Moderators -- and ABC News stars -- Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos are taking a beating on the Web for their handling of the April 16 Democratic debate between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL). Most commentators feel that ABC dropped the ball.
Generally opinion-less industry magazine
Editor & Publisher reports that Gibson and Stephanopoulos “focused mainly on trivial issues,” including Clinton’s now thoroughly discussed comments on the conditions under which she visited Bosnia and Obama’s association with firebrand spiritual adviser Jeremiah Wright.
Assuming the race for the Democratic nomination doesn’t end April 22 in Pennsylvania, the campaigns will likely gird their candidates to brace for a tougher messaging environment.
Question for the readers: Is it appropriate for Stephanopoulos, who became a political rock star as a campaign and White House aide to President Clinton, to moderate a debate between his former boss’ wife and another candidate?