As a former ABC News employee, I have to say...

[kpete]

As a former ABC News employee, I have to say...
by Hudson
Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:57:21 AM PDT

... that I was utterly embarrassed by the network's handling of last night's debate -- though not terribly surprised.

Here is the email I just sent to Mr. Salinger, et al.:

.................................

As someone who worked for Janice Tomlin, Dan Goldfarb and Pam Hill in the late 80s while in college, I was completely appalled by the childish tenor and utter superficiality of the questions posed by Mssrs. Gibson and Stephanopoulos last night.

ABC News achieved a new low in presidential debate moderation. If the questions had been gathered from random people on the subway, more light would have been shed on the plans and qualifications of these two candidates.

I was utterly ashamed by the performance of a news network whose name I once was proud to have on my resumé. No longer.

more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/17/114842/605/726/497606

[jefferson_dem]

1. Reich has defended Obama against the ClintonInc bullshit for some time now.

I'm glad to hear he will be formalizing his support with an endorsement.

[C_U_L8R]

2. i think the whole country was embarrassed

at the jerryspringerization and seanhannitizing of our presidential debates.
Ugly and cheap.

[Kurovski]

6. Insulted, too. (nt)

[FreakinDJ]

3. It was the worst political debate I've ever seen

Not to the fault of the 2 candidates -

[Downtown Hound]

4. I'm a former ABC employee as well

And now I remember why I quit. I'd love to get into a boxing ring with those moderators for a few minutes and have lots of fun.

[Olney Blue]

5. K/R

[TragedyandHope]

7. Thanks for the link

In short, last night's debate was not so much a change in the media's outlook, but rather a change in that ABC no longer feels the need to maintain any pretense of objectivity and wisdom.

It's good to see more insiders speaking out. The story is also full of ABC emails, if you want to let them know how you feel.

[LisaM]

8. When did debates stop being debates, anyway?

The fact of the matter is, that if the candidates aren't asked the exact same questions and given the exact same time to answer them, it is in no sense of the word, a DEBATE. It was more like a press conference, with weird questions. The only thing they seemed to do was keep time, since Obama kept rambling.

[cascadiance]

9. I used to work at an ABC affiliate in Iowa too and edit newstapes there...

And though I could give you stories about what went on even 25 years ago or so then that would frustrate some like we are with the media now, the media then was a LOT more deserving of respect then than it was now. A part of us died when we came in to find Frank Reynolds dead the next day. I kind of feel that way again now!

[Scurrilous]

10. K & R

:thumbsup:

[ColbertWatcher]

11. Good for you! n/t

[LuckyLib]

12. So true: If the questions had been gathered from random people on the subway,

-- my letter to ABC will include that suggestion for future "debates." But I won't be watching any so-called
"debates" or ABC News. It's all crap -- the MSM holding up their lenses so they can tell the people what to believe.