Debate Wire V

0946: Gibson: "It could well come down to superdelegates." An HRC argument?

0934: Obama supports Affirmative Action even for wealthy African Americans -- he seems to have said. Not sure. Will have to check the transcript.

0933: much less focus on the economy than usual

0927: HRC calls for "common sense" gun control proposals. Obama; "Just because you have an individual right doesn't mean the state or local government can't constrain that right." GS presses HRC on her tonal evolution.

0925; Why have the Dems changed their ammo on guns? From bullets to blanks?

0920: this is commercial television. I keep forgettin.

0916: Obama floats exempting his Social Security payroll tax hike from earners making between $97,000 and $200,000.

Comments

BREAKING NEWS: Charles Gibson does not want his taxes raised!!!!!

Posted by Bubba | April 16, 2008 9:18 PM

This entire thing is ridiculous. Why he doesn't wear a flag pin? Does he love America? This is not a debate, it's a public stoning.

I'll never watch ABC News again. What a load of horse crap.

Posted by Joe | April 16, 2008 9:22 PM

Guns now? Jesus Christ! Another non-issue.

Posted by Elrod | April 16, 2008 9:25 PM

This is the National Enquirer debate...I'm glad the folks at ABC News think that the American people have nothing major to worry about, and so can worry about flag lapels, meaningless past associations, etc.

Posted by cm | April 16, 2008 9:26 PM

Shorter Obama to Gibson: "That's a definite maybe, Charlie."

Obama never appears weaker than when he talks economics and tax policy. He gets transparently shifty in a way that directly undermines the confidence he displays in other policy areas.

Posted by dry_fish | April 16, 2008 9:26 PM

Wow, ABC welcome to the bottom. Fox News was expecting you and they've prepared some slime and bimbos for you. It's much more fun to be an organization without credibility.

Never again let them do a debate. Especially George Stephenopoulus.

Posted by Chris | April 16, 2008 9:27 PM

This is a good exercise for Obama no matter how biased ABC/Disney are. No surprise they blocked his ESPN interview. Anyway, here’s a good summary of some reasons to consider supporting Obama. Share it with friends in Pennsylvania. That's something constructive to do about the bias.
http://acropolisreview.com/2008/04/top-reasons-to-give-barack-obama-your.html

Posted by Tina | April 16, 2008 9:27 PM

Worst. Debate. Ever!

Posted by Bubba | April 16, 2008 9:29 PM

Gibson and George are an embarrassment to us all tonight...

We have the first debate in 6 weeks and ABC is playing "GOTCHA" or wasting time on trivial "he said, she said" issues rather than bigger issues that will actually have an impact on the American public.

Wasted night for sure. Thanks ABC... hand it back to MSNBC.

Posted by dcindie | April 16, 2008 9:33 PM

Hannity told Steph some of these lame questions to ask on his radio show. Steph is taking marching orders from Sean Hannity...fancy that!

Posted by cm | April 16, 2008 9:35 PM

He did not say he was for A-A for rich blacks. He said he was in favor of looking at the "whole person". Marc's ears are broken.

And of course, no mention of the fact that Stephanapolis tried to interrup Obama's answer.

Posted by Bubba | April 16, 2008 9:37 PM

ABC News Email Links:
World News with Charles Gibson:
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=World%20News%20with%20Charles%20Gibson

This Week:
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3428174

Other News Programs:
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=ABC%20News%20Other

Posted by Rebecca | April 16, 2008 9:37 PM

He said that his own kids, because of their circumstances, shouldn't benefit from affirmative action. They said the same thing, but Hillary's answer was better delivered.

Posted by Patrick | April 16, 2008 9:40 PM

Affirmative Action!?! HAHAHAHA! What decade are we living in?!? Was this supposed to be the "no real issues" debate? This is too ridiculous to even be believed...

Posted by More Axe | April 16, 2008 9:43 PM

Affirmative Action!?! HAHAHAHA! What decade are we living in?!? Was this supposed to be the "no real issues" debate? This is too ridiculous to even be believed...

Posted by More Axe | April 16, 2008 9:43 PM

Obama rejected "quotas" and said a poor white person should get an advantage over his daughters. I think that's a pretty clear answer. I just can't believe the questions these candidates have to answer.

Posted by Elrod | April 16, 2008 9:43 PM

Marc totally gets Obama's response on affirmative action wrong. He specifically stated that income should be a factor...the exact opposite of what Marc wrote.

Posted by cm | April 16, 2008 9:49 PM

No, Marc--Obama specifically exempted upper-income blacks from affirmative action. That was OBVIOUS. Did you hear him say people like his daughters should be exempted? Good grief!

Posted by Will | April 16, 2008 10:24 PM

I echo the above commenters on what Obama said re: affirmative action - that income SHOULD be a factor, and that rich African Americans should not benefit unduly just because of race. But more importantly, Marc, it is AWFULLY irresponsible to post what you did when you admit you weren't sure what he said.

Posted by south side | April 16, 2008 10:41 PM

Outraged over abc “news” Stephanopoulos and Gibson’s pitiful performance last night?

Call, write, email and FAX them:

Call the Switch Board: 212-456-7777 and Ask for the Voicemail of George Stephanopoulos Directly.

Also: dial 818-460-7477 press 2 then 6 then 639

And BTW - DNFTT

Posted by Angellight | April 17, 2008 11:48 AM

Finally, some real questioning of Obama for a change! At last night's debate we got to see a level playing field between the two candidates and the contrast could not have been starker. Without a teleprompter, with speeches written by others, and FOR others, he can't string two sentences together without hesitation and stuttering. I’ve always been taught “you are who you associate with”, and Obama finally has to start addressing this. My only frustration is that it came too late for the caucuses. I would love a national poll to ask the question: Would you have voted for Obama, now that the truth is starting to come out? I voted for him in the caucus, but now wish I had my vote back. I’m sure many others feel the same way. If that’s true, then it is now abundantly clear that cable news and the mainstream media have gone to great lengths to affect the outcome of this election by hiding or not reporting earlier on those issues now surrounding Obama. Their behavior is not so much an endorsement; it’s a canonization! The parodies on SNL are right on! I’m astonished to see Obama supporters complaining about tough, unfair questioning; the very thing Hillary Clinton has had to endure since this campaign began. I guess they assumed the free ride would continue. If Hillary Clinton could survive the onslaught by Tim Russert and Brian Williams on MSNBC (twice), Obama will live through this tame-by-comparison debate by ABC News. Maybe next time Obama and his supporters will have more appreciation for the intense scrutiny she's been under since last fall. Last night proved that he is untruthful, has flaws, does poorly under pressure, and is simply not ready. He’s a media generated phenomena, nothing more.

Posted by Jackie | April 17, 2008 1:43 PM