Politics | Barack Obama ABC Debate Hosts 'Shoddy, Despicable' 'Barely news,' gets even worse, says Shales By Jason Farago Posted Apr 17, 2008 6:22 AM CDT Copied ABC News moderators George Stephanopoulos, right, and Charles Gibson, left, are seen before the start of the Democratic Party debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday April 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) No winner emerged in last night's Democratic presidential debate, but for one columnist the loser was clear: ABC News. Over the course of a commercial-crammed broadcast, moderators Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolous dwelled on petty half-controversies to incite Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to get nasty, writes Tom Shales of the Washington Post. For almost an hour the pair focused on disputes that "were barely news to begin with," says Shales. It hardly got better: at one point Stephanopolous dredged up an encounter Obama had with an anarchist at the age of 8. It's just another strike against network news this election season, according to the columnist. If cable these days seems more dependable, that advantage comes "merely by being competent," he adds. Read These Next New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. A man has been deported for kicking an airport customs beagle. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. Actor Sam Rockwell gets residuals from movie he wasn't in. Report an error