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The Debate Was No Good for Anyone

The pundits agree, and then split on blaming the inquisitors

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:12 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The pundit class agrees for once: No one (at least in the Democratic Party) benefited from last night’s angry debate. But the left and the right disagree on who’s at fault:

  • The first half was “garbage time,” Jonathan Cohn writes in the New Republic, with the moderators creating “a long infomercial about Obama’s electability issues.” Cohn is shocked that ABC’s finest hit so many nonsense issues—the Weathermen, the lapel pin, Bittergate—and Clinton didn’t hold up well either.

  • David Brooks doesn’t want to hear the “too many gaffe questions” excuse: “The journalist’s job is to make politicians uncomfortable.” He gives ABC a high mark for sticking it to the Dems, and notes that both made deeply irresponsible pledges on taxes and Iraq—ones they’d have to break in the Oval Office.

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., shields her eyes as Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, walks past her.
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., shields her eyes as Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, walks past her.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Democratic presidential hopefuls, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., return from a commercial break.
Democratic presidential hopefuls, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., return from a commercial break.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.
Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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