, wonderful times indeed."

Like I said, here's to a lot more "wonderful times" for you, dear.

PaulB, your tone certainly betrays your status as one of those liberal elitist types who'd just as soon march all us working stiffs off to the re-education camps as give us the time of day. When should I start packing? Will they shoot me out of hand if I'm wearing eyeglasses? Of course, when your comrades come for me, they'd better be clinging to guns bigger than mine.

your previous silence during the 20 debates that asked the same inane questions--but to Hillary and not Obama--has already told us more than any signed statement could.

It was fine to do it to her all along, but how dare they do it to him too? You're not helping Obama with this, but ensuring his defeat. He shouldn't need your protecting and actually needs you guys to do your jobs-- more tough investigation and tough even if stupid questioning--the realities of elections and the media can't be complained or "hoped" away.

So now that Obama has been on the receiving end all of a sudden it's A Big Problem.

Of course as long as it was just Hillary gettign a raw deal there was no need to be getting together petitions to complain.

So don't be surprised if people without short-term memory problems take a cynical view of this. It's not about The Media, it's about Obama. He was getting a hard time. So long as he doesn't the media acn be as uinfair to Hillary as it wants and a certin style of self-serving liberal won't give a damn.

It was Obama who said, "Don't blame the refs."
But now...

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