Obama Decries "Gotcha" Debate Focus

Ill. Senator Says ABC News Moderators Focused On Trivial Politics

(CBS/AP)  Democratic Sen. Barack Obama dismissively talked about his debate with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the line of questioning from ABC News' moderators, arguing that it focused on political trivia at the expense of the problems facing average voters.

At a rally in the May 6 primary state of North Carolina, Obama drew roars of approval Thursday when he mocked aspects of the presidential debate that had him on the defensive Wednesday night. He faced tough questions about his controversial pastor, his comments about bitter voters in small towns and his relationship with a 1960s radical.

Deadpanning, the Illinois senator said, "It does not get much more fun than these debates. They are inspiring events."

In criticism of his rival, he called the debate "the rollout of the Republican campaign against me in November" and said it represented textbook Washington politics that Clinton was very comfortable playing.

"They like stirring up controversy and they like playing gotcha games, getting us to attack each other," he said. "Senator Clinton looked in her element. She was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there. That's her right to kind of twist the knife a little bit ... that's the lesson she learned when Republicans did it to her in the 1990s."

The Obama campaign also sought to capitalize on the debate, sending out a fundraising appeal titled, "Gotcha," and soliciting $25 donations.

"Last night I think we set a new record because it took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue that matters to the American people," Obama told the North Carolina crowd. "Forty-five minutes before we heard about health care, 45 minutes before we heard about Iraq, 45 minutes before we heard about jobs, 45 minutes before we heard about gas prices."

ABC News' Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos pointedly questioned Obama, and Clinton politely challenged her rival.

"[Clinton] is always best when she can be on policy grounds, so the second half of that debate was a strong point for her," CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield said.

"When you're running for the presidency, you've just got to kind of let it ..." Obama said, pretending to flick lint off his pants and jacket.

Another debate between the two candidates seems unlikely. Obama had agreed to a debate in North Carolina on Saturday, Clinton has agreed to a debate April 27 in Raleigh, sponsored and televised by CBS News. The two camps have not agreed on a date.

"I'll be honest with you. We've now had 21," Obama said of the debates. "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."

Later, taking a question from a fourth-grade boy who said he had been elected his class representative at school, Obama asked, "How many debates did you have to have?"

"None," the boy replied.

"None! That sounds good!" Obama said.

[cbs4me3]

Kudos to Charlie and George. Well, Obama looks as hapless as he actually is. Empty rhetoric and bull. Kudos to the media for confronting this guy on serious matters. And, he wants to be president?

[notopennshut]

So true! Are Gibson and Stephanopoulos working for the republicans?? Must be! In any case, it''s time to STOP ALL DEBATES. We have heard enough and to allow these so called journalists and commentators to play politics and not focus on what is really happening to us and the lives of millions of americans is too much. Almost two dozen debates - aren''t we tired of not only hearing the same old stuff, but more trash to boot? Hillary and Obama, there isn''t anything else to debate about, so please call it an end to this nonsense now. Bah to ABC network - one more reason to stop watching them from now on.

[obamasgranny]

Wow,..Finally some actual questions for Obama about his horrible judgement and scary affiliations. Of course, the media (and Obama-bots) are twisting it as usual!! I am not surprised that the people who have invested so much in Obama were out in full force to negate the damage. Obama looked horrible, weak and had lousy answers (more like prepared statements, as usual) This is nothing compared to the general election,..Obama failed miserably last night and this is just a precursor to the general!! Obama supporters looked so sullen last night after the debate,..Olbermann, Madow and the like,...they looked so sad!! I think people were actually "stunned" that after 20 debates the moderators stopped being all warm and fuzzy and addressed some actual issues with this seriously flawed candidate!!

Wake up America!! Snap out of it!!

[cryonbrian]

Only in America can you find such educated stupid people! *** for Tat politics that never focus on those in need! Never will there be a perfect person. Search the world and you will never find that person. Americans need to grow up and start solving issues instead of letting the media side track the real issues. But then again, its fate is being played out before our eyes and some day when all is said and done and it is no longer a Super Power, Americans will only be able to find comfort in the memory of it! SAD!

[Razzl]

Obama always has the most insightful comments on any event he''s the subject of; it''s the sign of his brilliance, his sharp intellect is the great political weapon that''s winning this thing for him. I would have called Hillary the winner last night, but it''s getting to the point where it doesn''t matter, Obama''s diagnosed correctly the frustration of the public with the trivial Washington media and the Clinton campaign''s errant belief that this stupid stuff is going to get them where they need to go. I''m not sure the public that matters is listening to these debates any more, I sense that minds are being made up that Hillary''s shot her bolt and it''s time to let Obama get on with the real job of running for president...

[txspoiler]

Whine, whine, whine. Finally a major news channel did its job last night in the Democratic debate and Obama supporters are crying like little children. The job of President of the United States is the hardest job in the world. There is no subject that should not be explored when the candidates are auditioning. CNN and MSNBC might as well be the Barack Obama channels, since they''ve given him a pass on every major question. They''ve essentially said, "It''s OK, Barack, you don''t have to answer such a hard question. Sorry we even had to ask"! ABCNews has been the only channel willing to do their jobs. Kudos to them!

[nathanealy]

I''m sure he was decrying gotchas only because he was gotten.

[stn_sage]

In my opinion, this was the poorest of all debates the two candidates have appeared in!

A former Clinton staffer, George Stephanopoulos, a main moderator?! I dunno---that doesn''t seem very fair!

But mostly, the questioning was petty, tiresome, and off issue! How many times does the media want us to hear about Pastor Wright, the ''bitter'' statement, or the Bosnia sniper fire ruse?! Enough already, please?!

Devoting 45 minutes to these lines of questioning was a waste of time and insulting to Americans in general!

It''s bad enough the candidates engage in ''food fights''
we don''t need the media stepping in and taking part in the food fight!

Next time, devote the debate to asking issue questions media!

[suzyqj1]

Well, when they finally got to the 45 minutes of what Obama wanted to talk about, he really had nothing to say - he needs a teleprompter to help him out! Hillary was very ready to talk about the issues, she actually knows what she''s talking about! I pity Obama should he win the nomination and the GOP takes off after him if he cannot withstand any criticism at all at this point!!! He ain''t seen "nothin''" yet!

[xraytwonine]

come''on, its 2008, we are entertained by meaningless numbers and summarized one-liner head lines "Obama Decries "Gotcha" Debate Focus" thats all I read, and thats I all I want to know, get real.... the generations to come is going to be stupider than ever, good luck, president whoever!

[mecury69]

It''s finally refreshing to see someone who wants to stand above the fray. To FINALLY break the cycle of dividing and attacking each other. You lemmings who follow the old and tired form of divisive government, politics and labels are the reason why our country has been stuck in neutral for decades. No visionaries, no dreamers that are NECESSARY to make us better. We lag most other leading countries in education, quality of life, on and on. But we have the greatest military (uh, yea) and economy (well...) but let''s just call each other names and attack. That''s the American *ucking way! Sad and Bitter!

[gretagreen]

Barack is absolutely right. Those questions were absolutely ridiculous. Irrelevant, inane and asinine. and really stupid. We didn''t learn anything about the candidates'' plans. How are they going to get the soldiers out of Iraq? How are we going to save social security? These are some of the kinds of things we needed to learn about - not a flag pin or some guy Obama doesn''t know who used to be a weatherman when Obama was 8 years old! ABC stinks.

[gretagreen]

CBS - bad headline. Sounds like Obama is not justified in his criticism. He is. That debate was idiotic and pandered to stupid people.

[kansas1946]

(AP) Democratic Sen. Barack Obama dismissively talked about his debate with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the line of questioning from ABC News'' moderators, arguing that it focused on political trivia at the expense of the problems facing average voters.
**************************************
I have thought for a long time that ABC is more interested in tabloid journalism rather that issues that matter, and they proved it at the debate. To focus on silly stuff instead of trying to get the candidates to state their stand on issues is ridiculous. I will avoid ABC news as much as I can in the future.

[randynason]

America doesn''t like to have the comparison drawn between the U.S. and Nazi Germany, but the facism literally smacks of the same conservative, power-playing uptightedness. It''s no wonder the rest of the world hates us. They''ve "been there, done that." We''re like the spoiled rich kid.

[frannie08-2009]

How wrong he is. These are not trivial or tabloid issues. These issues go to the heart of his "judgment" stance. He has very poor judgment and he has to own up to his mistakes. The people he is involved with show the sort he is. He needs to disown them or go down with them.

[obamasgranny]

Why am I not surprised that Obama would try to play the "victim" card!? He should have had plenty of time to formulate and calculate his answers to those questions!! This just showed the American people what a phony TRUE politician he is without his script!!
If the media would have asked these questions months ago maybe by now he would have figured out how to respond!! He is such a "victim" and his supporters are just enablers,...He lost in a BIG way!! Get over it!! You are the ones who bought into him ,hook line and sinker!!

NOBAMA 08,...OR EVER!!

[canyoutellme-2009]

you know.. it''s kinda funny... Some posters here say how bad Obama did in the debate.... a bunch of articles come out saying how Obama didn''t do so hot... However, EVERY SINGLE POLL of last night''s debates have Obama as the WINNER by a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 margin.... so if Obama sucked at the debate yesterday, then Hillary was absolutely horribly bad beyond recognition lol.

ANyhow, the "debate" last night was flat out stupid. Sure, i understand a question here and there to force Obama and Clinton to address the tabloid issues, but what about the REAL issues that AFFECT THIS NATION? Are you obama-haters saying that somehow since Obama has had contact with not-so-good and terrible people that somehow Obama wants to blow up the USA? is that what you''re saying?? if so, GROW UP.

ANyhow, Obama has been HELPING people his whole adult life and THAT is admirable. But you all dismiss it because his first name is Barack and his middle name is Hussein. That''s all there is to it. A bunch of closet racists/children who pretend to be adults behind a keyboard. Pathetic really.

If you''re REALLY serious about this nation, then you will WANT change and you will WANT things to turn around. You will NOT want Hilary who has shown over and over again to LIE about MAJOR POLICY things such as NAFTA. She was in HUGE SUPPORT of it and she also voted to give Bush authority to attack Iraq... by the way, she did that WITHOUT READING THE D*MN BILL FIRST. And you want her as PRESIDENT? are you kidding me???

[mecury69]

Oh, this is about Obama''s judgement on issues that are at the heart of America? Let''s see you name ONE leader that you feel makes sound judgement decisions. Watch that name get ripped to shreds. There is no person that cannot be picked and dissected apart.

I have this quote on my computer and read it every day...

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

[obamasgranny]

Make that a useless b-tch


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Posted by popstom1 at 06:19 PM : Apr 17, 2008
______________________________________________________

Leave Michelle out of this.

[canyoutellme-2009]

Why am I not surprised that Obama would try to play the "victim" card!? He should have had plenty of time to formulate and calculate his answers to those questions!! This just showed the American people what a phony TRUE politician he is without his script!!
If the media would have asked these questions months ago maybe by now he would have figured out how to respond!! He is such a "victim" and his supporters are just enablers,...He lost in a BIG way!! Get over it!! You are the ones who bought into him ,hook line and sinker!!

NOBAMA 08,...OR EVER!!


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Posted by OBAMASGRANNY at 06:29 PM : Apr 17, 2008
+ report abuse

"He lost in a big way" ??? really? is that why the polls show he beat Hillary by a 3 to 1 margin? hmm? want me to cite links? if so, i will. Thanks! have a nice day.

BTW OBAMAsGRANNY, you''ve been anti-obama since day one... so your BIAS is clearly showing.

Last thing, Obama didn''t play victim. What he did was stand up and BE A MAN and call a spade a spade. What the former Clinton STAFFER did was flat out disgusting. Obama called it for what it was.

[jeffstersf]

Obama is the best thing to come our way since Kennedy. You racists should be ashamed of yourselves. If you want pure lies and distortion, go see the Pope.

[canyoutellme-2009]

Geezus... the whole election up intil now has been ''''gotchya!'''' on Hillary!

So... poor little Barrak can''''t take the heat? The whitehouse is hell''''s kitchen. Maybe he needs to get out while he can.


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Posted by sincityq at 06:29 PM : Apr 17, 2008
+ report abuse

huh? Obama can''t take the heat? sounds like he did pretty well in the "debate"... he beat Hilary by 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 margin (depending on the poll you look at).

Sounds to me like HE CAN TAKE THE HEAT and then thrive!

[tawpdawg11]

A simple yet effective way to let "news" outlets know how important patriotic Americans believe this election is would be to boycott products advertised during ABC news. During my local ABC news broadcast tonight theses were the companies with ads: 1. Honda 2. Yahoo 3. Hearthstone Homes of Omaha 4. Jeep 5. Chevy. I vow to boycott these companies until ABC news decides to focus on important issues in the prez campaign. No more Rev Wright, Bosnia sniper fire, flag lapel pins (notice neither candidate or either moderator wore one), no more why do you stand by your cheatin man....none of that. We want to know how the candidates intend to get America''s azz out of the wringer.

[obamasgranny]

Posted by CANYOUTELLME at 06:31 PM : Apr 17, 2008
_________________________________________________
Get your Kool-Aid!! Ice cold Kool-Aid heeeere!!

[canyoutellme-2009]

No more Rev Wright, Bosnia sniper fire, flag lapel pins (notice neither candidate or either moderator wore one), no more why do you stand by your cheatin man....none of that. We want to know how the candidates intend to get America''''s azz out of the wringer.


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Posted by TawpDawg11 at 06:34 PM : Apr 17, 2008
+ report abuse
------------------------------------------------

I know!!!! the pin thing.... i was like "I don''t see Hillary wearing one" and NEITHER moderator had one... and these moderators KNEW this question was coming!! And yet they try to paint Barack as unpatriotic because he doesn''t wear a flag lapel pin? LOLOL. PATHETIC. And yet this was a question they let be asked in front of all AMERICA? are you KIDDING me? How come this question wasn''t asked to HILARY eh? she wasn''t wearing one!

[txspoiler]

Whine, whine, whine. Finally a major news channel did its job last night in the Democratic debate and Obama supporters are crying like little children. The job of President of the United States is the hardest job in the world. There is no subject that should not be explored when the candidates are auditioning. CNN and MSNBC might as well be the Barack Obama channels, since they''''ve given him a pass on every major question. They''''ve essentially said, "It''''s OK, Barack, you don''''t have to answer such a hard question. Sorry we even had to ask"! ABCNews has been the only channel willing to do their jobs. Kudos to them!

[obamasgranny]

"He lost in a big way" ??? really? is that why the polls show he beat Hillary by a 3 to 1 margin? hmm? want me to cite links? if so, i will. Thanks! have a nice day
______________________________________________
He lost!! I prefer to let the people vote,...If you want to rely on the polls,....go ahead!! Remember New Hampshire? DUH!!

[mecury69]

A LEADER is one who inspires and has a vision not a know it all like Clinton (Bill or Hillary) who''s arrogance will always be their downfall or a know nothing (Bush) who is easily manipulated by others who do not have accountability for their decisions.

JFK had vision and overcame inexperience and grew into the position to send us to the moon.

This is not a comparison but an example.

[truth-hurts]

HISSSSSSS

[truth-hurts]

Obama is making the biggest mistake of his short
political career.

And so are you boobs!!!

Arrogance will get you absolutly NOTHING!

Ask your Grandparents...for a change.

[truth-hurts]

Poor little baby Obama, they asked too many hard questions. ....Just keep acting like an AZZ, Obama.

[clemenhagen1]

"The average Democrat is far too dumb to make their own decisions."

Boy this one hurts. This after Republicans not only gave us George W. Bush once, but then turned around and did it twice. Democrats far too dumb? Look at who the Republicans have given us lately.

[mecury69]

Actually, I do not want to see my president wasting time answering small minded or what some incorrectly describe as ''hard'' questions.

A president is only as good as his or her advisers so that person must be able to put together a solid staff and then communicate a message and vision to be carried out. Yes, they must be able to answer direct questions and Obama answered them and moved on.

[clemenhagen1]

All we heard for a week is how condescending Obama was. Last night the twits on ABC decided the most important issues for we voters (thus the only things we are fit to ponder) were substantive issues such as flag pins, guilt by association relationships, and other such trivial diversions. We apparently cannot handle a discussion on the war, the economy, the foreclosure or health care crisis'', etc.

[mecury69]

It cannot be said enough,

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

[samthetvcat]

This assessment''s very effective imo:

---"They like stirring up controversy and they like playing gotcha games, getting us to attack each other," he said. "Senator Clinton looked in her element. She was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there. That''s her right to kind of twist the knife a little bit ... that''s the lesson she learned when Republicans did it to her in the 1990s."---
________

This one, not so much:

---"When you''re running for the presidency, you''ve just got to kind of let it ..." Obama said, pretending to flick lint off his pants and jacket."
________

I think to be able to stay above the fray you have to paradoxically be willing to fight back as hard as you''ve been attacked and THEN keep reminding people that you''re not ever going to initiate those kinds of fights, but aren''t going to be afraid to defend them. Like I think it has to come across that you COULD play a dirty game but it''s your CHOICE to not to because you''ve found a better way (?) If you have the chops to stay unphased by dirty attacks, I think it speaks for itself - if you have to explain to people that that''s what you''re doing, it paradoxically comes across like it IS in fact sort of getting to you (?)

I don''t know though . . . jmo

[obamasgranny]

Actually, I do not want to see my president wasting time answering small minded or what some incorrectly describe as ''''hard'''' questions.
_____________________________________________
They only become "hard" if you can''t brush them off with a speech!! Obama has not answered ANY real questions, easy or otherwise. If he can''t give a speech he takes his ball and goes home!!

NOBAMA 08

[vastr-wcon]

.
The MSM is up-in-arms of over George and Charlie in the "debate". Apparently these two failed to live-up to the MSM''s required "special treatment" of its favorite candidate.

And what was the result? Sen. "God Da''mn America" hussein folded like a cheap suit!!!!!!!

LOL.

/

[mecury69]

They only become "hard" if you can''''t brush them off with a speech!! Obama has not answered ANY real questions, easy or otherwise. If he can''''t give a speech he takes his ball and goes home!!
--------------------------------------------------------

Example of a question he has not answered?

[paris1969]

Actually NObama should be grateful to the moderators ... they let him off easy. He has no plans ... has flip flopped horribly ... and the money he gave in 2007 to Rev Wright''s church shows he is lying about that too!!!

[clemenhagen1]

MNMAID POSTS: "They should have never axed poor Mr Obama"

A. Nice job revealing yourself to be a narrow racist, and thus not credible, in one sentence.

B. If you do not see the intelligence and depth of Obama based on his performances throughout the primary season, you have not a clue. Differ or diverge from Obama on policy and substance and you might be taken seriously. Attack him on Ebonics or claims that he lacks intelligence (you know, the guy who rose to the top of the Harvard Law Review) and you simply reveal the depth of your own ignorance and prejudice.

[hawksprings]

So Obama felt it was an unfair debate?

What do you expect when it''s moderated by Monica Lewinsky''s ex-boyfriend''s Chief of Staff?

[truth-hurts]

Cheap Shot Hawksping

[rebelscout]

I thought Obama handled the debate very well. He took the high road and, of course, Hillary took the low road as usual.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by SamTheTVCat at 06:54 PM : Apr 17, 2008

Oh for Pete''s sakes! Obama has been behind every GOTCHA against Hillary Clinton imaginable!!!

Some people need to get off their high horse and look at home many times this man has FLAT OUT lied to you, just like he''s doing now!

HE''S LYING! HE''S PLAYED DIRTY POLITICS SINCE HE PUT HIS FOOT IN THE DOOR! AND IN HIS ARROGANCE AND CONDENCESION, HE''S DONE IT TODAY!

People get a clue! Do you know what a clue is?

[truth-hurts]

clemenhagen1 What is a narrow racist??

[mecury69]

Examples of lies and dirty politics would be greatly appreciated. However, none would prove that you are what you type.

[clemenhagen1]

MERCURY: Well said.

"A president is only as good as his or her advisers so that person must be able to put together a solid staff and then communicate a message and vision to be carried out. Yes, they must be able to answer direct questions and Obama answered them and moved on."

The fundamental flaw of the current commander-in-chief (I will speak only of one) is a narrow worldview and rigid ideological perspective. Bush never seeks out (or even allows) dissenting views. All the great presidents (from Republicans like Lincoln to Democrats like F.D.R.) surrounded themselves with advisors who gave them competing views from which to choose. I admire the poise Obama has displayed and see him as someone who will assess the information from advisors thoroughly before making a decision. After eight years of Bush''s anti-intellectual tendencies and hostility to those sticky things such as facts, we will certainly benefit from this change.

[samthetvcat]

Oh, they just showed the shoulder flick clip on CNN and it didn''t come across as QUITE so effete as this article makes it sound. Also Barack said he''s going to fight Repubs back HARD! Go Barack!