One of many reasons I didn’t watch last night’s debate

Sen. Obama;

“I will tell you, it does not get much more fun than these debates. They are inspiring events. […] 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. It took us 45 minutes! Forty-five minutes before we heard about health care. Forty-five minutes before we heard about Iraq. […] Forty-five — 45 — minutes before we heard about jobs. Forty-five minutes before we heard about gas prices.”

The debates have become pathetic… they’re more of an opportunity for the networks airing them to stir things up and bring up old rhetoric (Clinton’s Bosnia misspeaking and Obama’s ‘bitter’ misspeaking) than an opportunity to hear the candidates talk about things that matter; the economy, jobs, Iraq, etc.

Think about it… ABC had a perfect opportunity, two hours worth, to access two of the three candidates fighting for a chance to lead the country, and they spent it on issues the press considers the true issues facing voters; BitterGate; Rev. WrightGate; BosniaGate; American flag lapel pinsGate… in the eyes of the media, that’s what's truly important to the future of the country…

Screw Iraq… screw the economy… screw the environment.

Let Greg Mitchell of Editor and Publisher put it a different way;

“In perhaps the most embarrassing performance by the media in a major presidential debate this year, ABC News hosts Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous focused mainly on trivial issues as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama faced off in Philadelphia.”

Sad…