ABC News is apparently more interested in kitchen sink attacks than they are with the issues that people discuss around their kitchen table.
Over 45 minutes discussing flag pins, guilt by association, and other distractions... what a disappointment. Meanwhile, issues like human rights, poverty, global trade, and the environment were all but ignored.
Americans deserve better.
MoveOn.org has posted a petition to ABC asking them to focus on issues not tabloid political distractions. You can sign the petition here.
UPDATE: I went through the debate transcript and the following is a quick summary of the questions that Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos asked the candidates.
One thing I missed earlier was the comment that they were "turning to the economy" but then they proceeded to multiple questions about taxes. I think PA voters are probably more interested in NAFTA and Clinton's connections to the Colombia Free Trade Agreement than multiple questions on Capital Gains taxes.
They accepted McCain's premise that the solution to the economy is tax cuts so completely that they even featured his remarks in posing the question.
There were ZERO questions on schools, children, jobs, health care, the housing crisis, torture, Katrina and Osama bin Laden. (I guess William Ayers and Rev. Wright are greater threats than al Qaida?!)
A middle school student could have done a better job identifying questions to ask.
Pennsylvania Debate Transcript
April 16, 2008 ABC News Questions:
- Opening statements
- Joint ticket Obama
- Joint ticket Clinton
- Bitter comments?
- Follow-up
- Can Obama win?
- Can Clinton win?
- Rev. Jeremiah Wright?
- Follow-up should they have left the church
- Rescind invite to Jeremiah Wright?
- Do you (Obama) think Rev. Wright loves America?
- You’ve disowned him?
- But you do believe he's as patriotic as you are?
- Follow-up to Clinton
- Explain sniper fire?
- Do you (Obama) believe that Senator Clinton has been fully truthful about her past?
- Flag lapel pin?
- Follow-up
- What about William Ayers (Weather Underground) 9/11?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Will you bring troops home from Iraq no matter what?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Extend deterrent to Israel in case of attack?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Turn to economy (?) will you make a “read my lips” pledge for no tax increases under $200,000?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up Capital Gains Tax?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Why don’t you emphasize gun control position?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- What about Affirmative Action?
- Follow-up
- What about gas prices (1 min each)?
- Follow-up energy independence?
- How would you use George W. Bush if you were President (30 sec each)?
- Follow-up
- Closing statements, what will you say to Super Delegates?
Over 45 minutes discussing flag pins, guilt by association, and other distractions... what a disappointment. Meanwhile, issues like human rights, poverty, global trade, and the environment were all but ignored.
Americans deserve better.
MoveOn.org has posted a petition to ABC asking them to focus on issues not tabloid political distractions. You can sign the petition here.
UPDATE: I went through the debate transcript and the following is a quick summary of the questions that Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos asked the candidates.
One thing I missed earlier was the comment that they were "turning to the economy" but then they proceeded to multiple questions about taxes. I think PA voters are probably more interested in NAFTA and Clinton's connections to the Colombia Free Trade Agreement than multiple questions on Capital Gains taxes.
They accepted McCain's premise that the solution to the economy is tax cuts so completely that they even featured his remarks in posing the question.
There were ZERO questions on schools, children, jobs, health care, the housing crisis, torture, Katrina and Osama bin Laden. (I guess William Ayers and Rev. Wright are greater threats than al Qaida?!)
A middle school student could have done a better job identifying questions to ask.
April 16, 2008
- Opening statements
- Joint ticket Obama
- Joint ticket Clinton
- Bitter comments?
- Follow-up
- Can Obama win?
- Can Clinton win?
- Rev. Jeremiah Wright?
- Follow-up should they have left the church
- Rescind invite to Jeremiah Wright?
- Do you (Obama) think Rev. Wright loves America?
- You’ve disowned him?
- But you do believe he's as patriotic as you are?
- Follow-up to Clinton
- Explain sniper fire?
- Do you (Obama) believe that Senator Clinton has been fully truthful about her past?
- Flag lapel pin?
- Follow-up
- What about William Ayers (Weather Underground) 9/11?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Will you bring troops home from Iraq no matter what?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Extend deterrent to Israel in case of attack?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Turn to economy (?) will you make a “read my lips” pledge for no tax increases under $200,000?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up Capital Gains Tax?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Why don’t you emphasize gun control position?
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- Follow-up
- What about Affirmative Action?
- Follow-up
- What about gas prices (1 min each)?
- Follow-up energy independence?
- How would you use George W. Bush if you were President (30 sec each)?
- Follow-up
- Closing statements, what will you say to Super Delegates?
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