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August 30, 2008 4:00:01 AM CDT

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ABC Debate Hosts 'Shoddy, Despicable'

Posted Apr 17, 08 6:22 AM CDT in US,  Arts & Living,  Politics 

(Newser) – No winner emerged in last night's Democratic presidential debate, but for one columnist the loser was clear: ABC News. Over the course of a commercial-crammed broadcast, moderators Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolous dwelled on petty half-controversies to incite Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to get nasty, writes Tom Shales of the Washington Post.

For almost an hour the pair focused on disputes that "were barely news to begin with," says Shales. It hardly got better: at one point Stephanopolous dredged up an encounter Obama had with an anarchist at the age of 8. It's just another strike against network news this election season, according to the columnist. If cable these days seems more dependable, that advantage comes "merely by being competent," he adds.

Source Washington Post

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ABC News moderators George Stephanopoulos, right, and Charles Gibson, left, are seen before the start of the Democratic Party debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday April...   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., points during a commercial break in her debate with democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,not pictured, at the...   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Democratic Presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., adjusts his microphone before the start of his debate with Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., not pictured,...   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., returns from a commercial break during her debate with Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,at the National...   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama pause during a commercial break at a debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday April 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Barack Obama  • Hillary Clinton  • election 2008  • Democrats  • Pennsylvania primary  • presidential debate  • ABC News  • George Stephanopoulos  • Charles Gibson


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