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Charlie Gibson's Blogging
August 27, 2008 4:47 PM
Okay, so the overwhelming sentiment seems (55 responses yesterday) that it is a worthy use of time to blog. So we'll continue this experiment. Someone suggested yesterday that I read the responses –- I am doing that for now. Whether I'll be able to read them all when (or if) they increase in number remains to be seen. But I'm going to try to read at least some. A "representative sample" as the polling people like to say.
One of the responses truly delighted me yesterday. "Hugs from Switzerland," wrote "Glenn." Glenn is my niece –- my brother's youngest child who has been living in Switzerland for many years.
To politics –- I thought we probably talked too much and too long last night at the top of the hour-long convention coverage. Hillary Clinton's speech was the featured attraction of the night -– the program involving her introductory film and Chelsea's introduction and the speech itself was supposed to begin ten or fifteen minutes before it actually got under-way. So we were "filling" for longer than planned. We excerpted (in other words pulled brief soundbites) from five of the earlier speakers. But I'm second guessing myself.
As something of a student of convention speeches, I thought Senator Clinton did exactly what she set out to do. She talked directly to her followers, saluted them for what they did for her, emphasized the issues on which she had centered her campaign, and was unqualified in her endorsement of Barack Obama. I posed the question to George during "World News" whether it was fair that so many people would watch the speech and ask themselves "Does she really mean it?"
George, I think rightly, pointed out that you have to be cynical in the extreme to believe that she doesn't want to get Obama elected. The differences between the two of them programmatically are small. The differences between Senators Clinton and McCain on policy issues are great. To say that her endorsement of Obama isn't sincere, is to question her commitment to her issues. And that, George pointed out, is not really fair to her.
Now is there still a coolness between the two camps? To be sure. Is there some anger in the Clinton camp that she wasn't really considered as a number two? Same answer. But the endorsement is genuine. And the speech I thought was really very well crafted and delivered.
The roll call of the states and the actual nomination of Barack Obama comes this afternoon. The thinking is, they plan to go through the call of the states for a time –- and then some state (probably one of some significance to Barack Obama) will yield to another state. At that point someone –- and you can get your bets down now on who that is -– will move to make the choice unanimous. That should come during the East Coast feed of the "World News" broadcast. We'll carry it live in that version of the program and package it for the other time zones.
Then tonight, Joe Biden's speech. He is always an entertaining figure. Earlier in the night Bill Clinton speaks. Will the latter upstage the former? I honestly don't think so. Mrs. Clinton sort of tamped the flames of the Clinton-Obama controversy, so I think Senator Biden will have his night. But as always, it will be fun to watch.
August 27, 2008 in Charlie Gibson | Permalink | Share | User Comments (64)
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I am so thrilled that you finally started blogging. Keep up the good work! Your opinion is valuable to many viewers and it is a delight to read your thoughts.
Anna
Posted by: Anna Marevska | Aug 27, 2008 5:17:10 PM
Charlie - I can't believe that the abcnews website has not one word on the arrest of the abc film guys working on your news stories by the Denver PD. I am sure by tonight it will be a story mentioned everywhere else. Maybe you should just tell viewers to read Matt Drudge and put on an extra football game each week.
Posted by: Rick | Aug 27, 2008 5:17:32 PM
I guess I'm a politics junkie, but I've been watching PBS to see the earlier speeches in their entirety. This is the most significant election of my lifetime (I'm 49) and I'm frustrated by negative ads and repeated sound bites. We've become used to being spoon-fed, but I want the whole meal! I'm so glad I got to see Obama's sister and Jesse Jackson, Jr, among others.
Posted by: obamamama | Aug 27, 2008 5:24:07 PM
I'm glad you decided to continue blogging for now! It is great to hear an intelligent and responsible voice in this conversation. I enjoy your reporting and opinions. Please keep up the great work!
Posted by: Jessica | Aug 27, 2008 5:28:36 PM
PARTY UNITY MOVEMENT ACTIVIST
I thought It was a good way to take over their name so we all can be PUMAS but with a different message. PUMAS FOR OBAMA/BIDEN08/12
Posted by: Orlando B. Fremont Ohio | Aug 27, 2008 5:31:21 PM
Charlie. It is a pleasure to watch you and the ABC team cover the convention. Keep up the good work!
I'm in agreement that Hillary performed exceedingly well last night. I'm looking forward to your coverage of Joe Biden and Bill Clinton!
Francisco
Posted by: Francisco | Aug 27, 2008 5:34:09 PM
Hello Mr. Gibson,
I was just curious as to how you think the Obama administration, if elected, will use Hilary Clinton, if at all. Will you focus on asking her how she wants to function in the administration , if at all? One last question, would you comment on the energy panel they had at the convention yesterday. Will you as reporters follow-up on the comments the panel members made yesterday? In other words, the panel talked about commitments to energy change but how will they make that happen? What legislation has to change in order to open the doors for alternative energy. The panel members didn't see to address that.
P.S. Your personal touch in your reporting style and the topics you cover on your broadcasts makes me listen carefully. I hope you realize what a difference you make in our lives with your content and style. God Bless.
Posted by: Sylvia | Aug 27, 2008 5:35:56 PM
Democrat for McCain !!!!!!!
Posted by: keith1212 | Aug 27, 2008 5:35:56 PM
Charlie,
I've been a huge fan since I was a kid watching GMA. Welcome to the blogging world. As for Senator Clinton's speech I have to admit that she did an outstanding job and her message was very clear. However did anyone else think her introduction video was a little odd? For a minute I thought that maybe she really was the nominee instead of Obama. This video seemed like it was setting the stage for her next run in 4 or 8 years maybe? I wonder if Obama's people were thrilled about it. Haha...
Posted by: Ryan | Aug 27, 2008 5:39:30 PM
Charlie,
As you may know, a lot of people are upset with all of the networks for talking over the speeches, just so you can TELL us what it all means, rather than showing us the actual "news."
"Analysis" is all very fine in its place, but just because you are on the air, doesn't mean you have to be talking. I was very annoyed to miss most of Gov. Schweitzer's speech, even though he was standing right there on the monitor, exciting the crowd like no one else has done, while pundits were chatting to "kill time."
Posted by: jock59801 | Aug 27, 2008 5:55:57 PM
Hi Charlie Gibson,
I have enjoyed reading your blog. I have watched GMA for many, many years and I trust what you have to say in all news coverage and stories.
Diane, George and yourself are very interesting to listen to and I love the way you interact with each other.
Posted by: Jan | Aug 27, 2008 6:02:48 PM
NOPE!
McCain/(write in) Hillary Clinton 2008
Posted by: Sue | Aug 27, 2008 6:07:44 PM
How long is Bill Clinton going to throw his toys out of his pram is it not time he grew up and pretended to be a democrate
Posted by: angel | Aug 27, 2008 6:13:42 PM
Why are Obama's poll numbers going down in the midst of the Democratic convention? I believe Michelle Obama's convention speech was well received. However the public is wary of a candidate who claims he plans to transform the world into a world as "it should be".
Obama's message of changing the world into the world as it "should be" sounds pretty arrogant when you compare it to Obama's "... above my pay grade.." response about human rights for an unborn baby and reveals the disconnect Obama has with the reality of life.
Posted by: may | Aug 27, 2008 6:14:43 PM
Why do you think that with all the support that Hillary Clinton had, that Obama did not choose her as his running mate. I feel that if he would have done that, he would not have to be so concerned about all her supporters going to McCain!!! What is your opinion on this?
Posted by: Connie | Aug 27, 2008 6:15:52 PM
I second Jan's comment above. Diane, George, and you have all been really sharp and interesting throughout the convention. I agree the instinct to run as much actual live footage as possible is the right one, but the talk - when it's come - has been insightful, whereas a lot of the filler on the other networks has been so much bloviating.
On a side note, I'm curious as to whether or not the "PUMAs" have any bargaining power, and if so, what they might use it for. Seems that while everyone is trying so hard to bring them back into the fold, they might be able to use their leverage to influence the Obama campaign on policy or something along those lines. Of course, that might be dangerous for everyone, and do nothing but turn a "divided convention" into a "brokered convention."
As it is, though, I've heard little about any agenda the PUMAs might have beyond simply taking revenge on the Obama campaign and the DNC for perceived slights on Hillary during the primaries. I don't know whether to attribute that to the PUMAs or simply to the coverage of them. In either case, Hillary did an amazing job last night.
Posted by: Josh Braun | Aug 27, 2008 6:25:25 PM
Just curious, why hasn't there been any coverage about Obama's law suit. Supossedly he was born in Kenya, not Hawaii like he says. He is not a US citizen.
Posted by: rusty4011 | Aug 27, 2008 6:31:02 PM
Can anyone explain to me why millions of Americans bothered to vote in the primaries when the true candidate is elected by delegates?
Posted by: Marsha Hazlett | Aug 27, 2008 6:40:22 PM
i just saw ky governr give our votes to obama after hilary clinton won the vote in ky. i object
Posted by: doretta | Aug 27, 2008 6:43:33 PM
I'm so frustrated. My biggest concerns is that he does not have enough experience.
Posted by: carol roche | Aug 27, 2008 6:43:41 PM
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