it's not only that the debate isn't about substance, it's so obviously biased against obama

[BklynChick]

they're trying to slam him on stupid issue over stupid issue (ayers, flag pin, wright, bitter) and have only interrogated her about one thing, tuzla and barely that.

[K Gardner]

1. Write: [e-mail]

[MH1]

10. Also: feedback @ constitutioncenter.org

NPR ran a clip today with the guy who runs the National Constitution Center (Torasella - I'm guessing at the spelling) and he was bursting with pride.

Well, they need to know that ABC News is a CRAPPY partner for a presidential debate, and should not be invited back if it can be avoided.

My vote is for Margot Adler to moderate the next presidential debate. (She's the woman who does Justice Talking, also broadcast from the National Constitution Center. Great program.)

[TahitiNut]

What ... you don't like the frequent cutaway shots of lovely Chelsea flanked by PA pols??

How conveeeenient that Michelle has to take care of the kids AND campaign.

[Connie_Corleone]

5. They even cut away to Chelsea when Obama is talking.

[TahitiNut]

9. Yup. The subliminals are noxiously biased.

There should be NO audience cutaways. None. Zip.

[crankychatter]

14. no shit? I'm listening on the Radio

unbelievable

[monmouth]

2. There will be serious repercussions on this and he will come out better

than before he went in. People are not stupid and she's making a fool of herself.

[global1]

3. Corporate America Has Decided That Obama Is A Threat To Them.......

so they are supporting Hillary and McCain. ABC might have also gotten a threatening call from the WH - because didn't I hear that Obama would look into potential war crimes that this administration committed.

[TahitiNut]

8. You'd better believe they keyed in to some of his more recent "Edwards" stances.

I've been wondering whether he'd present some populist economic stances a la John Edwards ... and he has, very slightly, done so.

We've even seem "supply-siders" here on DU moaning about capital gains taxes ... and a suggestion that the abominable inequities that let Warren Buffet pay less taxes than his secretary might get a SLIGHT correction.

Fucking insane.

[Jane Austin]

4. They ask Hillary open-ended questions like

"How fast will you bring the troops home?" and let her look Presidential answering.

Then they turn to Barack and ask him "You (or your preacher) said this, NOW what are you going to do about that, huh? Huh? Huh?


They are playing gotcha with him, and "Tell us about your life and plans" with her.

[Willo]

6. They are continuing the pattern. everytime she's in trouble the media

does this to him and bails her out.

Canada/Nafta: the media broadcasts wright

Penn, Hubby & Trade/Bitter/$800K: and we get this BS

[EffieBlack]

7. It's unbelievable. Gibson and Stephanopoulos are challenging and arguing with Obama

and just sitting quietly nodding while Clinton is speaking.

I'm not much on the "media's picking on" one Democrat or the other arguments, since most Democrats are given pretty much equal poor treatment by the media. But this "debate" is way beyond the pale. The bias is palpable.

From the beginning when they spent the first 50 minutes of the debate grilling Obama about such important topics as whether his pastor loves America while lightly touching on the Hillary's sniper issue and then moving back to Obama bashing - and then Gibson had the nerve to say, "Senator Clinton, we've given you much less time than we've given Senator Obama - would you like to take extra time now or later?" Yes, they gave Obama more time, but most of that time was spent trying to smack him off the podium.

And when they finally got around to discussing the economy, both Gibson and Stephanopoulos engaged in a debate with Obama while allowing Clinton to speak uninterrupted.

I'm sorry, but this is absolutely disgraceful.

[Cosmocat]

12. That was exactly what I saw ...

they spent HALF the god darned thing going on about three superfulous (sp) contrived Obama issues, both Stepho and Gibson tag teaming him, and Hill just kind of standing there watching, then them saying "oh, we haven't been giving you equal time" ...

[EffieBlack]

16. Gibson: "I'll give you a minute each to answer this: What are you going to do about gas prices?"

A minute each to talk about gas prices. 50 minutes to talk about whether Obama's retired pastor loves America.

Unbelievable!

[PoliticalAmazon]

11. You know how it goes...Hillary hand-jobs the corporate media, and they return the favor. n/t

[crankychatter]

13. my ignore function is disabled... at this very moment in time

talk about running people out of the party

keeping it small

it's like I'm here and they just shovelled it all on me at once...

from this moronic debate...

to DU itself

[crankychatter]

15. Will this be the final bomb that ignites a backlash on Censorship and Corporate Spin in our Media?

it needs to be

this is the most obvious and horrific act of propoganda I've ever witnessed

even since the Iraq invasion

[LWolf]

17. I'm not watching it, not having access to the tv now, but

I have to ask:

Why would it surprise you that a debate might not be about substance, or that their might be any bias shown by moderators?

It's not as if there's been a neutral, fair-handed, serious, substantive debate IN THIS ENTIRE PRIMARY, and it's not like Obama is the only candidate to run into this little problem.

Remember Dodd's talk clock? Remember when many debaters were barely allowed any time to speak, and not given substantive questions when they did?

REMEMBER THE FUCKING UFO QUESTION?

I don't know if you are reporting accurately, or if any pro-Obama bias colors your perception. Did you express frustration and outrage when most of the rest of the field was marginalized last fall, or does it only merit notice and criticism when it happens to Obama?

[splat]

18. McCain won't be easier; this is what vetting is -- can you rise to the scrutiny