Reader Forum: What's your take on the Philadelphia debate?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama debated in Philadelphia April 16, six days before the Pennsylvania primary election.

We asked post-gazette.com readers for their sense of how the debate went. Their comments are below.

I must confess that I was flicking the channels between Game 4 of the Penguins v. Senators and the Obama-Clinton debate.

Like others who have commented, I echo their sentiments. The debate was a farce and served no real purpose. Senator Obama's character was attacked, while Senator Clinton was made to look pristine. I like the way she "sucked up" to Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nuttings of Philadelphia during the debate. I have come away with three points from the debate:

1. Senator Clinton is simply looking to mirror the same policies that Former President Clinton did during his administration. She clearly mentioned this a few times during the debate. That tells me that she's riding on the coattails of her husband, and it makes me wonder if her husband was not a successful former U.S. president she would be truly lost. I came away with the sense that she is not capable of individual and creative thought or initiative on how to handle the issues this country is facing at hand, but is simply looking to re-use the template by her husband. I'm not sure that current woes, if the "Clinton Way" is going to work now.

2. Both candidates "tiptoed around the land mines" on the gun control debate, primarily because they did want to upset the hunters and gun owners in Pennsylvania. I was amazed on both candidates' opinion on gun control in the United States, because it was "republican" or "moderately democrat" in essence. I expected Obama's stance to be one where he would look to place tight control and laws on registering and licensing of personal handguns and hunting rifles. I also liked Senator Clinton's idea of re-establishing the ban on assault weapons.

3. The debate on the whole was shameful, and an open attack on Obama. This is one of the reasons why I don't listen to the media regarding him. Regardless of how the media keeps "deifying" or tear down Senator Obama, my resolve to vote for him next week at the Pa. Primary has not change. Obama is this country's best hope.

Curtis Price, State College, Pa.

I'm a Pittsburgher at heart, living in of all places Indianapolis, Indiana - the next stop on the campaign tabloid train. I was mortified last night once again as 90 seconds of video on You Tube consumed almost 90 minutes of a debate that should have been about the issues and not about who shot at Hillary (or didn't) and what Barack's dinner guests did 40 years ago. As for the flag pin -- George Bush and Dick Cheney wear flag pins. Enough said.

It appears that my home state and my adopted state will be factoring into this fight right up to the end and I just want to remind my former friends and neighbors that a politics of fear and negativity put what is tantamount to a terrorist regime in the white house these last 8 years. Don't let it happen again.

I respect both candidates for their showing in Philadelphia. I feel that Obama came off as defensive and uncomfortable like he was trying to bite his tongue all night long. I wish ABC hadn't tried so hard to make him look like just another politician. As for Hillary, I think she is showing -- finally -- a measure of dignity in losing, though she really needs to do us all a favor and bow out gracefully so we can get after the criminal regime that hijacked this nation after 9/11.

George Evans, Indianapolis (a Pittsburgh expatriate)

ABC should be hanging their heads in shame today. That debate was a hit job mostly on Obama. How much longer will the media beat Reverend Wright, bitter and flag pins to death. With the economy in the toilet, a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, gas prices requiring a major loan, home foreclosures skyrocketing, financial institutions failing by the day, the dollar looking more like a peso, this is what we get -- nearly an hour of "silly season" politics at its worst.

Both candidates should've walked off the stage! I've never seen such a debacle! ABC is now dead to this viewer. How could I ever take Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos seriously again? Why is Obama the only candidate asked about his patriotism and lack of a made in China flag pin? Hillary wasn't wearing one. McCain wasn't wearing one yesterday in Pittsburgh.

This "debate" was a sick joke. Stephanopoulos should be laughed out of the news business for asking a Democratic candidate a question planted by the partisan Sean Hannity.

And how dare they question the patriotism of Reverend Wright who served very honorably in the U.S. Marines and Navy. Did Gibson or Stephanopoulos serve?

This debate made me bitter. Bitter about the joke that has become the American media.

Rita Palmer, McKeesport

11 Minutes devoted to the "bitter" comments.

10 Minutes devoted to Reverend Wright.

9 Minutes devoted to a flag pin and Obama's supposed lack of patriotism.

5 Minutes devoted to Clinton's Bosnia flap.

3 Minutes devoted to gas prices.

I REST MY CASE!

Edward A. Owens, Pittsburgh
webmaster Red Raider Nation http://redraidernation.com/ "Where Champions Live"

I was hoping to hear about Obama Voting for Billions in Big Oil and Gas Company Tax Breaks, Why make Billions in Profits every year off of us. Tell me why he voted to give them all this money 2005, Which Bush signed into Law in Aug. 2005.

Now Obama say he didn't get money from oil, I just read last week he did. So why now is he saying he's against taking money from Big Oil, When he already has. Okay so he voted for Billions in tax Breaks for Oil, So why is he saying he's going to help get down gas prices when he's some of the reason it's so high. Careful with your vote, Gas might end up at 7 dollars per Gallon.

David Snelling, Granada Hill, CA

I, like so many others, was disgusted with the line of questioning and lack of time spent on the real issues we are facing. I'm not sure if you will be able to post this link in your comments section, but I thought I would show people a way to directly vent their disdain if they so choose.

http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3052660

It's simply a comment page, nothing more.

Brad Gething, State College

The "debate" was nothing short of shameful. Apparently, Stephanopolous and Gibson would rather be playing sandbox or tabloid politics than allowing the public the opportunity to hear the candidates speak on the real issues we face as a country. ABC owes the American public an apology.

Patricia Schwartz, Washington, PA

I was totally disgusted with George and Charlie. Instead of focusing on the issues, they wasted time with stupidity like flag pins. Wearing a flag pin does not a patriot make! I can't believe that people even notice such things. I am an Obama supporter and will vote for him on Tuesday. Last night's debate was a waste of time. I should have stuck with America's Next Top Model!

Toni Yates, Ford City, PA

That was no debate--it was a rerun of Access Hollywood. If we Pennsylvanians should be bitter about anything, it's that our state debate was turned into a sort of media carnival, rather than dealing with the real issues facing our region, and the American people.

Still, if I had to find a silver lining? I admired the restraint Obama showed in NOT diving headlong into the fray. Though it did seem to frustrate him that over half the debate had nothing to do with substance, he held his tongue in check, defended his opponent on one occasion, and even said "she could win" without so much as batting an eye.

Hillary seemed to enjoy wallowing in ABC's mud just a little too much for my tastes. Especially since she still hasn't given a straight answer on her Bosnia lie, or how she can reconcile taking 800 thousand dollars from the Columbian government while campaigning AGAINST the Columbian Free Trade Agreement. All in all, I saw in Barack Obama a frustrated (yet honest) commitment to trying to stay away from the political pie-slicing that has paralyzed our country and silenced OUR voices for far too long, now.

As bad as it was to watch, what we did see (pay attention PA) is that we, as voters, need to seek out as much information as we can, not just what the networks and cable shows think we want to hear. Barack Obama didn't have his best night, yet carried himself with grace and dignity in the face of farce. That's my kind of President. Because NOT wallowing, NOT changing, means he really does stand for HOPE in ways we've not seen in a long, long time.

Danny Evans, Dormont

This "debate" was a farce. I thought I needed to turn it off the minute the question was "Do you think Reverend Wright loves America as much as you do?" But I hung in there another few minutes of what felt like brain cell-killing, mindless hours of meaningless drivel. Until the glassy-eyed woman asked "Do you love the flag?" Then I turned it off.

Honestly, I don't know if it's the media or if it's us, but I do know one thing: If we're really this dumb, we deserve a hundred years of the Bush family.

Dan Richey, Shadyside

Debate? This was an ambush. Clinton got booed for bringing up this stuff and tries it again with the help of George and Charlie. She lost my vote as of tonight and ABC came across so biased any idiot would see it.

Joan Slish, Latham, NY

Was this really a debate? It was more like an hour-long attack ad for the Republicans. I don't care about Hillary Clinton's excellent Bosnia adventure. I don't care about Barack Obama's pastor. I really, really, really don't care what kind of lapel pin Obama (or, for that matter, Clinton) wears.

What I do care about are Clinton and Obama's plans for dealing with the problems that America faces. We are stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan without a good exit strategy. We are mired in foreign debt up to our eyeballs. Our economy is cratering. Vast swaths of America have been essentially abandoned to sink into poverty and despair. Energy costs are skyrocketing, we are too dependent on foreign oil, and we lack a coherent energy policy. The cost of health care is hitting the stratosphere, but our health isn't improving. We are trashing the environment and eliminating 50 years of environmental protection. As far as consumers go, it's caveat emptor for contaminated food and poisoned toys. The Bush administration sat on its hands as one of our great cities drowned. It trampled our beloved Constitution, spied on innocent American citizens, tortured prisoners and denied them their basic human rights, and in general acted like a rogue state -- leaving an enormous mess for the next president to deal with.

Did we hear much about these issues during the debate? No. Did we find out what the candidates plan to do to get our wonderful country back on the right track and restore America's good name? No. However, we did hear a lot about some dude Obama knows who was once a member of the Weather Underground.

Shame on Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos! This debate was a joke. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, though. God forbid that they press the candidates on the dull, boring issues issues that actually make a difference in our lives. It's much easier to stick to "gotcha" questions, non-issues and sound bites.

Heckuva job, ABC!

Nancy Ott, Aspinwall

The way this debate was moderated was an abomination. As a Pennsylvania voter I tuned in to hear what the candidates would do about gas prices, health care, the cost of higher education, the war in Iraq, etc. Instead, yet again, we had to listen to the endless questions about topics that have been discussed ad nauseum for weeks. If that wasn't bad enough Charlie Gibson kept interrupting the answers. Senator Obama would be explaining his point and Gibson would chime in and interrupt the Senator's train of thought as if he was a school teacher trying to correct a student. I was particularly taken aback when, during one answer he fed Hillary a line saying, "like Senator McCain" during her answer. Should a moderator be interrupting and prompting the person answering the question?

As far as I am concerned, it was not a fair debate for either side and the big loser was Charlie Gibson, ABC and the American voter. Shame on ABC!

Tom Cagle, Saegertown, PA

To the Post-Gazette:

Could the concern for the American Flag symbol be considered false idolatry?

To the person from Latrobe, Pennsylvania with the question about the flag and all like minded Pennsylvanians: The Ten Commandments teach that we are to have no other God before us.

Assuming the concern for the American Flag symbol amounts to false idolatry, then is criticism of an isolated statement by Reverend Wright in the same vein? Where is the forgiveness for an isolated expression of human temper? What about the turning over of the money changers' tables at the temple? There was human temper!

Senator Obama again distinguished himself with civility. Senator Clinton continued to be Senator Clinton.

Samuel Walker, Sharon, PA

As a journalist myself, I was disgusted to see the tabloid-style journalism employed at last night's debate. We have real issues to grapple with in this country, and many were left unaddressed. The barrage of attacks on Sen. Obama were down right shameful. And the fact that Stephanoppoulos, a member of Bill Clinton's administration, was part of that showed, in my opinion, a severe conflict of interest.

Shame on ABC, and shame on Hillary Clinton, who continued to attack Obama on "bittergate" even after he explained his remarks in a nuanced way that was truthful, thoughtful and not offensive in any way. In her response, she said "we need to listen to each other." Perhaps she could have started by listening to her opponent.

Chad Simcox, Spring Lake, MI

Apparently intellectually lazy tabloid journalism is what passes for a debate at ABC News. This shamefest taught us nothing about either candidate. It was nothing more than a continuing slide down the hill of infotainment. Would ABC have us believe that the first forty-five minutes of the debate was simply to show what it would be like for Senator Obama when the Republicans begin their attack campaign? If so, it's pretty thin excuse for a hatchet job. Making it uncomfortable for the front runner is not their job. Their job is to report the news and give the electorate information useful to making a decision on April 22 and beyond, not to manufacturer it. I am embarassed for American journalism, for ABC, for George and Charles, and for anyone who thinks that this is what politics should be about.

Teddy Carroll, Pittsburgh, PA

Was I watching ABC News or Fox News last night? It was hard to tell if that was George Stephanopoulos or Sean Hannity asking Senator Obama if Reverend Jeremiah Wright "loves America as much as you do?" That may have been one of the most pointless, irrelevant questions asked in any debate during my lifetime. Speaking of Fox News and last night's debate, isn't it ironic that George Stephanopoulos was on Sean Hannity's radio show the day before taking notes on potential debate questions proposed by Sean Hannity himself?

Chris Schultz, Mt Lebanon

As we confront critical issues like the recession and Iraq, ABC managed to focus on flag pins (which none of the candidates wear) and exhausted attack issues (Bosnia trip, et seq.). I don't think it was a good night for anyone and certainly not the network. Their decision to spend the first 50 minutes on tabloid stuff and their questioning and overall performance was shameful.

Brian Gabriel, Pittsburgh (Highland Park)

Thanks to the moderators, this "debate" was nothing short of insulting to the American public. Do George and Charlie believe we are so stupid that we do not care about the issues affecting us day in and day out? As Senator Obama repeatedly noted, "How are these questions helping those sitting at our kitchen tables trying to figure out how to pay bills?" As for Senator Clinton, she was as interested as George and Charlie in the sensationlism rather than the issues. She kept the attacks going. It was very sad to see a sitting US senator in the gutter with these two moderators.

Diane Helland, Fort Worth, TX

ABC's coverage of last night's debate was beyond atrocious. At best, the discussion may have helped Obama prove his unflappability amid an onslaught of baseless right-wing attacks, but the irresponsible journalism we saw last night did nothing to further educate undecided democrats in Pennsylvania. I found the coverage to be insulting to the majority of thinking voters who have grown weary of "Liar Liar Sniper Fire" and "Bittergate" coverage. The focus on trivialities was a slap in the face to voters seeking to learn both candidates' policy positions, and the omission of substantive questions from the debate was reprehensible. I think Gibson and Stephanopoulos should resign for their backhanded attempts at undermining democracy.

Keely McIntyre, Belle Vernon, PA

I did not watch Obama & Hillary's debate. Not interested in either one of them nor am I voting for them. I can't believe that people are so gullible to believe either one of them can change America. As Senators they are exactly what is wrong with America and have caused our problems, not President Bush. The change that people need to make is voting out everyone in Congress and replacing with term limits.

Hillary is attempting to win at all costs and her nasty remarks turn me off. Obama's promises are just that and can't be accomplished.

Joan Gardom, Pittsburgh, Pa.

I, as well as the rest of America, may not be 100% sure of who won the "debate", but we can say for sure who lost; the moderators.

How disappointing that someone of Charles Gibbons experience would do such a very poor job. I realize I am repeating what others have said, but it bears repeating again and again and again.

Dear Mass Media:

Stop it, just stop it! We don't care about his pastor; we don't care about her Bosnia comment. We are a nation in trouble. Out foreign policy has caused nations to hate us; our domestic policy has caused economic hardships. HOW DO WE SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS? That is what the American people care about.

As my daughter stated this morning; Charles Gibbons did a better job interviewing Brittany Spears than he did moderating that event.

Emma Lee Hartle, Glenshaw, PA

I turned the debate off about two-thirds of the way through because I thought the questioning by Mr. Gibson and Mr. Stephanopoulos did nothing to enhance the electoral process or enlighten the voters. Their questions were sensationalistic and pandered to the lowest common denominator of human interest. Instead of asking real questions such as "Could you explain your plan for medical insurance?", or, "Could you explain your opinion on federal funding for mass transit?" or "What criteria would you look for in a Supreme Court appointee?" they stuck, like pre-teens, to gossipy-like questions, which really gave the voter no further information on these two candidates. It was the worst debate of them all. The networks should stick to questions by the audience.

Thank you.

Noreen Hope, Dickson City, PA

I think this was one of the worst debates in history and I'.m 67 years old. It's amazing how George and Charlie became the right wing hachet job. I had respect for Charlie he has become a poor excuse for a journalist. George should have never been a commentator, being with the Clinton administration. It was a disgrace to say the least. Where were the real questions we wanted to hear ?

Darlene Zelechowski, Muskego, Wisc

I feel that Sanator Obama was bushwacked during last nights debate.. Entirerly too much time was spent over trivial side issues. An opportunity was lost for the voters of Pennsylavania to hear how the monies that will be saved from ending of the war in Iraq can be better used for many other pressing matters of this country. Too little time was spent on how the canidates can resurrect the respect of the rest the planet that has been squandered by the present administration. The Democratic canidates are on the same page on all major issues. They differ only in approach, . As of last night I will vote for Mr. Obama based on style points ,but look forward to seeing either one of them revitalize the our country and make Mr. Bush and his cronies a distant memory.

William Thibault, Export Pa

First published on April 17, 2008 at 12:00 am