HRC to personally thank Stephanopoulos for the hatchet job by hosting live town hall on ABC Sunday!!

[yourguide]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0508/Breaking_Clinton_to_hold_town_hall_on_ABCs_This_Week.html


Breaking: Clinton to hold town hall on ABC's 'This Week'

Hillary Clinton will hold a live town hall meeting Sunday on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," according to a source.

Just two days before the primaries, Clinton's town hall will be broadcast live from Indiana, and include viewer questions from North Carolina.

:puke:

[babylonsister]

1. Wow, that's pretty blantant, isn't it. Not even trying to hide their

partisanship any longer.

[PoliticalAmazon]

The Mutual Hand-Job Society strikes again. n/t

[democrattotheend]

2. Were both candidates invited to participate?

If not, isn't this a violation of some sort?

[MADem]

3. Well, absent a debate, why not? NT

[David Dunham]

6. Obama is the only guest on Meet the Press on Sunday

[Starbucks Anarchist]

33. MTP isn't having an Obama town-hall meeting.

[MADem]

37. Yes, he'll actually have MORE camera time, because he won't have all the

delays and interruptions inherent in a typical Q and A.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

44. Russert's questions are much more difficult than town-hall ones.

Russert, due to his job, knows what to attack a candidate with.

Your average Joe isn't going to ask heavy-duty policy questions.

[JohnnyBoots]

46. Please, the town hall questions are being scribed right now, i expect Russert to ask BS strawman

questions too.

[superkia]

73. No shit! Wasnt there a girl that didnt ask her original question to...

Clinton at a debate and asked a diamonds or pearls question that was given to her? The sad thing is that there are way too many people that take all of the trash and spin thrown out there as fact and it will affect the primaries and the future of our country. Sad!

[MADem]

49. Ah, the 'fat bastard' is SMARTER than the American people, eh?

Wow, ain't that interesting.

I think the "Average Joes" do a pretty good job.

[crimsonblue]

55. yeah... that average jane that asked Obama if he was patriotic

because he didn' wear a flag pin... she sure did a great job.

[MADem]

60. That's the only question he was asked? And of course, no one EVER asks Clinton a

curious or out-of-line question. Noooo....it's just poor VICTIM Barack Obama who gets the "They're Being MEAN to MEEE" questions.

Please. If your candidate can't stand the up close town hall format, he should go back to the megachurch pulpit format in the cold hard stadiums with all the chanting and crying. No one's FORCING him to do the more intimate settings.

[JackORoses]

30. if Lil' Hilly can't force a real debate, she'll just pretend to have one anyway

what a damn fool and a horrendously sore loser!

[MADem]

50. She's been doing town halls from the git-go. But then, if you paid attention, you'd see that. NT

[JackORoses]

72. none of them were exclusively nationally televised in their entirety

face it, it's a corporate sponsored commercial aimed at Indiana

[MADem]

75. Most of them are, on CSPAN. As are Obama and McCain's appearances. NT

[EFerrari]

4. The DLC won't go down easy. n/t

[KoKo]

5. ayyyyyyyyyyy.........n/t

[Frank Booth]

7. Jesus Christ, this is disgusting.

We become more and more like Russia everyday.

This is two ABC infomercials for HRC in the past month.

[Connie_Corleone]

8. What is this...a disguised campaign event?

Trying to save Hillary some money by having ABC set up the town hall?

[EFerrari]

11. What disguise? ABC is making a pretty bad bet.

This won't be forgotten, imo.

[MADem]

23. Post six--same deal? nt

[redqueen]

34. Read post 33... apples & oranges. (nt)

[MADem]

36. It's an HOUR OF AIRTIME. Airtime is airtime, not "apples and oranges." NT

[redqueen]

40. No, airtime is not airtime...

but I'm so not surprised to see you're trying to make that "argument".

[MADem]

42. It's not an "argument." It's FACT. Obama had a chance to debate, he turned it down. NT

[redqueen]

45. Why are you brinnging up debates?

A nationally televised town hall is NOT the same thing as an interview... and neither are the same as a debate.

[MADem]

51. I am bringing this up because some people are whining about Clinton getting a FULL hour, but they

obliquely ignore the fact that Obama is also getting a FULL hour on the very same Sunday morning.

Sheesh.

If Obama wanted all to be "equal" in the context of a full hour, or two, he would have accepted Clinton's "no moderator" debate.

It's the whining and complaining, the suggestions of "unfairness" that are tiresome. Why are the Obama supporters whining about Clinton getting ABC, when Obama gets NBC? It's idiotic.

[redqueen]

52. No.. they are complaining that she's getting a *NATIONALLY-TELEVISED TOWN HALL MEETING*

Sheesh, indeed.

[MADem]

54. Oh, boo hoo. How absurd. An hour of airtime is an hour of airtime.

If you think the town meeting was scheduled to accomodate ABC, you're high. Clinton likely said "Come along." She might have given a swift interview to use as "cut ins."

No one is FORCING Obama to go on the highest rated Sunday newshead show in the land. But you want us to feel, what, SORRY for him?

Love the logic you guys use. It's priceless.

[redqueen]

56. Oh for God's sake.

Back to "an hour of airtime is an hour of airtime"... as if a town hall really was the same thing as an interview.

This is pointless.

[MADem]

61. And a low rated show like ABC is the same as a top tier show like Russert's.

Spare me your 'tears.' This sure IS pointless.

[redqueen]

62. Tears...

:eyes:

[jefferson_dem]

9. They've already selected the "regular citizens" who are now crafting their questions...

Here they are --

[Connie_Corleone]

14. "Hillary, before I ask my question, I just want to say how much I admire you..."

"My question is how do you handle the constant attacks by Senator Obama and the media on your character? What gets you through those times?"

[americanstranger]

29. Senator Clinton, here's my question.

How awesome is it to be married to a former president - just regular-awesome or super-awesome?

- as

[Texas Hill Country]

10. he is not really a huge Hillary fan...

[yourguide]

12. Riiiiiiiiiiight.

[grantcart]

13. lol no but he is an experience Clinton apologist. Doesn't mean they have to like it

[redqueen]

20. Really?

Wow.

[Kittycat]

15. MTP Trumps Stephanopoulus - bookmark it.

I bet you anything that Obama pulls in the ratings on MTP, and Clinton sinks with ABC.

[Me.]

18. George's Ratings Are Tanking

April 27, 2008 09:04 AM

“First, bask in some good news. A look at last Sunday's ratings for the network chat shows reveals something pretty wonderful. This Week With George Stephanopoulos continued to compete well nationally with Bob Schieffer's Face The Nation, but, among the people that Stephanopoulos really cares about - the inside-the-Beltway types he longs to impress - This Week was a BIG OL' FAIL last week! Here are the DC ratings, from FishbowlDC:

Meet the Press: 3.2 Face the Nation: 2.2. Fox News Sunday: 2.0 This Week: 0.8

Ha ha burn, you non-substantive debate hosting nerd!”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/27/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_98819.html#postComment

[Me.]

43. More

“I rarely watch the ABC program This Week, With George Stephanopoulos. Increasingly, I avoid the traditional Sunday morning talk shows I've been watching since I was a wee lad.

But at the gym this morning, it was on the television in front of me, and it got me thinking about how on earth this show remains on television. Sure, its ratings are abysmal and shrinking, especially relative to NBC's Meet The Press; sure, newsmakers rarely choose George Stephanopoulos' show to make news; and, sure, the weakness of the George Stephanopulos likely carries over into the cheapening of the overall ABC News brand name.

But it still irritates me that this show remains a driving force in politics today, due to its prominent time and prominent network location.”

http://www.willisms.com/archives/2005/08/abcs_this_week.html

[yourguide]

16. I cant believe I am going to have to lodge another round of complaints...

this just takes the cake.

[MADem]

25. Gripe about the event taking place in post six, too, while you are at it.

And good luck with all that. Equal time is out the window, and has been for years.

[Dr Fate]

17. I'm still waiting for Clinton to attack McCain on race, religion, patriotism & elitism.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5768673&mesg_id=5768673

[redqueen]

19. Let's hope someone brings up the robo-calls, and asks her about Mountain Top Removal.

:)

[jezebel]

22. No it will be Hillary what do you think of Rev. Wright? Would you go to his church? What do you

think of William Ayers? Show us your pretty flag pin Hillary. Oh and Hillary You don't think American's are bitter and cling to guns do you? How elitist is Obama on a scale of 1-10?

[Kaylee]

21. Oh, so she gets to campaign on ABC 'This Week'

...when will Obama get this perk? Not biased my ass.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

26. He'll be campaigning on MTP, same day.

So ... they both get an hour on network TV Sunday morning. If it makes you feel better ... I think MTP gets more viewers.

[Yossariant]

24. Neither Clinton nor Stephanopoulos are responsible for Barack's ineptitude.

[yourguide]

35. Flag pins??? Really?

Where's yours commie?

[Yossariant]

48. He shouldn't have lied about it.

“You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we’re talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of important to our national security. I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest.” --- IOWA, October, 1997

“I have never said that I don’t wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag
pins.” --- ABC Debate

He should have stuck to his original answer, instead of lying.

His followers are upset about the question only because he was caught lying again.

[redqueen]

53. Funny how no matter how much you guys wish he was viewed as the liar,

it's Hill who's the most untrustworthy candidate (including McCain). By a nice margin.

[nonobadfish]

27. Hardball from Tim Russert for Obama and a free hour long ad for Clinton from Stephanopolis????

Okay, I know I am biased for Obama...but even given that, there seems to be real problem with this to me. Yes, Obama is getting an entire hour with Tim Russert, but Russert will ask hard questions and it will not be softball. On the other hand, it appears George is just hosting a town hall(and even if he asks questions, we know from the debate how soft they will be)...doesn't the idea of televising a town hall from Indiana (with questions from North Carolina) get really close to an hour of free advertising? Meet the Press will be a grilling for Obama, but This Week will be a campaign ad for Hillary. Doesn't pass the smell test to me, but not much that we can do about it, I guess.

[ellacott]

28. This is unbelievable

[Triana]

31. Just goes to prove that they're in cahoots to destroy Obama. Not that it wasn't obvious

from that political lynching arranged by the two of them that they tried to pass off as a "debate"

PeeEss: This must be the weekend's nasty surprise she was going to pull before the NC primary next week. Or, at least ONE of them.

George used to work for them.

Why are there not LAWS against this sort of collusion? Why was George S allowed to "moderate" any debate which included someone he used to work for?

Why is he allowed to give a FREE town hall hour airtime to his personal friend and previous employer without including the other candidates?

There is very blatant conflict of interest here.

[yourguide]

39. I cant believe after all of the complaints ABC got...

they are going to allow this blatant bias again.

[Triana]

47. Who's gonna stop them? n/t

[shaniqua6392]

32. Thanks for the heads up on that.

I will be sure to watch her. Town Halls are my favorite format to see the candidates. I think this is a great idea. At least the questions are posed by real people.

[invictus]

38. K & R

[stillcool]

41. Why not? Remove any doubt of George's..

use of his position to pimp for Hillary.

[ShortnFiery]

57. Think about THIS! If The Clintons wind up back in the WH, they will rule like George W. Bush.

Secrecy and more "unitary executive" stunts.

Ask yourself: Is "a neo-liberal democrat" BETTER than "a neo-conservative republican?"

[billyoc]

58. This is an illegal corporate campaign contribution.

I'd be pretty pissed off if the primary wasn't over already.

[Dogmudgeon]

59. Maybe Obama should insist that it be a 2-person Town Hall

You know, where each of them could field questions from Stephanopoulos, the public, each other ...

Now THAT would be some splendid viewing!

--p!

[TeamJordan23]

63. We look forward to ABC holding the next town hall meeting with President Bush, hosted by Karl Rove!

Said one media executive.

[totodeinhere]

64. What's most disgusting is that Clinton supporters at DU have the nerve to support this travesty.

Have they no shame? If ABC News would use an objective journalist it would be fine, but everyone knows that former Clinton staffer Stephanopoulos is in the tank for them. What an outrage.

[jconner27]

65. Whining what Obama supporters do best well....

You're good at lying too.

[nichomachus]

69. Two words: Sniper fire

[Frank Booth]

66. Last time Hill had to PAY to get her town hall on the Hallmark Channel.

This time ABC tells her, "Don't worry, it's on us." :puke:

Sometimes, I wish we had a state-controlled media. At least then everyone would know it's bullshit. Instead, most people in this country still believe that our farce media is independent.

:banghead:

[jillan]

67. Are you jealous? And how many times exactly has Obama been on?

Well not last Sunday, he was on Faux.

[RememberWellstone]

68. Tissue? Apple sauce? Diaper?

You need some hugs???

[yourguide]

74. :puke:

to you too...

:puke:

[Raine]

70. Sounds like this will be a mutal ass kissing

event. :puke:

[dempartisan23]

71. abc

is a piece of crap

[4themind]

76. So will Stephanopolus be hosting AT the town hall?

Because if he is, he definitely couldn't have been live at obama's, or MCCain's town hall, whether they had it at the same time or at different times. They should avoid stuff like this that reeks of favoritism.

[yourguide]

77. yes and yes.

[Buzz Clik]

78. At least ABC and Stephanopoulos are no longer pretending to be unbiased.

[KittyWampus]

79. how is this not a campaign donation worth millions?

[Lucky 13]

80. They disgust me.

:puke:

[democrattotheend]

81. Who controls the questions?

If her campaign picks the questioners than it's a donation of free air time for a campaign event and probably illegal. If ABC picks them and she doesn't have control the way she would at her own event then there's no problem.

I think Obama and McCain were invited too...i read that somewhere. but Obama was already committed to Meet the Press.