In an open letter to ABC, journalists and media analysts condemn the network’s poor handling of the April 16 Democratic presidential debate.

[dsl:video youtube=”y7WaoarLZHc” size=”small”] Editor’s Note: What does a meaningful presidential debate look like to you? Write a Web letter to The Nation.

We, the undersigned, deplore the conduct of ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson at the Democratic Presidential debate on April 16. The debate was a revolting descent into tabloid journalism and a gross disservice to Americans concerned about the great issues facing the nation and the world. This is not the first Democratic or Republican presidential debate to emphasize gotcha questions over real discussion. However, it is, so far, the worst.

For 53 minutes, we heard no question about public policy from either moderator. ABC seemed less interested in provoking serious discussion than in trying to generate cheap shot sound-bites for later rebroadcast. The questions asked by Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mr. Gibson were a disgrace, and the subsequent attempts to justify them by claiming that they reflect citizens’ interest are an insult to the intelligence of those citizens and ABC’s viewers. Many thousands of those viewers have already written to ABC to express their outrage.

The moderators’ occasional later forays into substance were nearly as bad. Mr. Gibson’s claim that the government can raise revenues by cutting capital gains tax is grossly at odds with what taxation experts believe. Both candidates tried, repeatedly, to bring debate back to the real problems faced by ordinary Americans. Neither moderator allowed them to do this.

We’re at a crucial moment in our country’s history, facing war, a terrorism threat, recession, and a range of big domestic challenges. Large majorities of our fellow Americans tell pollsters they’re deeply worried about the country’s direction. In such a context, journalists moderating a debate–who are, after all, entrusted with free public airwaves–have a particular responsibility to push and engage the candidates in serious debate about these matters. Tough, probing questions on these issues clearly serve the public interest. Demands that candidates make pledges about a future no one can predict or excessive emphasis on tangential “character” issues do not. This applies to candidates of both parties.

Neither Mr. Gibson nor Mr. Stephanopoulos lived up to these responsibilities. In the words of Tom Shales of the Washington Post, Mr. Gibson and Mr. Stephanopoulos turned in “shoddy, despicable performances.” As Greg Mitchell of Editor and Publisher describes it, the debate was a “travesty.” We hope that the public uproar over ABC’s miserable showing will encourage a return to serious journalism in debates between the Democratic and Republican nominees this fall. Anything less would be a betrayal of the basic responsibilities that journalists owe to their public.

Spencer Ackerman, The Washington Independent Eric Alterman, City University of New York Dean Baker, The American Prospect Online Steven Benen, The Carpetbagger Report Julie Bergman Sender, Balcony Films Ari Berman, The Nation Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium Michael Bérubé, Crooked Timber, The Pennsylvania State University Joel Bleifuss, In These Times Sam Boyd, The American Prospect Lakshmi Chaudry, In These Times Joe Conason, Journalist and Author Brad DeLong, Brad DeLong’s Semi-Daily Journal and UC Berkeley Kevin Drum, The Washington Monthly Henry Farrell, Crooked Timber, George Washington University James Galbraith, University of Texas at Austin Todd Gitlin, Columbia University, TPM Cafe Merrill Goozner (formerly Chicago Tribune) Ilan Goldenberg, The National Security Network Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films Christopher Hayes, The Nation Don Hazen, Alternet Michael Kazin, Georgetown University Ed Kilgore, The Democratic Strategist Richard Kim, The Nation Ezra Klein, The American Prospect Mark Kleiman, UCLA/The Reality Based Community Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed Ari Melber, The Nation Rick Perlstein, Campaign for America’s Future Katha Pollitt, The Nation David Roberts, Grist Thomas Schaller, Columnist, The Baltimore Sun Mark Schmitt, The New America Foundation Adele Stan, The Media Consortium Jonathan Stein, Mother Jones Magazine Mark Thoma, The Economist’s View Michael Tomasky, The Guardian Cenk Uygur, The Young Turks Tracy Van Slyke, The Media Consortium Kai Wright, The Root