PHOTO: Janet Flashes Some Side Boob
WATCH: Will Smith Goes REALLY Old School On Fallon
We're trying to figure out what our schedule looks like. But I'll be honest with you. We've now had 21, and look, in the previous three, you know, we did very well and so it's not as if we don't know how to do these things. I could deliver Senator Clinton's lines. I'm sure she could deliver mine.Marty Kaplan, a media critic and academic, also says no more. Kaplan wants the League of Women Voters to step in:
Would someone please get the networks out of the presidential debate business?The League withdrew from the presidential debate business in 1988 because "candidates trying to control what we think should be a nonbiased way of bringing information to the public." Twenty years later, the mainstream media and their obsession with gotcha politics are trying to set the agenda. As a longtime Leaguer, I can assure you "gotcha" is not in the League's vocabulary.
The networks and the national press love their gotchas, their -gates, their "controversies," their heat. They, alas, are not the grownups in the political process. The grownups are the voters, who -- lamely, in the mind of the political class -- are troubled by the war, the economy and boring stuff like that. Stuff that networks think make for lousy television.
I don't blame news producers for doing what they think their job is, which is scoring brag-worthy Nielsens. I don't blame political talking heads for being infatuated with the narratives that they themselves create and market. Blaming them would be like blaming babies for banging their spoons on their highchairs, or addicts for wanting their fix.
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Comments: (26)
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By: junie on 4/18/2008 8:53PM
ABC conducted the worst debate in our nations modern day history. In the desire to get the gotcha ratings moment they forgot this is a serious issue to some. I tune in to learn about the issues, where the next potential commander in chief would led this country. Instead I got dribble and a hacket job. Charlie G and George S should be ashamed of themselves and go back to what they do best being talking heads. They were there to ask the questions instead I see to so-called journalist passing there judgement interogating witnesses being stupid children instead of grown-ups with a purpose other than their own agendas.
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By: Cecil Jones on 4/18/2008 12:36PM
The best and worst depend on one's perspective. Ratings were high and that translates into great advertising dollars for ABC. As far as content is concerned, it was the worst but that could be due to the fact that Stephanopolis owes everything he is to the Clintons. Was he loyal to their cause, you bet. This exposes the perverse relationship that exists between the coniving media and the pandering politicians. The politicians pay for the coverage they receive. They use their personal relationships to control the stories they don't want released. The money determines what is news and what is not heard. America is sick of this relationship because it keep lowering our expectations giving us the same old crap. Hillary is a Clinton third term and McCain is a Bush thrid term. Obviously, the status quo will work together to maintain control. Trashing Obama is all that stands in their way. Do we have the courage to demand the truth and change? You don't know the whole truth yet, but if you think Republicans wouldn't laugh if Hillary wins then you've got to be crazy. Hillary and Bill don't pass the "Laugh Test." Her victory would be "Hilarious" and another loss for Democrats. Clinton lost the last two.
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By: lenny.t on 4/18/2008 1:06PM
he will be a good president if elected. there has to a first in everything. let him in" dont you agree? he is young and intellegent, its what America needs.
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By: Hattiononlyson on 4/18/2008 2:53PM
Cecil Jones said it all we need to keep the media out of politic.
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By: AMOS BROWN on 4/18/2008 4:12PM
KEEP THE PUBLIC OUT OF POLITICS?...LOL..WE CALL THAT COMMUNISM...WHERE IS CECIL FROM?
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By: Cherry Sturdivant on 4/18/2008 4:25PM
This is one of the first Presidential debates I have watched in my 54 years and to see Charlie Gibson (who I liked until now) grill Senator Obama about wearing the American Flag pin was incorrigible. Why would a voter even send that question in and that be the question chosen to ask Senator Obaba is total nonsense? I wanted to hear the views of the candidates on the economy and the war and these were put on the back burner. And another thing, I have seen and heard Jeremiah Wright in person in a church in Philadelphia and I did not leave, but he said what everyone else was thinking, but too scared.
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By: delana sowell on 4/18/2008 9:25PM
PERSONALLY, I THINK SENATOR OBAMA'S THE KIND OF PRESIDENT AMERICA NEEDS TO START A NEW THING IN SOCIETY. IT'S CHAOTIC THESE DAYS WITH THE WORST WORLD ECONOMICS, WARS, HIGH OIL PRICES, KILLINGS AND DEVASTATION ALL AROUND THE WORLD. ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT'S NEXT IF WE DON'T WAKE-UP, THERE IS A CHANGE NEEDED GREATLY BECAUSE OBAMA ALSO NEED A CHANCE TO USE HIS GOD GIVEN TALENT FOR ALL HUMANITY ESPECIALLY THE STRUGGLING HARD WORKING CLASS CITIZENS. HOWEVER,LET'S GET OFF OF THE RACE ISSUE AND FIX AMERICA. OH!!! THANK GOD THAT HE HAS COURAGE ENOUGH TO TRY CHANGING THE OLD WAYS WITH FINDING SOLUTIONS TO CORRECT THE MESSES OF OTHERS WHO SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, BUT DON'T CARE.
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By: Tina on 4/19/2008 12:25AM
I'm so happy that I'm not the only one who knows the power of the media. The media has tooo much power if you ask me, anytime someone can mislead a Nation(s), in ways of various and powerful ways of persuassion it's really scary. I mean the people that I turn to for the truth I can't relate to. Lou Dobbs, I'm not sorry when I say, "thank God" he's not running for Presidency. Why should I trust someone like him for the truth. People need to learn to read between the lines when listening to these idiots! Sad but True!
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By: Purple Rain on 4/19/2008 1:37AM
Drilling Obama about such ridiculous issues such as a lapel pin and his pastor is how whites in power use their infulential powers to dissuade, mislead and misguide the public. Those who rely solely upon the media for news are the ones who are duped into believing everything they say...When are they going to ask more pertinent questions that are affecting this country such as, economy, foreclosures, jobs, crime, schools...This country is becoming weaker morally and intellectually.... Lets Go Crazy and seek change
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By: rj on 4/19/2008 10:37AM
www.andwearenotsaved.blogspot.com
Where was the support for Hillary Clinton in the last 20 debates when she was questioned on everything she has done since the day she was born? Why is it now Barack Obama, who has had three months to culitivate an answer to the questions put to him, is crying foul play? Here is a man who has been in office for 2 years and running for he highest office in the land and we want him to cake walk into the White House?
Any one out there can you not see the dichotomy in all this. Maybe Obama is getting a pass because of his race? Hillary's gender certainly isn't helping her. What is up with this country? Do we actually think an unvetted candidate can become president. Oops! I forgot the election of 2000.
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